Bug/Caterpillar Killers

[cotswold]

So many people, even now, are reaching for their guns after the worst plague of C/W Caterpillars in memory, that I thought it might be helpful - even at this late stage - to post a warning.

I note that Provado, which boasts a Caterpillar on its face, does not kill Caterpillars!! In any case, it is only for use on Brassica, up to the 8 leaf stage, & then only ONCE.

And its recommended alternative - a bifenthrin based product, also has the ONE application caveat.

So. we're back to the old methods of covering early & thoroughly, & squishing any eggs that beat the mesh? Too late to wait until all have hatched - as found this year.

[Helen Johnson]

I seemed to have constantly green fingers from all the squishing of the blighters!! They're still a problem now, looking forward to eating the kale though

[Sue]

I've mentioned it before, grow nasturtiums all round the garden/allotment cover up compost heaps with them, they're good ground cover and great in anything hanging. With brassicas netted, the cw's have resorted to laying their eggs on the nasturtiums and the caterpillars have been eating that and I've not found any on my brassicas.
The nasturtiums are good for the bees too and they seed themselves from year to year making them no trouble at all and when the frost kill them off, they're good fodder for the compost heap so benefits all round.
Sue

[Comfreyfan]

Right, Nasturiums everywhere next year it is. I've just come in from tidying the brassica bed. I thought it should be safe to take the netting off now and let the birds have a pre-winter feed on the caterpillars which are STILL THERE and STILL EATING EVERYTHING IN SIGHT! Turns out my netting was just the right size to protect the cabbage whites from all their natural predators - except me of course!

[Sue]

Comfreyfan
Commiserations, if only I could find a plant that attracted the slugs off my veg. Spent most of the afternoon crawling around my turnips and winter radishes picking slugs off - not my favourite occupation in a heavy drizzling rain...
Sue

[Headfry]

Why are there so many this year, when I hardly saw any white butterflies or coloured ones for that matter!
I thought as it was cold and wet, we would have a better year....WRONG I have had the worst infestation of caterpillars EVER!
How have the organic growers copped!

[wiccanlou]

Hostas are a slugs favourite i've seen them decimate them and leave other plants alone. Wish i had the money to buy them though

[Protea]

Just thought i would let you know that there are other products available that kill catterpillars and have no harvest, crop, or no. of application rescrictions:

natural pyrethrum based products work brilliantly. i've been using Aquablast bug spray all summer on my brassica's and other plants and it kills catterpillars, aphids, whitefly and spider mite. Its not systemic and you can harvest a day later on edible veg. Strikeback also do a similar product. look them up on t'internet to find a supplier.