Topic: Cabbage help please

[Roy Bham UK]

I have April cabbage standing about 10 inches high that have been attacked by light green grubs/caterpillars also I have found small black/yellow grubs/caterpillars on them. Is there an organic way to deal with these if not what would you recommend to zap em.?

[redimp]

I zapped mine with potato haulm tea that had some milk and garlic in it.  I haven't been up since the weekend - parents evening (You know how that is don't you Roy or am I thinking of someone else)  I will get up tomorrow afternoon (PPA time  ;D) and will let you know the results.

[ptennisnet]

Fingers and thumbs and a boot heels...

Yukky but it works

[Mrs Ava]

I grew April cabbages last year Roy and will be doing so again this year, but I won't sow mine for another couple of weeks yet as they are spring cabbages for planting out in very late summer. They will go where my spuds are currently residing!

Catterpillas....I'm afraid I squish them with my fingers, even though after a while, it does make me feel a bit icky......  :-\

[Roy Bham UK]

 :o Eeek!! :o I can't finger and thumb fat grubs argh!! :P I think I will get my grandson to collect them as that is one of his favourite pass times at the minute.
RC are you thinking of Robert from Brum?... Potato haulm tea? ??? tell me more, not sure what that is or how to make it,

Emma I will check the sowing instructions, maybe I have started them off too early :-\ :-[
 

[redimp]

RC are you thinking of Robert from Brum?... Potato haulm tea? ??? tell me more, not sure what that is or how to make it,

Yes - realised my faux pas and that it was the other RB when I read the post further down the board.  ;D

Instructions (as far as I know them are in another post on this board) http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/yabbse/index.php/topic,10834.msg100185.html#msg100185

[undercarriage plan]

I think I could be repeating myself, but here goes! Best organic method I have is to take all kids over to the land and tell them I'm going to spray the cabbages and kill the catipillars!!! Squeek of protest and they clear them in no time! Cruel, but very effective!  ;D ;D ;D Lottie

[giantseye]

Yes I agree with everybody else ;D Pick them offand squish them.

I have found that putting fine mesh overmy cabbages have stopped the caterpillars ;D ;D :D

I have had to put slug traps down instead, but it has definately stopped all caterpillars.

I now have really big cabbages growing (summer ones), but I netted them just after they were planted, and it seems to have worked.

Good luck ;D

[redimp]

Potato haulm tea did not make much difference  :(.  No new caterpillars though.  Today sprayed with ivy leaf fermentation to see if that will do the trick.  Don't really like squishing - its not the squishiness I do not like but it seems a bit too direct for my sensibilities.  However, if all else fails, squish 'em I will.