Kale and cabbage whites?

Last post 10-06-2011 5:44 PM by sue1002. 12 replies.

• 08/06/2011 11:02 AM
  hydropiper Location: Cardiff Joined on: 23 Jun 2009 Posts: 162	Reply | Contact Does anyone know it varieties of Kale like Cavelero de Nero, aka Tuscan Kale, are still attractive to cabbage white butterflies? Just wondering if I need to cover them up with netting or not.  Chris

• 08/06/2011 12:39 PM	In reply to
  lillyrose Location: kent Joined on: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 2,973	Reply | Contact  Hope not as I am growing Tuscan Kale for the first time this year

• 08/06/2011 06:16 PM	In reply to
  EvaInNL Location: Holland Joined on: 25 Sep 2009 Posts: 1,759	Reply | Contact I did grow tuscan kale very successfully last year, only had them under fleece for the first couple of weeks after planting out and they did very well. I would go for fleece just to be sure... those caterpillars are hungry b*ggers!

• 08/06/2011 06:24 PM	In reply to
  sue1002 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk Joined on: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 9,503	Reply | Contact  I'm growing the Tuscan Kale for the first time this year also, mine are already in the brassica cage which has been netted with enviromesh since the day the brassicas were planted in it, no moths or butterflies are laying their eggs on any of my brassicas this year. sue1002

• 09/06/2011 10:01 AM	In reply to
  sweet_t Location: UK Joined on: 21 Apr 2010 Posts: 207	Reply | Contact Don't know about cabbage whites, but my tuscan kale was definitely munched on by snails...the trails are a dead giveaway!

• 09/06/2011 10:39 AM	In reply to
  EvaInNL Location: Holland Joined on: 25 Sep 2009 Posts: 1,759	Reply | Contact  Nothing can stop the mighty snail....

• 09/06/2011 10:59 AM	In reply to
  sweet_t Location: UK Joined on: 21 Apr 2010 Posts: 207	Reply | Contact True, Eva! I'm hoping it got bored because I couldn't find it, no matter how hard I looked.... But there's not been any activity for about a week now so fingers crossed it's going to leave my kale alone now!

• 09/06/2011 07:31 PM	In reply to
  Tim Alderman Location: SE London NW Kent Joined on: 07 Dec 2009 Posts: 159	Reply | Contact None of my Kales were affected by caterpillars last year and other brassicas were so........ not a definitive answer but mine were ok.

• 09/06/2011 11:46 PM	In reply to
  hydropiper Location: Cardiff Joined on: 23 Jun 2009 Posts: 162	Reply | Contact Thanks for your replies. I think I'll plant them out without netting. But if I notice cabbage whites are attracted to them, I'll fling the net over and squash the catterpiller eggs before they hatch. Would love to here how others get on with growing Tuscan Kale, as it's my 1st time growing it too. I'm hoping it'll keep me in greens all winter.  Chris

• 10/06/2011 12:17 PM	In reply to
  Tim Alderman Location: SE London NW Kent Joined on: 07 Dec 2009 Posts: 159	Reply | Contact I am sure they will do well. Kale can get a bit chewy to eat so it might be an idea to have other things as well (Sprouts, roots etc?)  It would relieve the boredom. Tim

• 10/06/2011 04:48 PM	In reply to
  EvaInNL Location: Holland Joined on: 25 Sep 2009 Posts: 1,759	Reply | Contact  For the snails or for hydropiper?

• 10/06/2011 05:33 PM	In reply to
  lillyrose Location: kent Joined on: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 2,973	Reply | Contact

• 10/06/2011 05:44 PM	In reply to
  sue1002 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk Joined on: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 9,503	Reply | Contact  Both I reckon Eva sue1002