broccoli-destroyed-by-caterpillars
Paul H
Posts: 8
OK, So I grew around 6 Broccoli plants - theyve all been destroyed while I was away for just a week! They look to be still alive and green, however there are massive holes everywhere on every leaf. It looks as though most of the caterpillars have migrated.... a few remain, which I have got rid of FAST upon my return
First question
What is the recommendation for some kind of pest control? Spray or otherwise.
Second Question
Ive cut some of the stems down a bit because it literally was just that.. a stem with a completely eaten leaf on the end of it. Can I cut most, or all of the eaten leaves off it, and still keep it alive? There are new leaves appearing so they are still alive...
Any advice appreciated 
Ta
0
Posts
If you cut most of the leaves off, provided the growing points have not been eaten out, they may resprout.
I suggest you net them next year - well before butterflies appear. Use 7mm hole size netting.
Agree with what has been advised especially the netting but even with netting me thinks the cabbage white can smell brassica's. I had them under the netting this year, those which didn't get under the netting laid their eggs on some of my flowers
.
Leave a plant outside the netting which you are happy to lose and let them lay their eggs on it. Still check for eggs and squash, but it might save your main crop from caterpillar invasion.
Agree with what has been advised especially the netting but even with netting me thinks the cabbage white can smell brassica's. I had them under the netting this year, those which didn't get under the netting laid their eggs on some of my flowers
.
Leave a plant outside the netting and let them lay their eggs on it. Still check for eggs and squash, but it might save your main crop from caterpillar invasion.
Agree with what has been advised especially the netting but even with netting me thinks the cabbage white can smell brassica's. I had cabbage white butterflies which got under the netting this year, those which didn't get under the netting laid their eggs on some of my flowers
.
Leave a plant outside the netting and let them lay their eggs on it. Still check for eggs and squash, but it might save your main crop from caterpillar invasion.
Nasturtiums grown near brocolli will attract the Cabbage Whites to lay their eggs on them rather than the brassicas.
I have a few late harvest plants which I planted in May. They are about a foot tall and pretty robust. They are currently covered in caterpillars and have lost about a third of leaf area to massive holes. Do I need to worry, or should they be OK as long as they make it to winter? I scrape off any eggs I find and remove caterpillars, but can't seem to get em all. Should I be spraying with something?
Thanks.