I wonder if anyone can help? We planted some cabbages two or three weeks ago and have done everything we've been advised. They are covered by netting to keep the pigeons off and we are regularly putting lime and slug pellets down but the leaves are still being eaten by something. To the extent that we have now lost several plants.
When watering the cabbages, we keep seeing tiny spiders with white bottoms running away and wondered if these could be the culprits and if so, how we can get rid of them. Equally, if they aren't the culprits, what could it be?
We just don't know what else we can do to prevent our cabbages from dying! :'(
Hi Kate is there any chance of a picture please.
Of the spiders or the cabbages? Shall see what I can do, but unsure when I'll next get down there!
You don't need to keep liming... it's not the spiders, they are foraging for tiny insects and don't eat cabbage.. Sounds like ther are some big snails lurking in the vicinity. If you can't do the torchlight moon stomp look around for the hiding places. Pellets will get them but the bigger they are the longer/more it takes to kill them. A boot is a quick fix... ;D
As long as the plants haven't been attacked to badly they should be ok. As has been said, it is probably snail or slugs that are doing the damage, but compared to pigeons that should be very little.
I agree with some of the comments so far!
No need to lime again after planting out and watering is not required either if your soil preparation has been good.
My guess is slugs, if they havent taken the growing tip you should be Ok.
Thought for today;
If you water your plot you have created the ideal 'skid pan' for slugs and snails, have you noticed they are more prolific after it rains rather than in a dry spell?
I never water mine after planting out and to hell with phaffing about with eggshells and the like as some people do.
Dry soil is just as good a deterrant.
If needs must, and you have to water, water each plant individually rather than wetting the soil all around, this also means you are not watering the weeds as well.
We've been watering our cabbages every time we've been there, sometimes twice a day! Though, as you suggest, do only water the individual plants.
We've still got a lot of overgrown allotment very close to where the cabbages are planted, I wonder if the snails and slugs could be hiding there. Am popping over this morning and will take a photo and then see if I can work out how to post it.
We have been liming a lot, we went through 3kg (I think, it was a huge bag!) in just under a fortnight!
Thanks for your comments, will stop watering now and see if that improves.