Cure for cabbage white???

[sewer rat]

U can use Enviromesh or alternatively, keep your crops covered with a lightweight horticultural fleece - just ensure that there are no gaps where it hits the ground and leave enough slack to allow comfortable growth for your crops - carrots are often grown under fleece until nearly ready for harvest.

[sewer rat]

As a slight aside, Nick, what sort of yield do you get from your sprouts - per plant? Looking for crops to provide revenue over the winter months and sprouts are an obvious starter to look at.

[nick the grief]

Dunno the bloody caterpllars have got them every other year

wellington are about 2ft 6in high at the moment & fairly short jointed. The buttons are about 10-15 mm at the minute & I guess they should end up around 25mm & are supposed to crop from about October till christmas.

Bridgette are around 18" tall & are again short jointed & should crop from December till around March if I remember right. Not much used to you I guess but it's my first year with any success!

[JennieAtkinson]

has anyone tried spraying with salt water .as a new grower i have been advised that it worksbut not sure if it would harm the soil any thoughts anyone

Eddie - there is another thread I think entitled something worse than slugs where we discussed our success or otherwiseof spraying with salt water. Didn't work for me, but I did use an organic spray called Natural Pest Control, pulled off all the affected leaves and covered with enviromesh. Now my broccoli heads are starting to grow.

Hope this helps.

[eddie]

thanks gang for the comments spraying seems to be working for me .but building cages for next season reading g.y.o today gave me somthing else to worry about .cabbage moth ..should i take same precautions as for our white enemy cheers eddie

[clarelouise4]

Hi
I was reading the back of a seed packet today for some sweet marjoram and it said it helps deter cabbage whites - I know its not much use for immediately but it may help for next year.
Clare

[snohare]

Hey Snadger, if you are trying to stop clubroot, have you tried cornmeal ? Supposedly it has very potent anti-fungal properties, it's a well known folk remedy poulitice for athletes foot, dandruff and all sorts in America.... Only in America.

[pumpkin cuddler]

A few years back, completely by accident I planted florence fennel in with some of my cabbage family. the cabbages with the florence fennel had no problem with cabbage butterflies.
In fact you could watch the butterflies head downto the bed with the cabbages/florence fennel and then fly off to the bed with no florence fennel.
From then on in we have always planted our cabbage family with the fennel.
You also have the added bonus of the fennel to eat, if you like it of course!!
We do also net them i have to say but we do have problems with pigeons too.
The bloke next door to us on his allotment has his cabbages netted and they have still been devastated by the butterflies.
Hope this is of help.

[bootie]

I was recomended to use a salt solution 60gr to 4.5ltr. When I sprayed it on the caterpillars they reared on their rear ends as if to say thanks for salting our food. I still have caterpillars I will use derris next year.

[dexterdoglancashire]

It has been very interesting reading everyones comments, (which actually follow on from my problems earlier this year in an earlier thread ) - will take note of your advice and put it to good use next year! dexterdog

[Earthbabe]

I have fleeced this year as my plants have gone in late. So far so good but may need to use this advice. Like the sound of the florence fennel though. Remember that is lovely roasted and more edible than horticultural fleece.

[Snadger]

Hey Snadger, if you are trying to stop clubroot, have you tried cornmeal ? Supposedly it has very potent anti-fungal properties, it's a well known folk remedy poulitice for athletes foot, dandruff and all sorts in America.... Only in America.

Thanks snobare, never heard of this remedy, will definately give it a try though! Is cornmeal the same as cornflour? If so I am sure oh has some in the cupboard somewhere. If not, any idea where I would get it?

Just out of interest I have found one brassica that is resistant...Kale, trouble is I am not sure how nice it is to eat as I always associate it with cattle food. Lol

[Earthbabe]

Kale is delicious Snadger, especially picked young and lightly steamed. Serve with a little butter and a twist of black pepper. It tends to be even better once it has had a frost on it.

I have however found it it not resistant to cabbage white butterfly caterpillars and pigeons

Mind you I grew up eating Kale and a lot of Calabrese. As with all dark green veg it is deemed a "superfood" and contains lots of goodies.

[rauni]

salt spray

I've sprayed my sprouts and calabrese etc with salt water spray for the first time this year. Usually I'm left with skeletal leaves, and I have to say, it helped a lot, but it didn't totally stop them. My neighbours patch (very close) ended up lace-like, and mine were much better, to the extent that it was possible to pick off the caterpillars that were there. The plants are still healthy, with a bit of damage, but a massive improvement on last year. Worth a go in my book.

[j.flett]

nicotine

this year ive grown smokable tobacco (burley) & a extract of nicotine made by soaking a few leaves in water ,kills the pests in under a minute,when sprayed on,brilliant.