Netting is the most effective way of keeping the butterflies away from brassica foliage, although small whites seem to be able to do a dam buster act and drop their eggs from a height with some success. Harrods Horticultural sell soft mesh butterfly netting that’s perfect at keeping them away.
How do you keep butterflies from laying eggs on cabbage?
The best way to stop cabbage white damage is to stop the butterflies from reaching your cabbages and other brassica crops. Whenever the butterflies are on the wing – pretty much all year, from February to November – use Enviromesh or fine horticultural fleece as a protective barrier.
How do you keep white butterflies away?
Some people find crushed egg shells sprinkled around plants a deterrent, others find cut-outs of caterpillars using a stencil and ice cream container lids work as well and some use garlic sprays.
Do white butterflies eat cabbages?
As the name suggests, the favourite food of these white butterflies is cabbages but they are happy to tuck into any brassicas such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, sprouts etc which they can find.
What kills white butterfly caterpillars?
To get rid of white butterfly caterpillars:
For white butterfly caterpillars use Organic Insect Control. It can safely be applied to the cabbages and other brassicas that the white butterfly caterpillars eat and there is only a one day withholding period.
Do marigolds keep white butterflies away?
Plant marigolds in between plants, the smell will help deter them. You can also plant the poached egg plant (Limnanthes) as the flower looks like a white butterfly so they do not land to lay their eggs.
How do I stop butterflies eating my vegetables?
Place a fine netting, mesh or other fabric row coverings over any cabbage family plants to keep them safe from hungry caterpillars. Though this may not be the most attractive feature in your garden, this is certainly the only way to avoid any losses at all when growing brassicas in your vegetable plot.
Do marigolds deter cabbage moths?
MARIGOLDS- Repel Mexican bean beetles, aphids, cabbage moths, potato bugs, squash bugs, nematodes (if dug into soil), and maggots. CHIVES – Repels aphids and Japanese beetles.
How do you get rid of cabbage moths naturally?
White cabbage moth sniff out the brassicas in your patch. Throw them off scent by planting aromatic plants such as rosemary, sage, dill, chamomile, mint, even onions! Dill is also known to attract parasitic wasps who’s favourite snack happens to be caterpillars, win win!
Do birds eat cabbage white butterfly caterpillars?
There are natural predators for the cabbage white caterpillar. Most birds do not find them palatable, but house sparrows, goldfinches, and skylarks will eat them.
What plants keep white butterflies away?
Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, etc.) benefit when planted with sage, rosemary, hyssop, thyme, dill, mint or chamomile, as all or any of these help deter the famously troublesome white butterfly.
How do you protect cabbage?
The obvious choice is to net the crop. I use enviromesh or veggiemesh draped over beds of brassicas. It is so finely woven that it keeps out both cabbage white butterflies and pigeons. I drape the netting over a few hazel sticks and tamp it down with stones or bricks.
Where do cabbage white butterflies lay their eggs?
undersides of leaves
The butterfly will lay eggs on the undersides of leaves (singly in the case of the Small White, in groups of 40-100 by the Large White) and after a week or two the larvae will emerge, like the Very Hungry Caterpillar in my favourite childrens’ book, ready to eat whatever lies in its path.
How do you keep white cabbage moths away?
There are three main ways of deterring moths from laying eggs on your brassicas: netting, companion planting, and decoys. Use fine netting to form a physical barrier, stopping the moths from reaching your plants. Ensure the nets fully enclose each plant, leaving enough of a gap to prevent all contact.
How long does it take for a cabbage white caterpillar to become a butterfly?
The length of small cabbage white caterpillars is around 1.3 in (35 mm). In the pupa stage, the size of this species is around 0.7-0.8 in (19-20 mm). After around 15 days, the insects turn into butterflies with an average wingspan of 1.7-2.5 in (4.5-6.5 cm).
What can I plant near cabbage to keep pests away?
Chives and Onions
Chives taste great and have protective properties against cabbage moths and aphids. Chives, leeks, and onions (Allium spp.) are welcome additions to any garden and some vegetable pests really dislike them. The pests they deter include damaging moths (like cabbage moths), aphids, and spider mites.
How do you treat whitefly infestation?
LESS-TOXIC CONTROLS
- Syringe undersides of leaves on sturdy plants with water to wash off whiteflies and honeydew.
- Vacuum whiteflies in the early morning when they are cold and slow moving.
- Prune away severely infested portions of the plant.
- Purchase Beneficial insects.
What can you plant next to cabbage?
Brussels sprouts, kale, swiss chard, broccoli, and cauliflower are all suitable companions for your cabbage garden. Even Napa cabbage, a close relative, can grow nearby.
How do you keep a white cabbage caterpillar?
Provide the caterpillars with fresh cabbage every day. You can keep the Cabbage White pupa in a similar container. Keep the pupa on a damp piece of kitchen paper, the paper should never be wet but just a bit moist. Make sure the container has plenty of ventilation.
Are white butterflies good for garden?
Adult butterflies do not cause any damage to plants. Large white larvae (yellow and black patterned caterpillars) will destroy small brassica plants and severely damage larger plants.
What are white butterflies attracted to?
Beginner gardeners were encouraged to plant crops that didn’t take up much space, such as cabbage, and some of the most popular plants were cabbages, kale, broccoli, turnips, and Brussels sprouts – all plants the cabbage white butterfly prefers.