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Northumberland, United Kingdom Gb

The leaves on my Brussels sprouts have been decimated by ...you have guessed it...cabbage white caterpillars. Will sprouts form or should I just pull up the plants and forget it all. My visiting
4 year old Grandson has really enjoyed picking off the said caterpillars and putting them in a box with some leaves but even he cannot keep pace with the numbers!




Answers

 

If most of the plants solar panels (leaves) have been consumed then there will be no energy available to adequately form sprouts. The most important thing was your grandson having a ball with the plant and pest.

25 Aug, 2022

 

And even if sprouts did form they would be full of caterpillar frass.

25 Aug, 2022

 

Thank you both for replying. Just as I thought, will try harder next year. Netting springs to mind!

25 Aug, 2022

 

Mine are the same but we have picked off all the caterpillars (I hope) and covered the plants with net -wish we had though to do that before).As no sprouts have formed yet and the caterpillars were very small and fairly newly hatched we are pressing on hoping for the best.I'm hoping that the plants will now continue to grow as normal.If you throw them out you certainly won't get any sprouts but as long as haven't already formed you stand more chance than if you give up now.

26 Aug, 2022

 

Thank you. I think I will just let them be and see what happens. I had little mesh cages on them from the start but the plants grew too tall so had to remove them. I am feeling rather silly as well as mad at myself. :{

26 Aug, 2022

How do I say thanks?

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