My Garden

Cabbage white caterpillars

Last post 18-09-2009 4:40 PM by Tammy. 13 replies.

• 07/09/2005 03:29 PM
  brenda Location: Joined on: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 2	Reply | Contact Apart from picking off the caterpillars of the cabbage white butterfly can anyone suggest an organic way of getting rid of these pests. A solution of washing up liquid water was suggested, which seems to work, however is this safe to use on vegetables. Brenda

• 07/09/2005 04:37 PM

  In reply to

  ken69 Location: Norfolk UK Joined on: 23 Nov 2004 Posts: 405

  Reply | Contact Tis what my neighbour does, Brenda, washing up liquid, but didn't work very well, so has resorted to squishing, but his sprouting broccolli and brussels are slowly recovering. Bad year for caterpillars.Seems nationwide.A good friend sprays his greens every week, and produces lovely cabbages especially that sort for coleslaw.I accept them but dare not eat 'em. Pass them on with a health warning.Cheers for now

• 09/09/2005 07:40 PM

  In reply to

  Fushia Location: Joined on: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 107

  Reply | Contact Hi Brenda, Re caterpillars--Sorry but prevention is better than cure--Next year be prepared and put plastic netting over the cabbage plants when the white butterflies are around, and then examine each leaf for the yellow eggs, which I just 'squash' with my rubber-gloved finger/thumb hand! It is worth it in the long run, nice clean cabbages. Sorry I'm not much help for this year. Kind Regards Kath Fushia

• 16/08/2009 12:09 PM

  In reply to

  Caxton Location: Kent Joined on: 01 Aug 2009 Posts: 7

  Reply | Contact Well there was I happily puffing them with Derris dust which ran out this morning.  Went to the garden centre to replace and they told me it was now on the banned list!  And there was me thinking it was organic.  Whoops.  Apart from picking them off, which is taking forever and leaves your fingers an attractive shade of green is it worth feeding the plants to encourage the leaves to reshoot?  I've some seaweed concentrate which is supposed to promote leaf growth. Might help them recover perhaps?

• 16/08/2009 04:34 PM

  In reply to

  bogweevil Location: Joined on: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 2,043

  Reply | Contact Sadly organic is pretty much all we have got: Consider: Nematodes: http://www.nemasysinfo.com/caterpillar.shtml - expensive and unclear how effective Natural Pyrethrins: http://vitax.co.uk/?page_id=185/&category=25&product_id=23 - can kill small caterpillars Bifenthrin is still available but limited to one treatment per crop (to manage resistance problems) and is highly effective but is not organic and you have to get that one spray just right -- early September is my choice. Boggy Beware the bat-eared bogweevil

• 16/08/2009 10:27 PM

  In reply to

  Aging Misery Location: woking Joined on: 03 Jun 2009 Posts: 78

  Reply | Contact Hi Caxton, Squishing really is rather effective but for chapter & verse on how to get rid of these little blighters you will get some really good advice from the RHS entomologists - they are genuinely qualified - and can be reached via the RHS Advisory service in person at the Wisley Plant Center. Or you could email them: entomology@rhs.co.uk Have fun Beetle  Beetling ahead....maybe.........?

• 17/08/2009 09:43 AM	In reply to
  MissFlax Location: Wymondham, Norfolk Joined on: 26 May 2009 Posts: 32	Reply | Contact Yep I agree with Fushia.  Prevention better than cure.  My purple sprouting broccoli got decimated so up it came till next year when I am going to frame and net to keep them out.  A SA lady friend of mine also suggested sprinkling cooking flour onto the leaves as apparently this deters them - if you spray the leaves then the flour sticks better.

