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Caterpillar's eating my purple sprouting broccoli

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  • Caterpillar's eating my purple sprouting broccoli

    Hi All,

    Can anyone please offer advice on how I can stop the caterpillar's from completely destroying my crop.

    Thanks!

  • #2
    I go round and pick the little blighters off by hand (pain in the neck job I know) and drop them in a jar full of water. Then I tip them onto the bird table.

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    • #3
      Similar ^^^^^ but I give them to the chooks
      He who smiles in the face of adversity,has already decided who to blame

      Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity

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      • #4
        You need to net any brassica, really. Before the butterflies have chance to lay eggs on your crops.

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        • #5
          I net from planting out with enviromesh but any I do get (very few if properly covered) are just squished between finger and thumb.

          Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

          Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

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          • #6
            You need butterfly net/mesh, it's the only way to keep them out. It needs to be suspended above the crop, otherwise the butterflies can "squat & drop" their eggs.

            Even then, you need to do regular picking patrols, because some WILL get through
            All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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            • #7
              I didn't get my p sp broc covered early enough & have had real problems. I was suprised though to find, after 2 frosty nights, I STILL have caterpillers. I hose them off & soak the ground every day. I really thought the frost would have finished them off!

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              • #8
                Hosing and watering won't kill them Angie. You need to squash the little bu@@ers

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                • #9
                  I'd better inspect my PSB. I've been so busy with Snug Patrols I forgot about the caterpillars. Funny word that, caterpillar.
                  Granny on the Game in Sheffield

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Florence Fennel View Post
                    Funny word that, caterpillar.
                    Then you should change it! How about caterpillock?

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by angie a View Post
                      I really thought the frost would have finished them off!
                      The frost doesn't get everywhere: it won't reach inside the folds of leaves, for instance, which is where the caterpillars will sleep

                      Originally posted by veggiechicken View Post
                      Then you should change it! How about caterpillock?
                      We call them pillarcats
                      All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Florence Fennel View Post
                        Funny word that, caterpillar.
                        Interesting word FF and quite ancient too as evidently in regular use since the Fifteenth Century! Dictionaries trace 2 parts, "cater" and "pillar" the first part meaning a "hairy cat" and second part "pillar" meaning to "pillage" and "plunder"! So it's a (miniature) hairy cat that plunders (your PSB)!! That sounds pretty accurate!
                        .

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                        • #13
                          squash them, if you dont like the thought, wear rubber gloves!

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