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Posted by earlybirdie (U10984235) on Monday, 16th April 2012
When I was given some cabbages in pots last year, they came from a greenhouse to my garden. I did not cover them with netting quickly enough and they were soon surrounded by white butterflies (well, two anyway). As a result, the cabbages were eaten by invisible bugs and I didn't get much.
This year, the leftover stem of one cabbage has started to produce new leaves, but they are being eaten, even though the plant has been covered with loose netting since last year.
Would this be a continuation of last year's problem, or something new?
When you say loose netting do you mean it is just draped over the plant? If it is actually touching then the butterflies will still lay their eggs though the mesh. Also, if it is cabbage white butterflies the caterpillars are quite easy to see, though small at first they quickly grow to an inch or so in length.
Your invisible bugs might have been pigeons who fed on them at the crack of dawn, hence the reason you did not see them.
Cure; Net your plants immediately after planting!
This years episode is most probably slugs / snails.
This could be the work of cutworms - caterpillars of moths. I have found loads this year, whilst doing the spring clean. In large numbers these little pests can do some real damage to plants at night.
Thanks for the replies and ideas.
The netting does not touch the cabbage, and I can't see any thing, but I will keep looking.
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