Cabbage Whites

**arpoet** · 14-08-2010, 06:15 AM

Hi John.. as well as netting my cabbages in the spring i also grow white turnips as a companion/catch crop in between the cabbage plants. the smell of the white turnips growing puts the cabbage whites off and they go and annoy someone else.
I have had little problem with them for 2 years.
Hehehe.. maybe mine have taken the hump and gone to Blackpool.
If you want to treat the cabbages after attack you can make a solution to kill the critters using boiled Rhubarb leaves and fairy liquid.
Other uses for Rhubarb | The Rhubarb Compendium

Roger

**johninblackpool** · 15-08-2010, 02:39 PM

Originally posted by arpoet View Post

If you want to treat the cabbages after attack you can make a solution to kill the critters using boiled Rhubarb leaves and fairy liquid.
Other uses for Rhubarb | The Rhubarb Compendium

Roger

Cheers Roger

That sounds great and organic as well

I had heard that Rhubarb leaves were poisonous

will it be safe to eat the cabbages when they mature in spring

I have got some stuff off internet but doesn't seem to have helped much

Allthough they are laying eggs on the nets and i am trying to pick and squish them off every other day... some are getting through but that stuff i got has no effect on them on the leaves

Looking forward to trying your mix so fingers crossed

**arpoet** · 15-08-2010, 05:00 PM

Hi John.. Yes they can be poisonious so let the wife have the first taste OF yer CABBAGES.. Im still living, so it cant be all bad.... lol..
Be warned though, DONT BOIL THE LEAVES IN THE HOUSE.. THEY STINK HORRID AND THE WIFE WILL OBJECT.
I boiled mine outside down the lottie one morning away from prying eyes.. BUT....... Behind our shed is a posh block of flats and i heard one of the residents saying the drains must be blocked... hehehehe
White turnips, though, do work and dont half freeze well winter use. You can even use the young leaves for salad.
Roger

ps.. good result yesterday for Blackpool

**johninblackpool** · 16-08-2010, 02:49 AM

Thanks for the tips Roger

And yes an excellant result on Saturday Top of the Premier League for about 2 hours i was told

**SarzWix** · 16-08-2010, 11:36 AM

Chaps, can I point out that making homemade pesticides is highly illegal, and we in no way condone this and in fact actively discourage it.

I have heard of rhubarb leaves steeped in a bucket of water being watered on cabbages as a deterrant to CWs, Terry Walton does that. Personally I find that Enviromesh or other insect proof netting works best - the holes are too small for butterflies or eggs to get through.

**johninblackpool** · 17-08-2010, 04:54 PM

Cheers Sarah

As a relative newcommer to GYO i did not realise that this was illegal

as it is only Rhubarb leaves although i know they are poisonous
It was on the website that arpoet linked so did not realise there was a problem

As i did not have any spare pans or utensils to take to the lottie it hasn't been made yet so rest assured it wont be

I just can't understand why the CW's are laying eggs on nets and the netting is only about 2-3mm they are driving me mad

**Two_Sheds** · 17-08-2010, 04:58 PM

Originally posted by johninblackpool View Post

i did not realise that this was illegal

It is, and the moderators must point that out to you. The website that provides this forum cannot be seen to be condoning illegal potions

What you do in the privacy of your own shed, is up to you

**rustylady** · 17-08-2010, 06:26 PM

And if you make it and it works, please don't tell us.

**Norm** · 22-08-2010, 12:46 PM

I'm not sure if the rhubarb leaf soup is actually an insecticide. The CW's don't lay their eggs on cabbages sprayed with leaf soup because they can't stand the smell!
I've been using rhubarb leaves for years with no ill effects soo ncn p;enjwkl

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