[Stoatus]

Spent a few minutes rubbing the eggs off all my cabbages this morning. As I can only get to my lottie twice a week, I was wondering: how long does it take for them to grow into caterpillars? If it is less than three days I'll have to net them, although that was less than successful last year.

Anyone know how long it takes the eggs to hatch?

[Stoatus]

Just found the answer on the BBC website - about two weeks. Phew!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/advice/pests_and_diseases/nonflash_index.shtml?cabbage_white_butterflies

[viettaclark]

Gosh! Your flutterbys are quick on the job!
I noticed my first one in the garden today (last year we had millions) and netted straight away! No mating or eggs yet.
Mind you...I ended up sewing up the holes in the debris netting last week which probably took as long as I spent squishing eggs and picking off wrigglies last year.....
Better safe than sorry. Them critters can get in holes that big and it will do for a few years.  
to cabbage whites, pigeons, squirrels, chickens.......

[Stoatus]

I found with nets the butterflies got in anyway and I tended not to check so often as it was a hassle getting under the nets.  That said there were a few big holes in them. Not sure I have your patience to sew them up Vietta!

[viettaclark]

I've heard they can even get UNDER the netting and you should weight it down! Not so good for airflow which can lead to a surge in whitefly. Also a real hassle to water. All my brassicas are on a shelving unit waiting for the over-wintered bbs and peas to finish. Then I'll have to net an 11'x5' raised bed and I haven't sewn that net up yet....
Can't win, really......

[mumofstig]

reminds me I haven't done mine yet 

The cabbage seedlings are safe under voile curtains for now

[rw3272]

Are certain brassicas less susceptable than others?  I have a netted area approx 4m x 2.5m but more brassicas than I can fit into it.  I have PSB, romanesco, red cabbage, green cabbages for spring greens, cavero nero and dwarf kale.  I don't mind doing periodic egg-patrols, already been rubbing eggs off my seedlings in NW Cumbria!

Many thanks
Rachael

[Cheshire Phill]

Grrr! Found quite a few big green munchy caterpillars on my mixed cabbage bed last night, completely netted (7mm black), had to get it all off, inspect and squish then replace with pegged down edges.

Can only think that the blessed f-bys laid on leaves too near the edge, where they touch the netting, or scrambled under the edges somewhere?...

Hard to believe when others have complete beds of unprotected brassicas within a plot of me, which don't seem affected (yet!). Perhaps the cabbage whites like a challenge? Right, this means war!!

Phill