Cabbage white help needed

[jesssands]

I am having a job keeping off the dreaded things, they have laid eggs and I have been out and scrubbed them off with soapy water. Is there anything I can do to help now? I am suspecting a few have hatched, as there are a few with holes in.
Also, if the leaves get eaten will this effect the sweede? being a root veg?
Have brussels and cabbage too.
Guess I should have netted them, but too late now!

[jesssands]

[star]

Yes too late to net them. Im having the same problem this year as are many others.

I have heard that a strong boiled garlic solution helps if sprayed on the leaves. But I dont have spare garlic for that purpose. So like you I hand pick.......a pain though aint it.

[tim]

Let's be different. As usual!!

1. NOT too late to net. They have only just started their invasion.

2. Whatever the plant, be they eggs or caterpillars, just squidge them. Quick & easy!

3. BUT - having netted, you have to do a thorough check for them at least each week.

[star]

 ;D ;D ;D Quite right Tim.....I best get on and do mine then!!

[tim]

Get the Cat to help you??

[jesssands]

do you know when the danger period is over?

[tim]

When they stop!!

[Fork]

Cabbage whites normally active between July and September.

[saddad]

It won't affect your eating the swede, if they are big enough, but will stop them growing if the Caterpillars take off all the leaves...  :)

[jesssands]

Will deffo net next year, but for this year, I am disapointed  :( ,Should have known better! I just don't think as we both work all week, I will be able to spend time checking and checking, sadly I have them in 3 separate areas of the garden.
Next year will nett them and plant all the brassica family together.
For now tho, is there a spray or something I could use? Before I end up losing the lot?

[Fork]

There are numerous sprays you can use....depends if you like using chemicals though.

At the first signs of attack by the cabbage white I had the sprayer out and sprayed with "Rapid".....says on the bottle its harmless to ladybirds so i used it.

[manicscousers]

liquid derris does for caterpillars  :)

[tim]

Sprays.

Once again, they have to actually hit the pests, & that is always difficult. Most are on the undersides of the leaves.

2. You don't know that you've hit them.

3. Finger & thumb takes little longer & is positive.

4. Niether Rapid nor Derris - correct me if I'm wrong - will kill eggs. So you have ti wait until Caterpillars are causing diamage before you can act?

[bedrockdave]

Ive had no probs so far this year but I keep watering with a solution of water that has had rhubarb leaves rotting in it , It smells AWFUL ( i have to do it when the better half isn't there) but it keeps the whites away

[tim]

And then you eat the Cabbages??!!

Oh, my spelling on the previous post!

No problems? You mean that nothing has yet been eaten? Well, it's a bit early for that?

[Jeannine]

We have four cats camping out over my brassica bed, I don't think they have missed many, as they are chomping on the whites every time I look, and so far no sign of nibbles on the  eggies.

XX Jeannine