Large White caterpillars in January!

[Lynn]

In the April 2008 issue of Kitchen Garden Magazine there was a letter from someone living at 175metres above sea level in the Shropshire Hills. He had found caterpillars of the Large White on his cauliflowers on 8th January! He was so surprised that rather than pick them off he opted to leave them on to see if they would turn into butterflies. Looking at the picture they were pretty well grown. Fascinating. Must check my Brussels Sprouts

[Gruditch]

We are going to give up our vegie plot this year, ( not enough time ) but will still grow a few cabbages and brussels and hide then in the boarders. That way when Lisa runs across the road to save the caterpillars from our neigbours foot, we will have some where to put them

Gruditch

[Lynn]

Dear Gruditch

What a kind person you must be! So am I Last year I grew nasturtiums for my Large Whites. In gratitude they pupated all over my polytunnel I have also had them breed on the leaves of horse radish so if you like beef & need a piquant accompaniment you can have horse radish sauce AND caterpillars but hopefully not at the same time.

[freeway]

I have two lareg white pupa in my garage waiting for the signs of warm weather before i try and pair them..if they are the opposite sex that is! My mates son had "saved " them as catterpillars from someones vegetable patch and i few them on cabbage until they started to wander in search of a site to pupate......F

[Rogerdodge]

Dear Gruditch
What a kind person you must be!

So, you haven't actually MET him then?


Roger

[Matsukaze]

We grow nasturtiums for the cabbage whites - they look prettier than cabbages!

There are caterpillars on our bay tree at the moment. They are weaving two leaves together within which they live in a kind of silken cocoon. I imagine they are a moth of some kind, possibly Epiphyas postvittana.

[Gruditch]

Thanks for that Roger a lot of people say that I am kind......................of annoying

I've seen quite a bit of old leaf damage on some Ivy at work, could this be Holy Blues

Gruditch

[Pete Eeles]

I've seen quite a bit of old leaf damage on some Ivy at work, could this be Holy Blues

As far as I'm aware, Holly Blue larvae feed only on the flowerbuds, not the leaves.

Or perhaps you are referring to the closely-related "Holy" blue, which do leave holes in lots of things, particularly ivy growing in churchyards

Cheers,

- Pete

[Chris]

Is this thread a tribute to the humour of Richard Whitely?? I feel nauseous!!

[Gruditch]

Who is Richard Whitely

Gruditch

I won't go back and fill in my missing L, as it will ruin your post Pete.

[Dave McCormick]

Richard Whitely was the man who presented Countdown on TV for 23 years

[freeway]

Carol Vordermann....Yummy

[Pete Eeles]

Richard was one of the finest comedians this country has ever produced Wouldn't you agree, Chris?

Cheers,

- Pete

[Gruditch]

Can't say I've ever watched it, but funny enough I do know who Carol Vordermann is, wasn't she on the big breakfast

Gruditch

[Chris]

Richard was one of the finest comedians this country has ever produced Wouldn't you agree, Chris?

Cheers,

- Pete

Ermm... yes RIP