What is eating my cabbage seedlings?

[john9159]

I planted cabbage seedlings grown in my greenhouse onto the allotment plot before Christmas.
Over the weeks something has been eating them but I don't know what.
They are in a 1/2" mesh enclosure and covered with net.
I have spent hops on the soil but this is not in direct contact with the seedlings.
I've never had this problem in the past so what can the problem be?

[Bill HH]

Same problem here, I have actualy found caterpillars on them, but then we havent had any frost in our part of Devon (yet). When I was hoeing round them I turned up a few so they must hide underground and come out at night.

[binley100]

or the snugs..they are still very much active..

[kathyd]

Irritating isn't it? I stuck some cabbages and a couple of other left-over brassicas in my polytunnel, and I've been pulling caterpillars off them since. I was sure I'd got them all finally, but something's still munching! Tried slug pellets but they don't seem to be helping - could it be mice?

[Penellype]

I was out this morning with tweezers and jar pulling slugs off the broccoli, and I also found a large green caterpillar. My broccoli is still under netting but we have snow forecast as a possibility Sunday night or Monday so I will have to keep an eye on the forecast and get ready to remove it if necessary.

[Snadger]

Same problem here, I have actualy found caterpillars on them, but then we havent had any frost in our part of Devon (yet). When I was hoeing round them I turned up a few so they must hide underground and come out at night.

Cut worms do that Bill!

They look like caterpillars, come out at night, snip of the plant at the stem, have a bit of a nibble then burrow back down under the plants roots. Usually if you pull the plant up you will find them there, curled in a spiral having a siesta, ready to make an evening foray on the next plant in the row!