Learned something new today
 

which may be of interest to some of you.

I have got my cabbages growing well and covered
with a net to keep pests off, (mainly Pigeons)

This morning I noticed a lot of white butterflies had got
in, not wanting said cabbages to be covered in caterpillars
I filled my spay bottle with soapy water (Fairy liquid) and
sprayed over the cabbages, hoping this would make them
less attractive for them and also directing the spray at
the butterflies whenever possible.

A short time later I saw that the b/flies had got out and
flown off but the ones that I hit with the spray where
laying on the ground dead.

Fairy liquid is fast becoming my best friend.

Wally

Learned something new today
 

On Jul 29, 5:05 pm, "Wally" wrote:
which may be of interest to some of you.

I have got my cabbages growing well and covered
with a net to keep pests off, (mainly Pigeons)

This morning I noticed a lot of white butterflies had got
in, not wanting said cabbages to be covered in caterpillars
I filled my spay bottle with soapy water (Fairy liquid) and
sprayed over the cabbages, hoping this would make them
less attractive for them and also directing the spray at
the butterflies whenever possible.

A short time later I saw that the b/flies had got out and
flown off but the ones that I hit with the spray where
laying on the ground dead.

Fairy liquid is fast becoming my best friend.

Wally

What dilution did you use Wally?

Judith

Learned something new today
 

On 29/07/08 17:05, Wally wrote:
which may be of interest to some of you.

I have got my cabbages growing well and covered
with a net to keep pests off, (mainly Pigeons)

This morning I noticed a lot of white butterflies had got
in, not wanting said cabbages to be covered in caterpillars
I filled my spay bottle with soapy water (Fairy liquid) and
sprayed over the cabbages, hoping this would make them
less attractive for them and also directing the spray at
the butterflies whenever possible.

A short time later I saw that the b/flies had got out and
flown off but the ones that I hit with the spray where
laying on the ground dead.

Fairy liquid is fast becoming my best friend.

Wally



Why u not use butterfly netting?

Ed

Learned something new today
 

A short time later I saw that the b/flies had got out and
flown off but the ones that I hit with the spray where
laying on the ground dead.

Fairy liquid is fast becoming my best friend.

Wally

What dilution did you use Wally?

Judith

Not all that strong Judith, I didn't measure it but my spray bottle
is two litre and I added about an egg cup full of soap.

Wally

Learned something new today
 

AriesVal wrote:
On Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:05:01 +0100, Wally wrote:

which may be of interest to some of you.

I have got my cabbages growing well and covered
with a net to keep pests off, (mainly Pigeons)

This morning I noticed a lot of white butterflies had got
in, not wanting said cabbages to be covered in caterpillars
I filled my spay bottle with soapy water (Fairy liquid) and
sprayed over the cabbages, hoping this would make them
less attractive for them and also directing the spray at
the butterflies whenever possible.

A short time later I saw that the b/flies had got out and
flown off but the ones that I hit with the spray where
laying on the ground dead.

Fairy liquid is fast becoming my best friend.

Wally

sounds good to me Wally - I hate those cabbage whites :(

But we mustn't kill flutterbyes :(
--
Pete C
London UK

Learned something new today
 

A short time later I saw that the b/flies had got out and
flown off but the ones that I hit with the spray where
laying on the ground dead.

Fairy liquid is fast becoming my best friend.

Wally



Why u not use butterfly netting?

Ed

The mesh of the net is small enough to keep them out
but the little b****8 will always find a way in, usually
at a join where I have missed a bit.

Wally

Learned something new today
 

A short time later I saw that the b/flies had got out and
flown off but the ones that I hit with the spray where
laying on the ground dead.

Fairy liquid is fast becoming my best friend.

Wally

sounds good to me Wally - I hate those cabbage whites :(

But we mustn't kill flutterbyes :(
--
Pete C
London UK


And I keep telling them they mustn't lay eggs on
my cabbages, but do the listen????
anyway I didn't kill them, they committed suicide by
getting too close to me. :o)

Wally

Learned something new today
 

"Wally" wrote:


Why u not use butterfly netting?

but the little b****8 will always find a way in, usually
at a join where I have missed a bit.

Wally

I have two different makes of 'butterfly netting', and I've watched the
little b***'s (probably the 'small whites') squeeze their way even through
the smaller diameter mesh ', certainly not through any gaps - they seem to
be able to fold their wings and squash through. Maybe a case for trading
standards/trade descriptions ?? Just a thought ;)

Ros

Learned something new today
 

On 29/07/08 20:33, Ros Butt wrote:
"Wally" wrote:


Why u not use butterfly netting?

but the little b****8 will always find a way in, usually
at a join where I have missed a bit.

Wally

I have two different makes of 'butterfly netting', and I've watched the
little b***'s (probably the 'small whites') squeeze their way even through
the smaller diameter mesh ', certainly not through any gaps - they seem to
be able to fold their wings and squash through. Maybe a case for trading
standards/trade descriptions ?? Just a thought ;)

Ros

Then you need a smaller mesh size. Probably 9mm or less.

Ed

Learned something new today
 

"Wally" wrote:
And I keep telling them they mustn't lay eggs on
my cabbages, but do the listen????
anyway I didn't kill them, they committed suicide by
getting too close to me. :o)

Rather than use any chemicals, my late father and I used to
spend many a happy hour on our allotment rubbing the
butterfly eggs from the cabbage leaves with thumb and forefinger.
Those we missed soon turned into caterpillars which also had
to be picked off. As we grew a wide range of Brassicas, for us,
netting was out of the question. Happy days indeed.

MD

Learned something new today
 

Pete C wrote:
AriesVal wrote:
sounds good to me Wally - I hate those cabbage whites :(

But we mustn't kill flutterbyes :(


Precisely!

I just go round every morning and squish any eggs I find and if any do
manage to hatch into caterpillars they get fed to the birds ;-)

Learned something new today
 

Wally wrote:

Fairy liquid is fast becoming my best friend.



Would this work on those dreaded whitefly?

My brassicas are infested with them :(

Every time I turn over the leaves in search of butterfly eggs, a cloud
of white "ash" descends upon me GRRR

Learned something new today
 

"Sandy" wrote in message
...
Wally wrote:

Fairy liquid is fast becoming my best friend.



Would this work on those dreaded whitefly?

My brassicas are infested with them :(

Every time I turn over the leaves in search of butterfly eggs, a cloud of
white "ash" descends upon me GRRR

Give it a try Sandy, you've got nothing to lose, last year it got rid
of whitefly on my Brussels sprouts and also gets rid of blackfly on beans.

BTW, I've been on the allotment this morning and no butterflies on
the greens, don't know if its the taste or the smell of soap but the
little sods don't like it.

Wally

Learned something new today
 

In message , Sandy
writes
Wally wrote:
Fairy liquid is fast becoming my best friend.

Would this work on those dreaded whitefly?

My brassicas are infested with them :(

Every time I turn over the leaves in search of butterfly eggs, a cloud
of white "ash" descends upon me GRRR

I only ever use dilute fairy liquid for any spraying, aphids or
whatever.
--
Gordon H

Learned something new today
 

On Jul 29, 6:03 pm, "Wally" wrote:
A short time later I saw that the b/flies had got out and
flown off but the ones that I hit with the spray where
laying on the ground dead.

Fairy liquid is fast becoming my best friend.

Wally

What dilution did you use Wally?

Judith

Not
all that strong Judith, I didn't measure it but my spray bottle
is two litre and I added about an egg cup full of soap.

Wally

Thanks Wally I was just seeking approval that my concentration was
o.k. We use about the same strength.

Judith