Ugh, the weird early spring and heatwave of late May have done a number on the broccoli and cauliflower I had planted in the hoophouse, sigh.
Lessons learned.
1. Put the row covers on at transplanting, even in the hoophouse. The cabbage butterfly will find them and lay eggs, which will hatch into voracious green monsters caterpillars. Sigh. Adding the row cover later just makes it easier for them to hide, munch, and crap all over your plants.
2. Have brassicas ready for planting out in the hoophouse much sooner, as the weather gets too hot in late spring, Aim for April or early May harvesting. The hot weather led to bolting.
3. Check more frequently under the row cover for damage control. Catching it early might have saved a few plants for me. At least the hens will benefit from the plants and the caterpillars.
4. Leave yourself enough time and energy to take care of the plants you have. I need to give these guys a big drink and a shot of fish emulsion tonight. They needed it last weekend, if not before.
5.Spring-hinged scissors make short work of the little bastards; one little snip cuts your problem in half.
