[Grubbypaws]

I have never seen so many. It is like gardening in a war zone at the moment. I have OH standing guard every time I open the polytunnel to harvest anything.

When do they usually stop being a problem?

[ghost61]

It's the caterpillars that are the problem, not the butterflies! So the problem can go on until every last caterpillar has formed a chrysalis - usually right at the centre of your caulis! 

[sunshineband]

They are definitely still laying eggs. They usually carry on for at least six weeks yet too 

[maxie]

There has been a lot this year hasnt there!Its the large cabbage whites that do my head in,ive had my brussels stripped in a couple of days before.

[Flowertot]

My broccoli is netted and I still had to pick off about 20 caterpillars this evening!  Think I shall rename them Houdini Butterflies!! 

[mumofstig]

What size holes does your netting have Flowertot?

[carlrmj]

I've got debris netting ,didn't have a problem last year .

I notticed loads under the netting this year,couldn't understand how they got in,as it's fixed securely at the bottom .

They were getting in through the eyelet holes in the centre of the netting.

[Flowertot]

What size holes does your netting have Flowertot?

Very small.  It was fine last year so there must be a gap that they can find but I can't. Actually come to think of it some of the plants are tall and are touching the net so I suppose they could lay their eggs by sitting on the net/leaves?  Are they THAT clever?

[barley]

wales is plagued by them too 

next to start mayhem will be the daddy long legs 

thank goodness we don't get locust in Britain 

[3759allen]

i feel you're pain. i was very close to cutting the whole crop of brassicas down and cutting my losses this week.

i've only got bird netting this year (first year) and all i could get my hands on. i thought they would never get through the smallish holes and i'd be safe. how wrong i was, found there was more under the netting than outside it, they just fly through the stuff.

next year will get finer netting hope we don't get as many.

[mumofstig]

Are they THAT clever?

yup 

[Kate and her Ducks]

I've only ever gown kale (of the brassicas) before and never really had a problem with CW so didn't bother netting and they have been terrible here! I'm certainly going to have to throw most of them out but a learning point for next year. I am trying to cling to the joy I had as a child watching them fluttering around the lavender and hyssop but all I really want to do is kill them all!

[pigguns]

I've used plain Ikea net curtains (£5 for 2 3mx3m) as a brassica tent and it's been fine.   Doesn't stop the flea beetle from making a few holes though.  I think they get in whilst I'm weeding.... no slugs/snails and less weeds compared to under my shady debris tunnel netting.

[heygrow]

Yes loads of cabbage whites this year. Seems that the good conditions for growing this year are also good for all the pests waiting to devour our crops!
Although I have enviromesh netted my Brussels I found a few caterpillars on the plants nearest the outside of the netting.....now squished.

Also found that my cabbages were under attack, but by slugs this time. So with the sawfly bugs on the parsnips also, it is going to be a constant battle this month to see who gets to eat my veg. Me or the bugs!