Protecting Broccoli

Protecting BroccoliProtecting young purple sprouting broccoli plants from aphids and larger ones from cabbage white butterfly caterpillars is hard work

The enclosed photo of a Frome allotment shows a raised bed protected by a large sheet of fleece, carefully anchored round the bed, to prevent the butterflies from laying the eggs that hatch into caterpillars, and a few French marigolds to make a nasty smell to keep the aphids away. We shall see what will happen.

If you have hens, you can pick the caterpillars off and feed them to the hens, who love them. But you will have to do this every day, so don't go on holiday until the autumn! And good luck.

Story and picture from John Payne