Holey cabbage!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Can anyone help me please? Ive discovered my cabbage, brussels and to a slightly smaller degree my broccoli leaves have LOADS of holes in them! In fact the cabbage have more holes than a string vest! Saw a couple of white butterflies around the other day, so put netting over my crops (again). I have also sprayed them with a product called "natures answer - natural pest control" containing pyrethrins. Trouble is there is more "hole" than leaf on some of my cabbages. Should I continue to let them grow or dig them up? Can anyone suggest anything else I could use to get rid of my problem? dexterdog

[nick the grief]

Hi Dexter,

I have the same problem every year !

I've been told spraying with salt water will kill the caterpillars so I'm going to give it a go. You'll be supprised how they'll perk up.

Just make sure that all the caterpillars are gone & squish any eggs you find & then treat them to a good liquid feed of Hi Nitrogen if possible but anything will do (sack full of muck in a dustbin of water or Comfrey tea) & make sure they get loads of water.

Hopefully they'll bounce back.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Thanks for that Nick - well give it a go! can't quite believe the little buggers got past my twice daily inspection! I also read in the pest section (couldnt find it so posted this question here) that someone uses chilli and garlic as well, so will try it! ive never actually seen any caterpillers (spelling?!) but will go out and have a right good go. Could I use a nettle feed as well? Feeling much happier! Thanx! dexterdog

[smallblueplanet]

On the 'more hole than leaf' front our brassicas are getting covered in tiny (I presume) flea beetle holes....can anything organic be done?

[dexterdoglancashire]

I think I read somewhere that if you get a piece of wood and plaster it with grease, put it on the ground near your plants, then give them a good shake, the little blighters fall out of your plants onto the grease and then of course, cant get away! good luck! dexterdog

[pickledtink]

Me too. I inspected this morning and scraped, squished every batch of eggs and one newly hatched clump of caterpillars. Tonight I spotted 3 more lots of eggs!

You just have to keep vigilant.
Sadly when a friend was gazing out the window at my garden and said 'Oh look at those gorgeous butterlies you've got everywhere' she was stunned when I dropped what I was doing and hurtled outside arms windmilling, yelling 'Get off my Broccolli you *insert expletive of choice here*

I have become a monster. Snails are no longer viewed as 'cute' Anysuch found slaughtering what's left of my carrots doesn't even get lobbed into the compost heap anymore. It's instant death.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Tickled Pink - me too! I used to "rescue" snails who were attached to rubbish I took to the dump - brought them back in the car and put them back in the garden! NO LONGER! as much as I love butterflies - little white ones when I say "Shoo!" and dont fly away are not welcome anymore. Slugs also beware! dexterdog

[snohare]

Ooh, you evil, nasty, wicked people !
I fear for the world when you discover aphids, then you'll really become mean. But aphids....they deserve all they get. There's a reason aphids have learned to reproduce asexually....even an aphid can't find anyone that loves an aphid.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi everyone! Just had a VERY close inspection of my crops - and found the little pests! very small, green caterpillars! didnt realise that something so small could do so much damage! off with them into the bin and am spraying my crops with a mixture of salt, chilli flakes and garlic - it certainly makes my eyes water so hopefully will deter anything else from eating my greens! dexterdog

[pickledtink]

Tickled Pink - me too! I used to "rescue" snails who were attached to rubbish I took to the dump - brought them back in the car and put them back in the garden! NO LONGER! as much as I love butterflies - little white ones when I say "Shoo!" and dont fly away are not welcome anymore. Slugs also beware! dexterdog

Let's face it, when you see the dog eat dog battle for root space, air, water, light etc that goes on out there we can't help but be drawn in.
I'm getting seriously worried that my neighbours are looking askance though. I've been caught muttering encouragement to my Lemon tree, shaking my fist at a Strawberry nicking Thrush ( I'd be happy to taste just the occasional one for goodness sake), murdering snails with relish and on one memorable occasion at 3 in the morning hurling flower pots at two sha***ng foxes yelling ' Not on my spinach!! Geroff! Gerroff!'
It's not all dancing about in a wispy frock with a rustic basket gathering the odd dew covered raspberry.......

[nick the grief]

............It's not all dancing about in a wispy frock with a rustic basket gathering the odd dew covered raspberry.......

I take it you a lady

[IanP]

I've started keeping count. I did for 17 caterpillars just this morning. Die you leaf eating £$%^&*(!!

[Silverfox]

I got back from hols last week and had the same problem with my Brussels, Swede, Cauliflowers (which went to seed while I was away anyway), and my Sugar Snap Peas. All of them with tea strainer style leaves, and the whole worlds population of caterpillar's on them. I counted to 500 on before I lost count and that was only on 3 plants. I have to have a look at them all each hour now and still I find more of the gits.

I have created a dance called the "ballet butterfly", where I jump around, doing lamb springs, flapping my arms and screaming at the same time. Bring on "Strictly come gardening".

I have wondered if CD's might help (not for my dance but to scare the butterfly's). Someone recommended hanging old CD's on string and the reflection will scare them away. Has anyone else tried something like this?

[nick the grief]

I Have Silverfox, but I have SAS butterflies that aren't easily firghtened

[dexterdoglancashire]

It's good to know that I'm not the only one! Sprayed everything I could with my very strong mixture of salt, chilli and garlic water (all leaves on both sides). But it's been raining ever since monday morning, so not had chance to check - if the weather breaks later shall go out and have a shuftie! dexterdog