caterpillers help

Hi! I have now got a cauliflower the size of a tennis ball and some smaller ones coming on, but today I noticed caterpillars. Will they eat the cauli as well as the leaves?
How can I get rid because I can't bear to squash them
Thanks Jean

 

They won't touch the cauliflower, the leaves of mine were eaten pretty badly but the head itself was perfect. My brussell sprouts plants are under attack at the moment, I just remove them, put them on some leaves and throw them into the forest beside my plot, I can't bear to sqaush them either, I'm a vegetarian you see

 

provado?

 

I recently read somewhere that if you disolve half a cup of salt into a watering can (mix untill fully disolved) then water the foliage then the caterpillars will go on their own...the salt wont affect your plants either.

NOT tested by me...but if you cant bear to squish them..its worth a go.

But I will test tomorrow on my walking stick cabbages that I know have caterpillars on them..

Steve...

 

I won't kill them at all :D

They do turn into pretty little butterflies after all, it's up to me to protect the plants.

 

I dont kill them i just pop them in the chicken area and recylce them!

 

I don't want to kill them I just want them to go away!!!
If they don't eat the actual cauli's I will just leave them or try the salt waterI think
Thanks everyone for your input
Jean

 

they are a 'delicacy' in parts of africa .... not sure how they taste with cauliflower though
African Travel Articles | Mopane Worms | Pan African Cuisine...

 

Cover your plants with Enviromesh at planting time.

 

its fine saying you wont destroy them. but remember they are laying eggs and the butterflies they turn into are usually cabbage whites.
Boil garlic in water and spray leaves. too late for this year ..but next.Wont kill them but they wont settle on your greens.