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Brussels Sprouts leaves are infested

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  • 07-07-2007 10:41am
    #1
    siochain
    Registered Users Posts: 2,548 ✭✭✭


    Brussels Sprouts leaves are infested with caterpillers any ideas on how to get rid of them?
    Thanks


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  • Options
    #2
    10-10-20
    Registered Users Posts: 7,163 ✭✭✭10-10-20


    Pick or spray.
    Picking them is more ecological.


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    #3
    Avns1s
    Registered Users Posts: 3,422 ✭✭✭Avns1s


    Spray! Picking them is a waste of time in my experience.

    There is some biological spray, then name of which I am unsure of but it could be something like Biotrol, that only kills caterpillars and is totally safe to everything else. Ask in any good garden centre.


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    #4
    Irish Gardener
    Registered Users Posts: 451 ✭✭Irish Gardener


    siochain, a home made organic and safe option is to mix 1 tablespoon of salt into 2 litres of water which you can spray onto the larvae.
    This may kill some of them and stun the others which will then fall from the plants.
    Ready to be swept up with dustpan and brush or eaten by the birds.
    Good luck.


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    #5
    Avns1s
    Registered Users Posts: 3,422 ✭✭✭Avns1s


    Irish Gardener wrote:
    siochain, a home made organic and safe option is to mix 1 tablespoon of salt into 2 litres of water which you can spray onto the larvae.
    This may kill some of them and stun the others which will then fall from the plants.
    Ready to be swept up with dustpan and brush or eaten by the birds.
    Good luck.

    I'm sure there's some merit in this IG, but I tried it a few weeks ago when my cabbage was infested. It didn't work.... in fact, I'd say it made the cabbage more palatable for them. I then tried picking. Left them overnight and when I saw all the caterpillars the following morning, I went out and got spray. About 20 mins and they were sorted!


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    #6
    Irish Gardener
    Registered Users Posts: 451 ✭✭Irish Gardener


    Avns1s wrote:
    I'm sure there's some merit in this IG, but I tried it a few weeks ago when my cabbage was infested. It didn't work

    Sorry to hear that Avns1s.
    Did you spray to run off?
    What was the mix rate?
    I have found this method is very effective, I used it just the other day on my nasturtiums which were being eaten by caterpillars.

    FYI siochain, I believe the the spray that Avns1s is speaking about contains the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, so have a look out for products containing this.
    This will help you find the particular spray mentioned.
    You may possibly find it more effective than the salt soution.


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    #7
    siochain
    Registered Users Posts: 2,548 ✭✭✭siochain


    cheers folks will try the salt first and failing that will get the spray.

    Thanks again


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