Caterpillars on sprouts
 

I am new to growing vegetables, and have always wanted to grow Spouts. The
problem is the caterpillars. Every day I am removing dozens of them and
still it looks like I'm fighting a losing battle.

There has to be a more effective way of preventing them, and controlling
tem, but I do not want to use chemicals!

I would be very grateful for some advice.

Thanks, Udo

Udo Dölz wrote:
I am new to growing vegetables, and have always wanted to grow Spouts. The
problem is the caterpillars. Every day I am removing dozens of them and
still it looks like I'm fighting a losing battle.

There has to be a more effective way of preventing them, and controlling
tem, but I do not want to use chemicals!

I would be very grateful for some advice.

Thanks, Udo


Prevention is better than cure. It's proably too late for this year, but
I always grow mine under the cover of a fine mesh that keeps the
butterflies out.

"Udo Dölz" wrote
I am new to growing vegetables, and have always wanted to grow Spouts. The
problem is the caterpillars. Every day I am removing dozens of them and
still it looks like I'm fighting a losing battle.

There has to be a more effective way of preventing them, and controlling
tem, but I do not want to use chemicals!

I would be very grateful for some advice.

Used to be able to buy a bacteria in a sachet (BCH?) that made a spray that
if the little devils ate any they got infected and died. Took a few days to
work, but work it did.
Probable not allowed now.

--
Regards
Bob
In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London

Bob Hobden wrote:
"Udo Dölz" wrote

I am new to growing vegetables, and have always wanted to grow Spouts. The
problem is the caterpillars. Every day I am removing dozens of them and
still it looks like I'm fighting a losing battle.

There has to be a more effective way of preventing them, and controlling
tem, but I do not want to use chemicals!

I would be very grateful for some advice.


Used to be able to buy a bacteria in a sachet (BCH?) that made a spray that
if the little devils ate any they got infected and died. Took a few days to
work, but work it did.
Probable not allowed now.

I visit mine regularly,wearing a pair of gardening gloves. Look under
all the leaves for clusters of very small yellow eggs, carefully scrape
off. No caterpillars

Thanks to you all for your advice - better luck next year then!


"Broadback" wrote in message
...
Bob Hobden wrote:
"Udo Dölz" wrote

I am new to growing vegetables, and have always wanted to grow Spouts.
The problem is the caterpillars. Every day I am removing dozens of them
and still it looks like I'm fighting a losing battle.

There has to be a more effective way of preventing them, and controlling
tem, but I do not want to use chemicals!

I would be very grateful for some advice.


Used to be able to buy a bacteria in a sachet (BCH?) that made a spray
that if the little devils ate any they got infected and died. Took a few
days to work, but work it did.
Probable not allowed now.

I visit mine regularly,wearing a pair of gardening gloves. Look under all
the leaves for clusters of very small yellow eggs, carefully scrape off.
No caterpillars

Large white butterflies leave their eggs in clusters. Small white and others
leave single white eggs dotted around the leaves.
Look for small white and moth caterpillars near the middle of the plant.
I have a lot of nasturtiums near my sprouts that the butterflies seem to
prefer so I get warning of an invasion.
Picking off the eggs and remembering that the caterpillars grow very quickly
is the only non chemical defence.
Why not dust over with derris?-I know it has its problems but it is not
persistent and will be gone by the time the sprouts are ready for picking.
David T
"Udo Dölz" wrote in message
...
Thanks to you all for your advice - better luck next year then!


"Broadback" wrote in message
...
Bob Hobden wrote:
"Udo Dölz" wrote

I am new to growing vegetables, and have always wanted to grow Spouts.
The problem is the caterpillars. Every day I am removing dozens of them
and still it looks like I'm fighting a losing battle.

There has to be a more effective way of preventing them, and controlling
tem, but I do not want to use chemicals!

I would be very grateful for some advice.


Used to be able to buy a bacteria in a sachet (BCH?) that made a spray
that if the little devils ate any they got infected and died. Took a few
days to work, but work it did.
Probable not allowed now.

I visit mine regularly,wearing a pair of gardening gloves. Look under
all the leaves for clusters of very small yellow eggs, carefully scrape
off. No caterpillars