Pest control ideas?

[robstott]

Hi there,

I've got groups of small orangey eggs on the underside of my turnips' leaves. I'm guessing these are going to hatch into caterpillars soon and scoff my lovely plants. So far I've been picking the eggs off when I see them but I'm fighting a losing battle.

I'm sure I could spray them with something nasty to kill the blighters off, but I'd rather keep that as an absolute last resort if I can. Although I'm not 100% organic, I like to keep things as close to that ideal as I can.

So I guess what I'm asking is whether there's anything I can try before I resort to nuking them with chemicals? Anything I can do to discourage butterflies from laying eggs in the first place? Anything I can do to get rid of the eggs/caterpillars?

Any ideas much appreciated!

Cheers
Rob

[Two_Sheds]

Anything I can do to discourage butterflies from laying eggs in the first place?

Physical barriers: voile net curtain or fleece. Voile is tougher and longer-lasting. £1 per metre from eBay or curtain shops.

[Demeter]

Squashing the eggs / picking off the caterpillars will work if you can keep up with them. Disposing of the body is easy - pop them in some water, they drown more or less instantly, then pour the lot onto the compost heap. Soapy spray will also do in the caterpillars, as long as you get the spray actually in contact with the beastie.

Not sure whether it is a good idea to put a barrier on now (maybe save it for next year) as you will want good access to monitor the plants and remove any caterpillars that appear.

I've also resigned myself to sharing with them to some extent, on the basis that as long as they don't scoff the *whole* plant I will at least still get a crop - and I don't really like brassica leaves all that much, so I don't mind if they have holes in!

Next year I will try and organise net (not sure I will get around to it though) but I am also trying the effect of interplanting. I don't actually want to grow huge quantites brassicas so I'm thinking of "hiding" them in amongst my other crops, making it more difficult for the flutterbies to find them...

[robstott]

Some good tips there, cheers folks. I'll teach those pesky caterpillars a thing or two...

Rob