[flowerpower]

Having got so carried away with summer veg, I've been forced to buy some winter/spring veg from the local garden centre as plugs.
I have 12 spring cabbages (Spring Hero). Do I need to net them or can I assume that they'll be OK from beasties?

Any help appreciated!

[DD.]

The pigeons would have mine as soon as I turn my back.

[flowerpower]

They've been sat outside the back door for the last few days and they're ok - so far!

It's more cabbage white demolition that I'm worried about...

[DD.]

Back door's a different matter to the open plot.

There are still cabbage white butterfly around. Personally I wouldn't risk it.

[flowerpower]

What is their life cycle? When do they die off?

[Jonajo]

I also have some that are on a window sill and in a few weeks will be ready to plant out - I am also wondering when the cabbage white butterflies die off.

[jb]

I am also wondering when the cabbage white butterflies die off.

Depends on where you live and what the weather is like, will vary year on year. You could wait and see when they all disappear but sod's law states that one hardy individual will pop up and home in on your crop.
If you fleece the plants it will keep off the whites and also give a more gentle introduction to the great outdoors (even after hardening off) so you get two benefits for the price of one.

[Glosterboy]

I have just picked off (and killed) 3 large white and at least 12 small white caterpillers from my spring cabbage plants. The size of them it would appear they have only recently hatched!!! So, the adult blighters are still breeding. Protect at all cost seems to be the advice.

[bluealf]

I have just came back from the plot and all my cabbages are gone or going 

netted them as well, but i have never seen as many caterpillars as i have today, there must have been 50 on every plant 

I have left them to it and not planted out my next batch that have nicely grown and ready for planting out.

Any advice ?

My netting looks to be about 5/6mil sq holes, it worked over my strawbs but seemingly not over cabbages and caullies.

[Celtic Eagle]

I may put poly cloches over mine this year I didn't get one through last winter.  netting is the minimum I'd go for.

[Beejay]

Whether the cabbage whites have them or not, the pigeons definitely will

[Chappers]

I plan to build a tunnel for next year similar to the one shown in this link but am going to cover it with net instead of polythene in an attempt to keep the cabbage whites off.

http://www.overthegardengate.net/UserPages/pp_view.asp?FName=polytunnel&Page=1

[noshed]

If you're just using mesh or netting you can get away with smaller hoops of water pipe shoved onto bamboo canes or similar. PSB need a bit more room but cabbages should be fine. I just hold the mesh down with a few bits of wood and bricks.