Hi David Jones6. You do not say what colour these small insects are but I think they are most likely to be whitefly. I use a home made garlic based spray which I find effective as it doesn't taint the sprouts and is easily made. I also use this mixture as an all round insect deterrent throughout the growing year. It does give the little lighters a bad breath though.
It is important to plant them in firm ground as well as planting them firmly. Do not dig the ground or dig in manure before you plant them. You can still eat blown sprouts, just a different vegetable!
I planted some Evesham sprouts in July. I pulled a few up a couple of weeks ago because they were not doing anything. One of them, instead of growing upwards, was growing outwards and was just a fat stalk. They were planted in firm ground which was extra firmed once they were in.
The ones I'm left with have little sprouts on them, but the plants aren't very tall. Maybe about 18 inches. I'm a bit worried now that I didn't plant them soon enough and aren't going to have them ready for Christmas
Can I ask about cabbage white butterflies. I've tried the squish method but the more I squish the more there seems to occur and is turning me into a genocidal maniac. Ive tried covering in netting and still somehow they're getting through decimating the crop. Ive even seen them marching along the soil towards them!
Any ideas on how to avoid these pesky blighters without resorting to pesticides?
I've found from experience that you have to net all the brassicas which are around or else the caterpillars will do exactly what you say and march along the soil to get at the ones that are netted. I've also found that some of the netting sold as "butterfly netting" doesn't have small enough holes and the butterflies can get through. For the last few years I've grown my sprouts and cabbages in tunnels and cages with small gauge netting and haven't had any problems.
I find that in order to have sprouts for Christmas the plants need to be in the ground by the middle of April. I grow Evesham in heavy clay with a dressing of lime before planting and they seem to do well. I grow them in a cage to protect against caterpillar attack but this means some slug and snail damage as the birds can't get in. Can't win 'em all!
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Hi David Jones6. You do not say what colour these small insects are but I think they are most likely to be whitefly. I use a home made garlic based spray which I find effective as it doesn't taint the sprouts and is easily made. I also use this mixture as an all round insect deterrent throughout the growing year. It does give the little lighters a bad breath though.
I planted some Evesham sprouts in July. I pulled a few up a couple of weeks ago because they were not doing anything. One of them, instead of growing upwards, was growing outwards and was just a fat stalk. They were planted in firm ground which was extra firmed once they were in.
The ones I'm left with have little sprouts on them, but the plants aren't very tall. Maybe about 18 inches. I'm a bit worried now that I didn't plant them soon enough and aren't going to have them ready for Christmas
Some sprout varieties are much shorter than others. Have you checked how tall yours grow?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
No
*goes off to google*
thanks!
Can I ask about cabbage white butterflies. I've tried the squish method but the more I squish the more there seems to occur and is turning me into a genocidal maniac. Ive tried covering in netting and still somehow they're getting through decimating the crop. Ive even seen them marching along the soil towards them!
Any ideas on how to avoid these pesky blighters without resorting to pesticides?
I've found from experience that you have to net all the brassicas which are around or else the caterpillars will do exactly what you say and march along the soil to get at the ones that are netted. I've also found that some of the netting sold as "butterfly netting" doesn't have small enough holes and the butterflies can get through. For the last few years I've grown my sprouts and cabbages in tunnels and cages with small gauge netting and haven't had any problems.
I find that in order to have sprouts for Christmas the plants need to be in the ground by the middle of April. I grow Evesham in heavy clay with a dressing of lime before planting and they seem to do well. I grow them in a cage to protect against caterpillar attack but this means some slug and snail damage as the birds can't get in. Can't win 'em all!
Thanks for the info think I'll invest in a cage. I'm a rarity that loves sprouts!