Kitchen Garden Forum

I'm growing Kale for the first time this year,will I need to net it? to protect from the dreaded Cabbage White etc?

Dear PP,
yes and from the pigeons and rabbits later as well.
Regards Sally Wright.

Our Nero de Toscana is ignored by whitefly and cabbage whites. Cheers, Tony.

Kleftiwallah wrote:Our Nero de Toscana is ignored by whitefly and cabbage whites.

Lucky you. I grew this a few years ago and it was clobbered by both.

I grew red cabbage last year, they didn't seem partial to that, saw a cabbage white this morning on my flowering landcress!

Hi Panteg Produce,
When growing Kale protection should be provided against Cabbage Root Fly when planting out and the normal protection against the dreaded Large and Small Cabbage Whites Butterflies.
I have in the past had very good results from Pentland Brig an old variety which not only gives very good pickings throughout the winter but as an added bonus gives you very prolific spring stem side shoots that make some very tasty eating. These are very similar to Broccoli spurs and these should be picked and eaten as soon as they show a flower with a closed bud as in Broccoli.
JB.

I've never had much luck growing brassicas at home but then they take up so much space I haven't really tried too hard after the first failure (Romanesca eaten by everything, blown Brussel Sprouts)

However, today Gardening Club and I will be planting out the cabbages the pupils sowed way back in March and sowing Kale and Brocolli. I'm hoping that as we have some decent insect netting (Wondermesh) and I haven't over worked the bed they will be in (I was told Brassicas don't like newly disturbed soil?) that we should produce a decent crop of each (any advise gratefully recieved ).

I had hoped to get the seeds sown at the start of May but with the awfully claggy, sopping wet soil caused by the drought I've had to delay things. Today is another dry day, so ideal for sowing seeds I think.

VPM
x

In my experience of cabbage whites, red cabbage is usually the least affected brassica, followed by all the different kales whereas broccoli/calabrese, cabbage and Brussels sprouts usually cop it.
Unfortunately, when the caterpillars do get into the curly parts of the kale or into the broccoli/calabrese, it's only when the stiff little white corpses appear in the steamer or, worse still, on the plate that they show up!

Thanks every one , you've all been very helpful.