Something is shredding my Cabbage and Lettuce plants

[frederick]

Hi all.... I have a REAL problem... I am growing Cabbage,Colliesand Lettuce in Pots and have covered them with half inch netting held in place with a frame. In spite of this something is decimating the plants... all of the leaves have large holes in them. I have closely examined them but cannot find any bugs or catapillars. I have sprayed with Provado (The Ultimate Bug killer) but the attacks stilll go on.
I am desperate now so any help will be very much appreciated.
By the way ... any comments regards Provado ???

PLEASE help....; Frederick

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Frederick, the usual culprits that leave holes in cabbage and cauliflower leaves are the cabbage white butterfly caterpillars. There are two types, the large cabbage white butterfly which have large black and yellow hairy caterpillars and the small cabbage white butterfly which have small green caterpillars with a velvety appearance. It is possible to miss these small green caterpillars as they tend to blend in with the colour of the underside of the leaves. But, the caterpillars don't attack lettuce. Slugs will eat the lot though. Slug damage to leaves are holes and they also leave the leaf looking shredded. If you go outside at night with a torch to check the plants you should see the slugs. Pick them off the plants and throw them in a bucket of salted water. You can also use a beer trap, wrap copper tape around the pots or use wildlife friendly slug pellets. Check underneath the pots to see if the slugs are hiding there. Hope that helps!

Thanks for your email.

[frederick]

Hi Lesley..... thank you for your reply. I did have the cabbages and lettuce under half inch netting but I found that the butterflies were getting thru the netting so I have now changed to a VERY fine netting that is also supposed to stop flies as well but I did find the little green catapillars eating the lettuce as well. Is there a spray that I can use ?

Take care.... Frederick

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Frederick, Scotts Bug Clear Gun For Fruit And Veg is recommended for killing these caterpillars. I haven't used it myself but it is worth giving it a try. You should be able to buy it at your local garden centre.

[frederick]

Hi Lesley.... Thank you for the replies... I will possibley get a bug clear gun.. at the moment I have a treatment called Provado but I do not know if that is ok.... will try observation and see how many I ca get. So far I have only found about 8/10. The thing that annoyes me is that I have covered first with half inch netting and now I have covered with a very fine mesh but the butterflies still seem to get in.... still I suppose that is the fun og growing veggies. Any further comments or advice will be most welcome.

Take care.... Frederick

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Frederick, it is very possible that after covering your plants with netting the caterpillars turned into chrysalis (chrysalides) and then into new butterflies which is why the butterflies are inside the netting. The cabbage white butterflies have up to three generations a year. Next year net your plants over as soon as you plant them outside.

[gerallt_p]

Im having real troubles with these white butterflies at the moment, every day I have to go out to the raised bed and clear all the yellow eggs off the leaves of my brussel sprouts . I also spray regularly with a pestice(may actually be the 'the ultimate bug killer' mentioned) but they still come back.

Is there anything that will deter them from coming in the first place? Ive tried telling my 2 little brothers to go and try catch some white butterflies but hasent worked so far lol

Regards
Gerallt