[RJR_38]

Oh yes, sorry I should have been clearer and said I was referring to veggiemesh. I just wondered if laying it directly over the crop would still be effective as they say you can do that for brassicas and I know that would not work!

[rosiecider]

so basically we need a framework round our vedgie plots approx 7' high with a door and cover the framework with vedge mesh, and we are caterpillar free 

[JimB]

A couple of seasons ago on my allotment I had covered my Cauli's with quarter inch black plastic mesh   to keep the blighters off.

It had been given to me for free, it was about 3 by 7 metres and free from any tears or ruptures!

I arrived down and discovered a few inside the mesh,I went to get my tennis racquet which I bash them with, when I started to lift the mesh to get at them they simply clung to the mesh folded their wings and escaped.

I now also back up with enviromesh as well the keep them at bay, as well as spraying with insecticide!

[Elm street]

Debris netting over hoops is my answer, it works and also seems to provide a microclimate within that helps protect the plants!

[lettice]

I have seen this recently and the comments seem to say it works well and very cheap too.
1cm squares.

http://amzn.to/1PoWDuM

http://www.twowests.co.uk/product/2.6m-wide-butterfly-netting-per-metre

[mumofstig]

One of the Q&As says the netting is

Approx 8mmx6mm on my netting

so, IMO, small cabbage whites could still get through.

[JimB]

.

That's the stuff I had, they simply folded their wings and flew off!

If I had not seen them doing it I would not have believed it!

And I thought their wings were delicate!

[Bohobumble]

I can also vouch for them actually getting through, after meticulously searching for gaps or torn bits, it just paused for a split second and floated on through!

[Bohobumble]

One (or many?) ingenious cabbage white:

[New shoot]

Cabbage white eggs are yellow.  Not sure what you have there but it is blinkin' cheeky of them, whatever they may be 

[Bohobumble]

Not sure what you have there but it is blinkin' cheeky of them, whatever they may be 

*were

[shazlette]

I have to go along with the crowd and say that that butterfly netting won't work. It is the same as the pond netting I have used in the past and it stops nothing!! There always seems to be more cabbage whites under it than out of it!!