cabbage white's

[michael]

Hi everyone. whilst on a visit to hellagan gardens in Cornwall i noticed that there were no caterpillars or butterflies on their brassicas. i asked a gardener there and she replied that they used bacteriological controls, any idea where or what is available to us joe blogs?

[oldherbaceous]

Hello Michael, i've heard of Biological pest control but not bacteriological pest controls before, well not used in the garden anyway.
There again i like to keep things simple, and that sounds a bit technical for me.
Sorry to be of little help.

[Mole]

Bacillus thuringiensis var kurstaki

marketed under such names as 'Bactospeine' and 'Dipel DF'

Works very well, we've used it for years it used to be sold by PBI as Bio 'BT'. Don't know if it's available in small quantities for amateur use anymore since the shakeup in home pesticide approval a few years back.
You can buy it from agricultural merchants, as Dipel DF - we shared a pot with another grower, but it was quite pricey and will last for a few years.

[oldherbaceous]

Thats very interesting Mole, i thought there would be an answer out there somewhere.