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Decoy cabbages!

• Message 1. 

  Posted by juststartingoff (U11189730) on Tuesday, 21st June 2011

  I haven't covered my brassicas but put some left over cabbage leaves on the ground nearby. Lo and behold they were covered in caterpillars and slugs and the brassica plants were virtually untouched.
  
  I wonder what else this could work for?

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Papa Nopsis (U14479902) on Tuesday, 21st June 2011

  Always conceal your good veggies with good healthy weeds!
  
  One magpie pulled out half a dozen unconcealed broad bean seedlings earlier this year. He thought they would be good for his nest lining, growing like that.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by ash (U14918413) on Friday, 24th June 2011

  thats not a bad idea i have been having trouble with my cabbage and cauli leaves been stripped cant find any evidence of slugs or catterpillers but cant think what else is doing it have just put up netting to see if this helps any other ideas would be handy thanx

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by thevodkarose (U13048111) on Friday, 24th June 2011

  It's a fact slugs prefer decaying plant material over fresh. It's as lot softer for them to eat.
  
  Another good plant is nasturtium. If planted, it itself becomes covered in caterpillars and aphids as it attracts the pests more than the plants you want to eat yourself. I can't think of any other plant that's more of a sacrificial lamb that nasturtium.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by thevodkarose (U13048111) on Friday, 24th June 2011

  Netting after the fact is like locking the stable door after the horse has bolted.

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by ash (U14918413) on Saturday, 25th June 2011

  Netting after the fact is like locking the stable door after the horse has bolted.  point taken the only defence i have is i am a relative newcomer to growing your own and you learn by your mistakes, sometimes the hard way. anyway having said that no further damage seems to have happened but i am still non the wiser as to what caused the damage in the first place, would be grateful for any thoughts on other cause if not slugs what about birds, also will the damaged leaves recover or are the plants likely to die.

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