[fletch]

I'm sure they can! I haven't seen a single one this year until yesterday when I planted my sprouts and kale out. The SECOND my back was turned to go get my netting along one came. I watched it and it made a beeline straight for the kale plants, landed on one and laid eggs  . I rubbed them off and netted everything quick sharp.

Coincidence/bad luck or can they actually smell them?

(either that or they're sat in trees nearby watching me  )

[Babstreefern]

They are the garden equivalent of the Great White Shark - they can smell brassicas from miles away

[8doubles]

I`ve had `em fly inside the greenhouse to lay eggs on the seedlings in trays.

Their only purpose in life is to seek and destroy our brassicas

If they only ate bindweed i would welcome them.

[paintedlady]

or can they actually smell them?

that's exactly how they find them!  Masking the brassica smell will deter the butterflies from landing & laying eggs.  I recall on the The Big Dig (tv series) that a foul smelling rotted rhubarb leaf tea watered over them was more than enough to keep the blighters away (no netting involved) as well as provide a liquid feed.  Personal experience for me was purely accidental & by chance - my brassica cage was a total disaster as the butterflies got in (my fault - the netting size was too big) whereas some spare ones I had casually plonked by the lavender bushes and were left totally exposed, were untouched  :blink:  Not a single caterpillar on them!

[Kristen]

If they only ate bindweed i would welcome them.

Noww there's a GM project I could sponsor - Convolvulus White Butterflies!

[loubylou29]

I have planted mine beside rosemary and they still get laid and eaten.. grrr, I saw on the edible garden that Alys planted hers in the middle of sage and chives and flowers and other veg and they were untouched.  I just know If I did anything but net mine they would be saveaged, but I might try this year to leave maybe one uncovered in amonst some other herbs.

[viettaclark]

Can someone remind me...do the little white beasties like lettuce etc or are they just brassica gastronauts?

[paintedlady]

Can someone remind me...do the little white beasties like lettuce etc or are they just brassica gastronauts?

I should think your lettuce are safe - brassicas are high on their list of preferences including horseradish and nasturtiums (both also in the brassica family  )

[viettaclark]

They laid on my brassica seedlings last year and it was a real hassle squishing caterpillars and eggs when they went in the bed. I must've done fairly well though because damage wasn't enough to strip the plants.
This year I shall cover the shelving with debris netting ......

[nlep]

hi this is a problem here in guernsey  i have found that if you get stinging nettles put then in a tub fill the tub with water and mash nettles leave at least 24 hours then pour over brasicas and then spread remaining stems and leaves between plants this does help alot