Caterpillar's eating my purple sprouting broccoli

[veggiemad]

Hi All,

Can anyone please offer advice on how I can stop the caterpillar's from completely destroying my crop.

Thanks!

[greenishfing]

I go round and pick the little blighters off by hand (pain in the neck job I know) and drop them in a jar full of water. Then I tip them onto the bird table.

[bearded bloke]

Similar ^^^^^ but I give them to the chooks

[chris]

You need to net any brassica, really. Before the butterflies have chance to lay eggs on your crops.

[Alison]

I net from planting out with enviromesh but any I do get (very few if properly covered) are just squished between finger and thumb.

[Two_Sheds]

You need butterfly net/mesh, it's the only way to keep them out. It needs to be suspended above the crop, otherwise the butterflies can "squat & drop" their eggs.

Even then, you need to do regular picking patrols, because some WILL get through

[angie a]

I didn't get my p sp broc covered early enough & have had real problems. I was suprised though to find, after 2 frosty nights, I STILL have caterpillers. I hose them off & soak the ground every day. I really thought the frost would have finished them off!

[rustylady]

Hosing and watering won't kill them Angie. You need to squash the little bu@@ers

[Florence Fennel]

I'd better inspect my PSB. I've been so busy with Snug Patrols I forgot about the caterpillars. Funny word that, caterpillar.

[veggiechicken]

Funny word that, caterpillar.

Then you should change it! How about caterpillock?

[Two_Sheds]

I really thought the frost would have finished them off!

The frost doesn't get everywhere: it won't reach inside the folds of leaves, for instance, which is where the caterpillars will sleep

Then you should change it! How about caterpillock?

We call them pillarcats

[bazzaboy]

Funny word that, caterpillar.

Interesting word FF and quite ancient too as evidently in regular use since the Fifteenth Century! Dictionaries trace 2 parts, "cater" and "pillar" the first part meaning a "hairy cat" and second part "pillar" meaning to "pillage" and "plunder"! So it's a (miniature) hairy cat that plunders (your PSB)!! That sounds pretty accurate!

[northepaul]

squash them, if you dont like the thought, wear rubber gloves!