Spraying cabbages and brussels with soapy water solution.

clare

I have lots of cabbages and brussels planted and doing well. Although they are partially netted, I know that 'spraying with a soapy water solution' can greatly deter the cabbage white from egg laying. Can anyone tell me exactly what is meant by 'soapy water solution' please? Fairy? Detergent? How much? I'm concerned about guessing wrong and either damaging the plants or spoiling the crop. Thanks.

GPI

Hello clare.
Glad to hear you got on well with your nettles.

You can add approx 15ml of plain old washing up liquid to 2 litres of water to create the soapy water solution.
Do not use detergent or any soap containing detergent as it will burn the plants and possibly leave a residue in the soil.
It is best to use a fresh soapy mix of this each time.

clare · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:29 am Post subject:

Thanks for the reply. It's so nice to know there's someone out there willing to answer my silly questions! The veg patch is going very well so far so it's better to ask than make a mistake. Don't seem to have a slug problem at all and so far haven't seen any cabbage whites-but there's time! Am I best to net off as well as spray?

GPI · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 8:33 am Post subject:

veggiesonbrain · Hazel Tree Joined: 05 Aug 2008 Posts: 15 Location: Cork

I am battling Cabbage Whites at the moment - a real plague. I have covered my cabbages and brussels with fleece but was wondering if the washing up liquid worked?

GPI · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 10:51 am Post subject:

veggiesonbrain · Hazel Tree Joined: 05 Aug 2008 Posts: 15 Location: Cork

I am now winning I hope. The fleece, although it doesn't look too pretty has stopped the white winged menace. I am picking the caterpillars off and feeding them to my hens who adore them and squishing the yellow eggs when I find them. Is soapy water a remedy for other garden pests?

GPI · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 12:07 pm Post subject:

veggiesonbrain · Hazel Tree Joined: 05 Aug 2008 Posts: 15 Location: Cork

Does unscented washing up liquid exist? Even Ecover has a scent albeit natural.

Thank you for your speedy reply - I wonder if like me you are house/computer bound due to the torrential rain outside!

Sive · Rowan Tree Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Posts: 131

It's nearly 2pm and still a lovely day here in Wexford....poor Cork, I'd say whatever is raining on you is on its way to us? The husband is madly cutting the grass having seen the forecasts. I saw the first tinge of autumn in a tree I drove past today......summer is over folks!

Dr. Sunny Thomson · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:02 pm Post subject:

veggiesonbrain · Hazel Tree Joined: 05 Aug 2008 Posts: 15 Location: Cork

Oh I know, it is so sad but I have finally succumbed to socks and this morning pondered for a while over a flannel shirt. My vegetables are in danger of washing down the hill and you should see all the topsoil in the runoff on the roads. I saw my first conker on the ground yesterday so the schools must be about to re-open. Perhaps there will be one final burst in September to warm us once again before the days shorten and the lights go on.

Sive · Rowan Tree Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Posts: 131

We normally get a really lovely September (or so it seems to me), so I didn't mean to upset you Dr Sunny, I merely meant that "summer", as such, is nearly over.....
We can now relax and enjoy a glorious autumn,( be positive!) and stop agonizing about it all.....as for succumbing to socks, veggies, that's a definite sign of seasons changing!