Cabbage whites

[Clarea1]

Is there anyhing I can use to prevent cabbage whites getting my cabbages? Last year I saw them totally devour next doors cabbages, he even allowed my cat to patrol the patch on 'duty'! Oli is hot at catching butterlies!

Any suggestions?

[andrewo]

Netting

You can get netting to stop them or else you have to get out and pick those caterpillars off.

You could also look at companion planting and not planting your cabbage in rows (sounds mad but look at it from their view, they identify by colour and smell - planting in large rows sends out a clarion call).

Or just plant more.

Andrewo

[rauni]

Cabbage whites were really bad on my patch last summer. Especially the late summer green ones, from the small cabbage white butterfly. These are really hard to spot to pick off. I had three brassica patches. The Calabrese was skeletal in no time despite lots of picking off, sprouts not quite so bad, but the only healthy crop was the one I covered with fleece. I took the fleece off after the blighters had gone, and I've got sprouts and kale now. I'll cover up every time from now on. Fine net works too, even old net curtains.

[Clarea1]

Can you over with fleece in summer?

[Lesley Jay]

I always cover all my cabbages, cauliflowers and sprouts with netting. You need to make sure that the netting doesn't touch the leaves or else the butterflies can still land on the leaves to lay their eggs. If you make some wooden T shapes and put them in the ground at intervals they will hold the net up. Make sure it reaches the ground all around to keep the butterflies and birds out.

[rauni]

Can you over with fleece in summer?

Well I did! It was probably early August onwards. Nets are probably better, but I had fleece handy.

[charliefred]

Two years ago my brassicas were devastated by cabbage whites. Last year I put up strong netting( cos pigeons were trying to get my beetroot), I used bamboo canes with small pots on to keep the netting up high and it does seem to have worked.

[Lesley Jay]

You need to put the netting over the young plants as soon as you plant them to stop the birds eating them.