Last chance for brassicas

[la cebolla grande]

Anyone else out there have the same problem??

Whenever I try to grow brassicas (cabbages, brocolli, etc etc) I get well and truly clobbered by Cabbage White Caterpillars. Here in the dry of East Anglia club root etc doesn't seem a problem.

All books that I read about pests of brassicas suggest the following solutions.

1) Pick off the offending beasties. To my mind not practical for a large lottie, and certainly not for someone who works full time.....

2) Spray: either with non-organic herbicides, or for those of us with an organic tendency, Pyrethrum - or similar (although to my mind this can be even more discriminate than some of the specific ''non-organic'' ones, but thats another story.......)

My question is this (finally, I've got to the point!): This year me and the O.H. are going to try to grow all our brassicas in one bed and build a cage around it, covered in very fine mesh. Hopefully by the time the plants get big enough to touch the sides they will be a) big enough to cope with caterpillars, and b) it may be too late in the year for the so-and-sos anyway.

It seems the logical/obvious solution but I have NEVER seen this method used/recommended etc. Has anyone else tried this, seen it used. Does it work?? Is there a fatal flaw I am missing.

Help - I've almost given up trying to grow anything other than Rocket from this family!!

LCG

[supersprout]

Yes, provided the mesh is fine and there are no little holes for the beasties to fly into, it works well. You take the mesh off for the photos and everyone goes oo aa

[smallblueplanet]

Yep the only time we've grown successful cauli's, cabbages, broccoli, etc is when we made a 'cage' from bamboo canes and enviromesh weighted down with bricks.

Definately worth it, if a bit faffy.

[theothermarg]

we have to cover ours all winter because of pigeons, i,v found access is a problem unless the net is high enough to stand up in and fine stuff is very expensive .ifound net does cut down on cw,s but dosn,t keep whitefly out
which is the problem on my patch if you look it up you will only find a solution for greenhouse whitefly
good luck and if it works out we can all copy marg

[Lesley Jay]

Using a net over a framework is the only way I ever grow cabbages and cauliflowers. I net them over as soon as they are planted and the net stays in place throughout the growing season. You must ensure though that the leaves don't touch the netting otherwise the cabbage white can still land on the leaves and lay their eggs.

[xspye]

Net is definatly the way to go. It is expensive but it's not any where near as fragile as fleece so will last several seasons if you treat it well

[la cebolla grande]

This is obviously the way to go then, and we will build a frame and set to. I just wonder why this never seems to be offered as a solution in books!

LCG

[rustylady]

This may be my last year of growing brassicas. I'm planning to net/fleece the whole lot. I'm sick and tired of the little beasties. Cabbage white caterpillars, snails, and whitefly. I don't like spraying, and the handpicking theory is OK if you don't work and want to spend hours and hours on the lottie picking off caterpillars. Whitefly have been a real problem this year, they're not even big enough to pick off.

[dwrudd]

I am a firm beleiver in prevention is better than cure and whilst keeping the butterlies off is a great idea, putting them off is much better.
I make a barrell of rhubarb leaves steeped in water and sprinkle it over the crop on a weekley basis. This really put them off, also, get a couple of large (ish) containers and plant them up with nasturtiums, this gives a long lasting companion plant which the butterflies love.

The combination really does the trick but you have to keep up the watering. Its cheaper, and you get some lovely flowers which you can eat in a summer salad. Win Win situation.

Darren

[vicki lorraine]

Yep, i bought my tennis balls today! Will be constructing a cage from canes and tennis balls. Have also read in my books that net curtain does the job too. Although this would not look so good. The spring cabbage i have in at the moment have been hand picked and are going great at the moment. However i am still picking off some catterpillars thought they would all be gone by now.
Good luck with your cage.
We will all have to post some photos of our constructions when they are built.

[j.flett]

whitefly wipeout.one cup of sour milk (let it stand out for 2 days )2 tbsp,of flour 2 pints of warm water.mix together and spray over plants.as recomended by a book of american cure alls / hope it works.

[supersprout]

We will all have to post some photos of our constructions when they are built.

that would be great vicki lorraine, each year I vow to improve construction of stake supports. I'm doing well with wire cloches from Harrod Horticultural now - but not so good on the sticks and stakes. Last year the weight of tomatoes broke their supports, the cabbage net sagged, and the bean poles went sideways. Harrumph! I'd love to see how other people rig supports!

[JennieAtkinson]

I'm doing the same this year and planned the beds to get the most out of the framework. However, I was going to cover with Environmesh as netting last year didn't do the trick, but I think that was becasue my frame wasn't high enough. How high are you all thinking of building?

[vicki lorraine]

Was thinking of using my sewing skills and OH Diy skills. Perhaps a construction made of 1"x1" wood and then enviro mesh but so i can get to the veg i was going to use velcro sewn onto the mesh and get OH to attach the loopy bit of the velcro to the wooden frame.
This way i do not have to have a walk in cage.
Will work out the highest brassica (probably the sprouts or purple sprouting) and build about a foot higher and wider.