[mkhenry]

To get rid of Caterpillers from your prize Cabbages............Add a half cup of salt to your watering can.Stir well until salt dissolves,and using a rose pour over any infected Cabbage.Dont worry they wont taste of salt when you pick them,but the caterpillars will hate the salt and fall off.  Repeat as necessary.

[WG.]

I'd be concerned about the build-up of salt in the soil.   I guess you could plant onions afterwards ?

[mkhenry]

I'd be concerned about the build-up of salt in the soil.   I guess you could plant onions afterwards ?

Like all my hints they are well tried and tested over the years,the amount of salt that the soil would absorb is infantisimal compared to the area concerned.It is also preferable to the chemical methods.............However you could alway grow ready salted potatoes next season.

[ziggywigs]

I did read somewhere that adding salt to the soil for brassicas is very beneficial being originally a seaside plant.

The caterpillers don't like the salt i can vouch for that but unfortunately i used it as a spray last year on my goosegogs and the leaves didn't like it...mind you it was a pretty strong saline mix.  Didn't affect the crop though and this year had minimal sawfly caterpillers to pick off.

[charliesmum]

I picked some of my cabbage leaves yesterday, and they have white eggs underneath - are these the dreaded cabbage white eggs, and if so, will the salt shower work ?

[WG.]

I picked some of my cabbage leaves yesterday, and they have white eggs underneath - are these the dreaded cabbage white eggs, and if so, will the salt shower work ?

Eggs are easy - rub them off.  Watering anything from above isn't going to help when they are on the underside.

Cabbage White eggs are yellow incidentally.

[charliesmum]

Thanks Whisky - they are definitely white, and I can just see my cabbages being totally chomped after all my hard work  

[WG.]

Sea kale (Crambe maritima) ... Being a seaside plant, it likes to be planted in well-drained soil in a sunny spot, and benefits from a light dressing of salt.

We'll need to agree to disagree on the brine for caterpillars since I reckon an half-cup per watering can sounds like a lot - esp. repeat as necessary.

I do use salty water against caterpillars but I leave it in a bucket.  Pick off caterpillars into the bucket & I'll guarantee that none of them will ever climb back up a cabbage stalk