Preventing and Managing Caterpillar Damage

Butterflies add a touch of magic to any garden, but the caterpillars they leave behind can wreak havoc on your vegetable plants, particularly cabbages. To protect your garden from these hungry invaders, follow these effective strategies for prevention and control.

Preventative Measures

1. Netting and Mesh: Cover your plants with netting or mesh in the early spring to prevent butterflies from laying eggs on them. This simple barrier can save your crops from significant damage.

2. Distraction Plants: Plant nasturtiums near your vegetable plants. Butterflies prefer to lay their eggs on these, diverting them from your precious veggies.

3. Eggshells: Place white eggshells around your cabbage plants. The white color tricks butterflies into thinking the plant is already occupied, deterring them from laying more eggs.

4. Strongly Scented Plants: Plants like sage, rosemary, mint, marjoram, thyme, onion, and garlic can repel butterflies. You can also make a decoction of these plants and pour it around your garden for added protection.

5. Pepper: Sprinkle black or white pepper around your plants. It repels butterflies and snails, ensuring they steer clear of your crops.

DIY Garlic-Pepper Spray

This versatile spray not only deters caterpillars but also handles other pests like snails, ants, aphids, larvae, bugs, and whitefly. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients:

• 1 litre of water

• 5 cloves of garlic, chopped

• 1 small onion, chopped

• 1 tsp cayenne pepper or a few drops of Tabasco

• 1 tsp mild soap

Instructions:

1. Combine water, garlic, and onion in a bottle. Let it soak for a few days.

2. Strain the mixture and add the pepper and soap.

3. Strain again through a coffee filter or old tea towel to prevent clogging the spray bottle.

4. Pour into a spray bottle and apply to your plants every few days, especially after rain.

This spray works by suffocating small pests and making the plants unpalatable to larger ones.

Managing Existing Infestations

If caterpillars are already munching on your plants, act quickly:

• Hand Removal: Check your plants daily, especially the undersides of leaves. Remove caterpillars and eggs by hand.

• Garlic-Pepper Spray: Use the spray liberally to deter new pests and control existing ones.

• Tough Plants: For hardy plants like palm cabbage, simply remove the caterpillars. These plants can regrow leaves even after severe damage.

Final Tips

Accept that a few holes in your leaves are normal and won't affect the taste or safety of your vegetables. Regularly check your plants, and enjoy observing the intricate balance of nature in your garden.

For more gardening tips and to ask your questions, join our free Facebook group, Our Garden Party. Or, for more personalized advice, check out our Sow&Grow Membership for expert guidance from sowing to harvesting.

See you in the garden!

With green love,

Émely 🌱