[KT]

Argh .. i've been going out daily cleaning the eggs and caterpillars off my cabbages but they are starting to beat me.

they seem to manage to wiggle themselves down really deep into the hearts of the plants and i can't get to the little monster's without damaging the plants.

I've tried to net them but it's impossible, i've got some serious interplanting going on with tall plants at the back and the cabbages in the front, unfortunatly i have things like courgette's and peppers etc between the cabbages and netting the lot would prevent the pollenating insect's getting to the plants i need them to get to. Lessons have been learn't for next year thats for sure!!

I don't mind hand picking but im starting to feel like im fighting a loosing battle, i've been quite lucky with other insects and i didn't want to go down the chemical route but is there anything which is effective?? or does anyone have any better idea's?

[Trillium]

The only thing that's safe at this stage is to take some true soap like Ivory (if it's available in the UK) and make a soapy solution and smother the beasties with the liquid. Don't use detergent soaps like washing up liquid as its not the same as true soap. They'll be smothered by the soap and cannot breathe through their bodies. Be sure to coat undersides of leaves as well. At harvest time I recommend a very thorough rinsing out first.

[Greengirl]

You could try nematodes which only attack caterpillars. I think Defenders or something are the makers. Try googling them unless someone else can help.