Devasted by Cabbage White Caterpillars
Some of my best garden vegetables have been destroyed by the Cabbage White (large and small) Butterfly caterpillars. I knew I had some problems with them, but in the course of a week they have totally stripped the Purple Sprouting Broccoli plants bare, eaten every single Nasturtium leaf and started having a go at my Purple Cabbage. I think I may have caught the worst of the infestation on the purple cabbage which we have been so looking forward to eating. And with luck the leaves on the purple sprouting broccoli will grow again before spring when it sprouts...
I've not found a good way to get rid of them other than manually. I don't want to spray poison on them, as they are good food for some birds, the toads and frogs in the garden and I'd rather control them in a more natural manner.
Today I was heartbroken as I discovered they've eaten holes into the hearts of some of the purple cabbages which were looking so good. I decided to take drastic action. Using an old spray container which used to contain bathroom descaler I mixed a potion of tea tree oil and washing up liquid. I then liberally sprayed this over the plants and caterpillars. Within minutes they were keen to get off the plants and drop to the ground. If they could run for cover they would have done! Bloody animals...
I gave them 15 minutes or so to enjoy their bath and then got the garden hose out, blasting them from the plants. Using this technique I reckon I've removed 95% of them. But they keep crawling back from the ground. On and off this afternoon I've been out checking and removing any that I see by hand, chucking them over a neighbours fence.. Sorry Charlie, but I know you don't have anything except weed in your garden...
Over the next few days I will keep up the vigil and hope I've done enough, otherwise no Broccoli or Cabbage for us.
Here are a couple of pictures I took earlier this month before the beasties set in. You can clearly see some of the eggs and some young caterpillars.
And now today! Look at the leaves. Just skeletons.
3 comments:
I know how it feels. My purple sprouting and brussels are now storks :-( Really frustrating as I had to keep the pigoens off earlier in the year and now I have storks.
I'm gutted for you too Jo. Its horrible. I finally resorted to spraying today in a last ditch attempt to avoid loosing all the purple cabbage. I hate doing it, and hope I do little damage to any of the other wildlife in the garden. Food is food.
I too got the washing up liquid out mixed with water in a 2L cider bottle and spent half an hour watching the little critters curl up and dance as I sprayed them! Sam said it was like a catermpillar disco!
They have devoured my stocks to just storks.
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