[RJR_38]

I finished putting out nearly all my brassicas today and realised I had far more than I realised so ended up using more beds. This would be fine but I have run out of debris netting  . For now I have covered the bed containing Calabrese in 2 layers of the much bigger holed bird netting which I know isn't enough to keep cabbage whites off - but are they that attracted to Calabrese? I can't really afford more debris netting this year....

Also what is swede like with cabbage white? I have mine just sprouting in modules so not ready to go out her but I think it will be the same problem....

[ghost61]

They will lay their eggs on any type of brassica. So yes, your calabrese and swede are at risk....

[RJR_38]

Grrr - that's what I feared! I don't know how others on my plot get away with not covering theirs - last year the site was a sea of cabbage whites everywhere you looked...

[beesrus]

I'm afraid in my experience calabrese are one of the most favoured brassicas for the devils. And their grubs can even end up in the flower head when one comes to chop it up for the pan.
They haven't gone for swede much on my plot though, that's the preserve of the flea beetle ( not too much of a problem ) and the birds that can decimate them. One can keep an easy cabbage white eye on the swede as their greens aren't so profuse as other brassicas and suit a bit of as and when squishing. And of course not the edible part.
If you don't have a very large crop of calabrese and a bit of spare bird netting, doubling it up can really help, although not 100% of course. Summer cabbages, including red cabbage, and brussels are the brassicas I take most cabbage white and slug care with.

[mumofstig]

Here, they tend to leave the swede alone - I suppose there are usually better things on offer 

[Aunt Sally]

I don't net my swede either.

[ghost61]

Last year my swede looked alive as they were covered in caterpillars, literally hundreds of them and the swede never recovered.  This year they are tucked up under environmesh......

[Madame Cholet]

try the charity shops for old net curtains

[RJR_38]

I have plenty of 'bird netting' so might risk the swede with just that this year once they are big enough to go outside. It sounds like I will definitely need to net the Calabrese though will see if I can get a small piece of de this netting as it's only a small bed (2m by 2m ish) if not then maybe I will try the net curtain idea for this year... Thanks. I have a week or so I think as they have the 2 layers of bird netting for now....

[Madame Cholet]

Just a thought I bought a full roll of net peticoat material very cheap 3 years ago its very strong off the internet

[RJR_38]

Great idea madam Cholet! I am looking at petticoat netting now - I can get some in clearance for £1 a metre in 1.5 m widths.... So going to carry on hunting

[marcofez]

You could also phone and ask Scaffolders if they have any "retired" netting they don't use anymore. They can only say "no". Worth a go!

[Madame Cholet]

oh got me some out off a skip

[RJR_38]

There are never any useful skips or builders round here 

[pigguns]

am using cheapo Ikea nets (2 curtains 3mx3m) for £5 again this year- they are fine woven.  I found the debris-netting shade (mines green) was making the slugs even worse.