growing cabbage/brassicas

lily_the_pink

Can anyone advise on the best way of protecting cabbage and other brassicas from the various nasties that attack them. I have looked at the environmesh option which seems expensive, and am a bit overwhelmed at the thought of building a complicated post structure from which to attach normal netting.

doddsy

Lily - put garden canes around and amongst the brassicas and then put drinks bottles or the plastic milk cartons over the top of the canes. You can then drape cheap garden netting over the top, and weight it down at the edges. Works for me!!

lily_the_pink

thanks doddsy - another question now - at what point do you do this? When the seeds go in, when they have sprouted or is there a certain point of the year when you have to be careful? (I ask as I have some cabbage seedling I want to plant in this week if possible?

Strepsy

You're senisible to be prepared lily, I had a whole crop of brussel sprouts last year that were completely annihilated by cabbage white caterpillars. They suddenly all woke up one day and my patch was like swiss cheese over night. If I grew them again I'd be tempted to put fleece right over them, or maybe small netting that cabbage white butterflies can't get through would be ok.

Also, rosemary and dill are meant to be beneficial companion plants for cabbages and will help provide a little protection. Good luck.

seraphina

Not sure if it's the same for cabbages but when I've just transplanted my lettuce seedlings from their little trays into the bad outdoors, I cover each of them with the top of a pop bottle that's been cut in half, with the lid removed so air and water can get in. I have some pliable copper tape I wrap round the planter they're in to stop slugs getting in - I picked it up from my garden centre. Might not be so much use if your cabbages are in beds.

sarah0404

Sorry to jump in. Can I ask another question about cabbages? I planted some in the house and they've all sprouted now. They're quite tall and not very cabbagey looking. I'm worried its a bit too hot inside for them. Should I plant them outside, or do you think they shock of the cold will kill them?

I also planted some peas inside. The outdoor ones haven't made an apperance yet, but the ones I planted inside are quite tall already. (I only planted them 2 weeks ago) Should i put them out too?

I think I will look into geting some mesh stuff too, as last year almost everything was eaten by slugs. I had a cabbage that looked ok, but when I took the outer leaves off the inside was FULL of caterpillers!

Linda32

The pea and bean netting is quite cheap and can be bought for about £2.00 from poundstretchers or similar type shops.

I'm not sure of the size but will be enough to cover a cabbage patch.

They need to be netted as soon as you plant them, if you havn't got the netting, don't waste your time planting them, honestly :eek:


Regarding the cabbage white butterflies its the caterpillar thats the problem in the first place, I beleive.

This should help, (hope I explain myself ) you've got your cabbage plants planted and what you need to do is make a barrier on the soil. To do this you can use a square of old carpet, measuring say 6 inch by 6 inch or near enough. Make a slit to the middle, then slip this around the stem of the cabbage.

Caterpillar will still come along and lay eggs, but will do so on the carpet, which then die off, thus no butterflies. :T

Noozan

Linda32 wrote:

Regarding the cabbage white butterflies its the caterpillar thats the problem in the first place, I beleive.

This should help, (hope I explain myself ) you've got your cabbage plants planted and what you need to do is make a barrier on the soil. To do this you can use a square of old carpet, measuring say 6 inch by 6 inch or near enough. Make a slit to the middle, then slip this around the stem of the cabbage.

Caterpillar will still come along and lay eggs, but will do so on the carpet, which then die off, thus no butterflies. :T

This is a good idea but it won;t stop your cabbages getting eaten by caterpillars! The "collar" around the base of the plants stops the cabbage root fly getting in - they lay their eggs in the roots of the plants and the grubs destroy the cabbages by eating the root system.

Covering the plants with mesh (needs to be fine enough to stop a butterfly getting in) will prevent the cabbage white butterflies from laying eggs on the leaves. You need to net them as soon as you plant them.

lily_the_pink

Thanks so much for all your replies - there is a real science to all this (and to carrots - what with carrot fly and all). I am still suffering from pre-planting traumatic stress syndrom though have managed to get parsnips and spring onions planted. Hopefully will work up the courage to get some cabbage in the ground next week, and peas the week after - post visit to pound stretcher to get netting.

I was going to thank you all but my thank you button seems to have disappeared. Is this a change to the site that I have missed or is there a new fangled way of thanking people?? Anyone out there to enlighten me? nb - now found out what has happened - see discussion forum

doddsy

Linda32 wrote:

Regarding the cabbage white butterflies its the caterpillar thats the problem in the first place, I beleive.

This should help, (hope I explain myself ) you've got your cabbage plants planted and what you need to do is make a barrier on the soil. To do this you can use a square of old carpet, measuring say 6 inch by 6 inch or near enough. Make a slit to the middle, then slip this around the stem of the cabbage.

Caterpillar will still come along and lay eggs, but will do so on the carpet, which then die off, thus no butterflies.


I hope you don't mind Linda but this is wrong. The cabbage white butterfly lays little green eggs on the underside of the cabbage leaves in small groups. Keep checking for these and rub them off with your thumb when you see any. Once hatched they will decimate your cabbages very quickly, so prevention is best - with a net!

The cabbage 'collars' to go around the stalk at the base is to prevent cabbage fly which is a nasty blighter! the female lands on the cabbage, walks down the stalk and lays eggs near as possible to the base, the grubs will attack the roots.

One other thing - if you do plant brassicas give them a little bit of lime, and don't plant in the same place every year to avoid disease like club root.

Still picking purple sprouting here - delish and well worth it!

Doddsy

doddsy

Help

I wanted to put Linda's text in a boxy thing - and crossed it out by accident - very sorry:eek: :eek: Can anyone tell me what I did - and how not to!!?

Doddsy