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!
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.
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.
;D ;D ;D Quite right Tim.....I best get on and do mine then!!
Get the Cat to help you??
do you know when the danger period is over?
When they stop!!
Cabbage whites normally active between July and September.
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... :)
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?
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.
liquid derris does for caterpillars :)
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?
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
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?
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