cabbage whites, what to do

[JennieAtkinson]

If you take the netting off, the pigeons will eat your crops.

No pigeons up here thank God!

But October ....................................

[cotswold]

May I add a couple of points?
To my mind, although fine Enviromesh is proof against Flea Beetle - a big plus point - it is an overkill for C/Ws. It's expensive & hell to handle - like a frog!! And takes up a lot of storage space.

Fleece does both jobs but is delicate & not hugely water permeable & gets very soggy.

Growing in popularity is Debris Netting, which some folk beg off building sites. But some versions have attachment slots in 2 or 3 rows along its length & I'm a little worried that they can allow the C/Ws in. If you feel the same, try to get the slotless version. Or sew up the slots as some do.

And for those whoe plants are outgrowing the protection, next year allow a 3 foot overlap all around so that you can contain even PSB.

[Two_Sheds]

Growing in popularity is Debris Netting, which some folk beg off building sites. But some versions have attachment slots in 2 or 3 rows along its length & I'm a little worried that they can allow the C/Ws in. If you feel the same, try to get the slotless version. Or sew up the slots as some do.

And for those whoe plants are outgrowing the protection, next year allow a 3 foot overlap all around so that you can contain even PSB.

I didn't realised there was a slotless version ... I do suspect my butterflies are getting in thru the slots (they don't get out again, at least not in one piece). It's still good stuff though, 73p a metre off eBay.

I also bought 2m width, when I really should have got 3m width. Autumn job - sewing all the holes shut

[SarzWix]

If you do a search on eBay for 'Net curtains' and only look at the 'Used' ones rather than new, there are some right bargains - someone selling 11 net curtains, 5½ftx8½ft for a fiver! That'd cover a lot of cabbages
I think the debris netting is ok if you know someone to buy it off locally, but some of the eBay sellers are getting wise and now include 'Garden' in their title, along with a higher price tag!

[JennieAtkinson]

- it is an overkill for C/Ws.

I don't know that I would agree with that. The little b*****s have got through the enviromesh. I used an old net curtain last year and they go through that too.

[lottie dolly]

on the subject of debris netting,we were lucky enough to be given loads of it,what i did was machine 2 long lengths together,i used some nylon thread i happen to have,and my industrial L/s on it's largest stitch,holding the netting out so,when tis done it will not crack,and the nylon will not rot as a cotton thread would,this is in use stretched out over a metal frame,and is exellent,so for next season i for 1 will be sewing up up all the hole's,safe in knowledge that if i use the nylon thread i will not have wasted my time,the cabbage whites can get in the tiny holes easy by folding up their wings,

[Demeter]

I don't know that I would agree with that. The little b*****s have got through the enviromesh. I used an old net curtain last year and they go through that too.

How?! Was it a gap in the netting or that the holes were too big to keep them out?

Just wondering because I am hoping to net mine next year if I can rig up something affordable but it doesn't seem like there's much point if they can get through no matter what you do! Or is it worth it to keep out 95% of them even if you still have to go in and sort out the progeny of the other 5%?

[JennieAtkinson]

Well I thought I had everything pretty well sown up, but I think they've managed to get in through the TINIEST LITTLE GAP between the two sheets I was using. Having said that only one plant was affected and not that badly, so I was able to "sort it out" so to speak - pick of the offenders and give it a blast of soapy water.

So YES it does work, but I think you have to accept that they manage to get in through the tiniest of gaps!

[Demeter]

Thanks Jennie, that's reassuring!
I think I can cope with the odd one getting past the defences, it's the thousands of caterpillars I've had this year (literally, thousands) that I can't cope with!!

[Two_Sheds]

Yes, the odd determined one will always get through, but you need to keep the hordes out.

The worst thing is to think that because you have netting you are protected: you still have to lift it and check for caterpillars, and baby snails too

[Two_Sheds]

this works

This hot weather has brought the CWB out in force, there are 100s flitting about the allotment.

I noticed they're very keen on verbena bonariensis & lavender, so I've planted some near out tap.
The CWBs are pretty easy to catch when they're feeding, with a kid's fishing net. This is one morning's catch.



I don't feel bad about killing them, they're hardly endangered. For every adult you kill you're saving yourself picking off 100s of caterpillars: the female will lay up to 600 eggs.

UK Butterflies - Large White - Pieris brassicae