Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Last weekend I cut off all the leaves I could see had caterpillars on them. I went to have a look today and there are just as many again. They are all nice big caterpillars now . It is worth trying to pick them all off or should I just s"Ooops, word censored!" the broccoli altogether? I hadn't appreciated it would take till next Feb or March to harvest . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Pick them off or spray wiith some washing o liquid mixed with water, that might work Can you net the plants at all? I would imagine however that the worse of the caterpillers are over so its worth hanging on in there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 17, 2009 Author Share Posted September 17, 2009 I had all my raised beds netted until OH said a couple of months ago "you'd better take those nets off now". Not listening to his gardening tips ever again . I'll try both tips, thanks . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 They need to stay netted until all of the cabbage whites have gone for the year usually when the weather turns colder, so around now. If it is your purple prouting they will rally back if you squash any visible caterpillars now but if it calabrese and they have heads forming, I would s"Ooops, word censored!" them because caterpillar brocolli is not nice, the caterpillars go all yellow or grey when cooked and you get a gone off cabbagy taste Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Gross cooked caterpillars no thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Don't fancy the bush tucker trials then? I was told to make a weak solution of garden lime with water in a watering can and to sprinkle brassicas with it. Apparently it sort of disguises the green so that the butterflies ignore them. I didn't put it into practice, so I can't tell if it works, but a couple of allotmenteers recommended it. I have found wasps have helped very well - yes I do have a few holes, but they haven't been reduced to stalks like they have in the past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 29, 2009 Author Share Posted September 29, 2009 I've hand-picked every caterpillar I could see . I'll keep checking for loiterers. My broccoli is purple sprouting and although a lot of the leaves are almost skeletal I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a harvest next year . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy chickens! Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Mine usually perks up in the spring - but this year it has already flowered, even thought it was only planted in the spring. Not sure whether to dig it up or not. As I'm lazy will probably leave it and see. As to the netting, you really need fleece or very fine netting to keep butterflies out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 My purple sprouting was covered in caterpillars so I pulled it up and fed some to the chooks. Having read this I should have stuck with it. Maybe next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emchook Posted January 2, 2010 Share Posted January 2, 2010 My OH cooked our broccoli a la mini caterpillars ! When we saw the results it was binned . It put me off so much that the chooks have had fresh organic broccoli stems for the last couple of months ! I didnt realise you had to net it .. !!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 13, 2010 Author Share Posted April 13, 2010 My clever purple sprouting broccoli has survived a caterpillar infestation, weeks of heavy snow and an attack by a flock of wood pigeons . I'm so glad I didn't dig them up . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 Fabulous! I gave up on Brassicas. We just don't get along..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 Looking good ANH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 Brilliant! I gather you like broccoli - a lot!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 I think that I was one of the people who told you to leave them in, they look great. I love PSB Says she who let hers get eaten by the pigeons this year and has decided that supermarket winter brassicas are the way to go, after 10 years of trying to grow them with some success and a lot of hard work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 Brilliant news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
