How to help my chewed up PSB?

[Growem]

I went up to my allotment today for the first time in a few weeks to pick some Cavalo Nero and noticed that before the snow hit, all my PSB had be a feasting ground for what I assume is cabbage moth. There wasn't anything on the leaves when I looked (well, what was left of the leaves), so I'm hoping this cold snap has killed off a good part of them.

Is there any chance that some TLC will revive my PSB? And what kind of tender loving care should I give them? All the plants look well chewed up, but none are down to bare stalks or anything, so I think given a bit of good weather and less negligence by me, they might perk up and keep growing.

[SarzWix]

I don't think there's a lot you can do to help them, it's too early to feed them! You could put some fleece over them but it probably won't make much difference. When the weather perks up a bit, you could feed them with some chicken pellets (or soak them in water to make chicken poo tea, but not too strong) which have a good amount of nitrogen which the #PSB will need for making new leaves.

[Two_Sheds]

It would have been pigeons,

not caterpillars at this time of year.

[Flummery]

My vote is pigeons too - they strip greens in the winter and early spring. I have some wire netting cages that I put over greens. The only thing they don't ravage is chard - fortunately - I love chard. You can even add some to curry - for a sag type thing. wonderful stuff. I think if you can net it off now you might still get some hearting up of the shoots in a month or two.

[Growem]

Hmm, you might be right about the pigeons. I thought some of the leaves were left with a lacy pattern, but if I think more about it, it probably was actually more picked and ripped off. I don't have any netting cages, will fleece keep them at bay?

As for chard, I had lots last year, but this year it's the Cavalo Nero that's keeping me going through the winter. Had it yesterday with chorizo and potato soup. Yummy yummy!

[lottie dolly]

net or voil curtains also do the job,just make sure no big holes in the pattern for cabbage whites,ask frinds and reletives if they have any hidden away they no longer use,and charity shops,if you leave the later till later in the year,you maybe find others at the same game,and nothing left lol.

[janeyo]

Something has ravaged my chard Thought it was the pigeons. Maybe it was the deer?

[Nes]

I agree it probably was pigeons, BUT I have still been finding caterpillars on my PSB, in spite of the weather . Wonder if they might be sheltering in the compost heap next to it, and wriggling back during the slightly warmer days