Problems.

This is my first attempt at vegetable gardening and its not been an unqualified success. I knew that gardening in the shade of a Walnut Tree would present problems and the hot rainless summer did not help. However, the potatoes have not been bad and the Broad Beans as well. The Carrots hardly germinated, the Onions hardly moved, and the Brussels Sprouts reached for the sky, and as a result need staking and both they and the Cabbage plants have been wrecked by butterflies.
Two questions:
1. Farmers who grow cabbages obviously deal with butterflies but I find the pesticides very expensive and a rip off so what can one do?
2. What can I still plant at this time of the year?

 

Hiya,
Sorry I have no advice for you, but just wanted to sympathise.

At least you've managed some cabbages and brussels, all of our brassicas have been eaten at least 3 times.

Our problem is rubbish clay-ey soil and lots of rabbits and crows around

I do know the seed companied are sending out thir autumn catalogues jsut now so might be worth a look, they do have some not bad deals on 'winter and spring' green packages.

Good luck
kerry