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Brussel Sprout Plants - Leaves eaten!!

GlenjjonesGlenjjones Posts: 146
in Problem solving
I have some Brussel Sprout plants that i have been slow to get in the ground so potted up, and after 2 weeks holiday I have come back to almost all the leaves eaten off them. I suspect its the cabbage white, as I've seen a few flying around, but cant find any caterpillars. 

Before I plant out these "stripped back" plants, should I be concerned or do you think they will bounce back as I cant currently find any caterpillars on them, and I'm here to be more vigilant on checking them now?

Just wondering if its worth persevering?

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    If the central growing tip of the plant is still in existence then plant them out and net them ... check the backs of the leaves and also the green leaf stems ... with reading specs on if you wear them ... there a two types of cabbage white ... one lots has the more visible stripey caterpillars .. the others have slim light green caterpillars that like to hide on the leaf stems ... they're almost invisible when they do that.  

    The other year they got at my purple sprouting broccoli in the cold frame while my back was turned, and I was left with little more than stumps ... but with some tlc they turned out fine ... my OH made a brassica cage out of some old painting stretchers and fine net.  He made it so we could lift the end panel off to go in and weed and pick.  It worked a treat. I'll try to find a picture ... I put one on a thread here the other day ...

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Here's the thread with the pictures ... but I see you've already found it  B)

    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/comment/2530855#Comment_2530855

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    By the way, don't discount the possibility that slugs and snails are also helping themseves to your Brussels sprout leaves ... 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • GlenjjonesGlenjjones Posts: 146
    Great, sounds like all is not lost. some how they seem to have stopped eating them, and there are still one or 2 leaves partially intact. 

    Because of the space i have to plant them out i will struggle to cover them with a mesh this year, so might just have to plant them out, stay vigilant and let nature take its course. 

    Would I be right in saying that September is likely the last month for new eggs being laid by Cabbage whites, so brassicas going through late autumn into winter should be relatively safe?

    As a side note, last year i grew some purple kale (cant remember the variety) and the butterflies/caterpillars didnt seem to be interested in this one. i wonder if the darker leaves confused them slightly???
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Hmm don't know about the colour deterring them ... what I do know is that there've been many many more Cabbage Whites about this year than recently ... they're loving this summer and we've got several generations on the go at the moment.  

    As for later in the season being safer from predation ... in my experience when the butterflies and caterpillars stop the wood pigeons take over ... if you don't have many wood pigeons around you might get away without netting ... 🤞

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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