Cabbage white butterfly - deter them?

mustafa_say_ving

jjjme wrote: »

I have the same exact problem. In the 5 years of living on the coast here in East Kent I have NEVER seen so many cabbage whites as I have this year now that I'm growing red cabbages. In fact I'm in the process of constructing a cover out of mosquito mesh panels from an old gazebo because I'm fed up with the amount of eggs (and now caterpillars)

I'd also be interested to know whether soapy water is suitable for use on them as I really don't know what else to do!

I'm in Kent too and & I just can't believe how many we've got. I thought I'd be clever & pick all the eggs & catterpillers off by hand.

Needless to say the butterflies have won this particular battle.....I've given up now. Nets next year for sure!

jjjme

I'm refusing to admit defeat even though I have destroyed so many eggs yet still have a fair few caterpillars! I've decided that I'm going to give them a good going over then cover with very fine netting checking daily for any caterpillars that emerge. It seems that my Red Cabbages have gotten big enough now to be not suffering too much damage visibly so I MIGHT win this one lol

Thanks everyone for confirming netting is the only pest control - I had hoped that wouldn't be the answer but hey hehe

mustafa_say_ving wrote: »

I'm in Kent too and & I just can't believe how many we've got. I thought I'd be clever & pick all the eggs & catterpillers off by hand.

Needless to say the butterflies have won this particular battle.....I've given up now. Nets next year for sure!

Mojisola

Prevention is definitely the way to go but if things get really bad there's this stuff -
https://www.allotment.org.uk/greenhouse/Garden_Tools/garden-849.html

Has anyone tried it?

antispam246

We had a similar problem and resolved it by using a fixed wired plastic mesh (netting) that covered the cabbage (which was being attacked). It works fine aslong as you properly pin it down to the ground otherwise they will get in under it. Some try to squeeze in but it's too fine, so I usualyl return home from work to see several of them stuck in it.

Bitsy_Beans

I use netting but because the netting is stretched the butterflies fly between the gaps although they do struggle to sit on the leaves. I've had some small caterpillars but not many so perhaps my netting is doing better than I thought.
They haven't ravaged my crop so perhaps I am slightly winning the battle?

RebekahR

Same issue here. Holes in cabbages everywhere. I've given up the fight. If I end up with any cabbages left i'll eat whats left. I've tried spraying, picking eggs and caterpillars off, and putting standard green netting over it. Think the netting must be too big holes and they get in that. Keep having to let the butterflies out.

angelavdavis

As I am currently trying out the square foot planting method, I am limited with the ability to net all the brassicas as well as I would like, so I have planted nasturtiums nearby - not 100% effective but the cabbage whites seem to like them more than the cabbages, so there aren't nearly as many caterpillars on them as are on the nasturtiums.

Trishh_2

Fine netting is the only realistic way to protect brassica, best done as soon as you plant them out... Otherwise those lovely lace patterns start to appear all over your crops and well fed caterpillars are everywhere :rotfl:

Zazen999

Try using ikea Lill Net curtains - about £3 for 2 of 3mx2m-ish squares. Weight down the sides with canes, bricks, milk cartons full of water etc. They drape really nicely with no holes and are cheap enough to double up for extra protection.

Trishh_2

:rotfl: I have an image of beautifully draped brassica beds now!
Makes sense though!