Kale question

[Headfry]

Hi folks,

My kale has had all its top leaves striped by caterpillars
Will there be any chance of a winter crop or should I pull them up
Many thanks

[amandaandherveg]

Sorry to hear about your kale Headfry. I noticed today that they'd been snaffling mine too, I thought we'd seen the last of them. Some are worse than others but I'm leaving them in to see how they get on.

[rustylady]

My curly kale isn't too bad, but they've had a right go at the black Tuscan. I'm picking and squishing caterpillars as fast as I can. I'm going to leave the plants in and hope for the best. I don't need the space for anything else at the moment so I'll see how it goes.

[vicky]

You may as well leave it, at this time of year the space can't be used for much else - see how it does. Last year my caterpillar infested kales grew enough leaves for winter harvest so you should get something!

[Hazel at the Hill]

Brassicas are super hardy, Headfry - pick off any caterpillars that you see (voracious little beggars) and the kale will recover in a spring spurt. Actually, my Sutherland Kale (heritage varitey, thankyou BirdieWife) having been nibbled a few weeks ago is putting on tons of growth, and I look forward to eating in over winter.

Your's will be ok too, I'm sure, HF - just keep your eye on it. xx

[zazen999]

So has mine, it is still in modules and just looks like grass now. Going to sow some more in case this doesn't recover.

[Demeter]

Mine was eaten alive - some of them didn't make it, others have recovered completely. It was generally the ones that had a bit of leaf left that recovered whereas those that didn't, didn't.

(Having said that I think the little b***rs were still eating them so I don't know if they would have recovered if they'd been left in peace!)

[SlugLobber]

Oh I thought it was getting too late to sow more kale! I have the same problem and have placed a bottle cloche over my only surviving plant. It hasn't done much, though!

[Headfry]

Thank you so much, I will leave them be and hope for the best!
I have been picking the caterpillars off! grrrr little blighters!

[nerobot]

Some of mine have been attacked, really badly, by black fly. Seems to be growing well, but the leaves are a bit deformed

Steven

[Flummery]

Mine are just stalks now thanks to the caterpillars. The butterflies DID get under the net! I'm thinking of chopping the tops off and hoping for a Doctor Who style re-generaton. Live in hopes, that's my motto (well, one of them anyway!)

[T-lady]

My Walking Stick Kale has been utterly decimated but, having spent hours picking all the little blighters off t'other week, they are just now starting back into leaf. Think as long as they've got a decent root run going they'll survive (hardy plants they are!)