• 17/08/2009 11:20 AM

  In reply to

  bogweevil Location: Joined on: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 2,043

  Reply | Contact People wanting to try the netting method might find this product with special 6mm netting very useful and it will keep off pigeons: http://www.knowlenets.co.uk/garden/veg_cages_shop.htm  But remember that any leaves that touch the netting can be 'got at' by the pests!  Sadly to net my vast cabbage patch the cost would be over £700 so it is not a goer for me.   Boggy             Beware the bat-eared bogweevil

• 23/08/2009 02:28 PM	In reply to
  Tammy Location: Brighton Joined on: 14 May 2009 Posts: 69	Reply | Contact Hello Brenda have a look at this it may help http://www.hygienesuppliesdirect.com/products/productdata/Pyrethrum_Specification_&_Explanation.pdf   http://www.hygienesuppliesdirect.com/products/prod132761   Best wishes

• 26/08/2009 02:35 PM

  In reply to

  bogweevil Location: Joined on: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 2,043

  Reply | Contact Many thanks for this Tammy.  My curiosity was piqued by this material as it was clearly a professional product which is generally only offered in ways that deeply discourage the amateur from attempting to purchase, and indeed technically cannot be legally used by many amateurs.  This seemed not to be the case.  Only one way to find out - I bought a bottle (I get through an amazing amount of pesticides) using my home details and not offering any of the usually necessary certificates of competence (which I have).Two days later the bottle arrived in a padded envelope with no way of collecting leaks and without instructions, although these are on the website.  As expected it was a professional product clearly marked for professional use only.  It is a genuine professional product with all the legally necessary numbers and labelling.Unlike the amateur equivalent ( http://vitax.co.uk/?page_id=185/&category=25&product_id=23 ) it requires the use of eye protection in handling the concentrate and outdoor crops are limited to two applications per brassica crop.Boggy     Beware the bat-eared bogweevil

• 26/08/2009 07:16 PM

  In reply to

  Tammy Location: Brighton Joined on: 14 May 2009 Posts: 69

  Reply | Contact Hi Boggy This product was recomended in one of the forum unfortunatelly I dont remeber the na,e of the forum, I did some reading before I bought it, when I got the product I thought it didnt have instructions, but if you unstick the label you will find the instructions there, there were not very clear for me so I called the manufacturer and I  spoke to a man who told me the it is 20 mils for every 5 litres, he said they have been working on finding out organic pestice for blight and was quite nice this person. I used the product and of course I would use mask and googles even if I use a spray, I do it when I spray organic seaweed I dont want it to get in my eyes, any way It is up to people if they want to use it , it has worked for me and is authorised for organic garden. If you read the instruction it says, three applications, with intervals of 7 days no more than three aplications.   good luck tammy

• 26/08/2009 08:08 PM

  In reply to

  bogweevil Location: Joined on: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 2,043

  Reply | Contact You are right you can use it three times at 7d intervals - I must get new glasses. However it is extremely safe and there is absolutely no need to wear mask and goggles once you have diluted it, although I agree seaweed extract is rather unpleasant. Diluted pesticides are very safe, and this one is safer than most - unfortunately it is relatively safe for larger caterpillars too but I am hoping it will knock back smaller caterpillars long enough for me to treat once with bifenthrin (all that is allowed) in September to avoid heavy damage, and who knows maybe save the bifenthrin altogether. I am interested that it is so easy for amateurs to get professional pesticides - if only I could get other professional products so easily and in such conveniently small sizes. Such small pack sizes suggest that home gardeners are actually the intended market. Boggy Beware the bat-eared bogweevil

• 27/08/2009 12:14 AM	In reply to
  Tammy Location: Brighton Joined on: 14 May 2009 Posts: 69	Reply | Contact Well what I was recomended to do was to use it late in the afternoon or very early in the morning when bees and others important insect are not around, and it has not harm afterwards for them, not sure how long it wears away, that is why I have used it late in the evening, so the plants have the whole night to get rid off the pesticide.   Best wishes Tammy

• 18/09/2009 04:40 PM	In reply to
  Tammy Location: Brighton Joined on: 14 May 2009 Posts: 69	Reply | Contact hmmm a bit too expensive for me, I only bought the enviromesh and set it with some ground pegs, it has been ok, but the snails keep going in, it is a polling.