How can I get rid of tiny little green caterpillars from underside of leaves in my newly planted vegie patch?

Question

I want a "non-chemical" or natural approach if at all possible. The little leaves of my plants are being eaten at quite a rapid rate - just noticed in the past 2 days - have picked off about 20 of them so far.

Answer 1

Your best non-chemical approach is plucking them off.

Answer 2

Neem oil spray works well. It's a pesticide and fungicide I use. It's all-natural, made from a tree, available at garden centers.
It's safe around pets, too. Some flea shampoos use neem oil as the active ingredient.

It's also a lot of fun to put the caterpillars you pick off on your birdfeeders. Then you don't have to squish them or worry about them finding any more foliage.

Answer 3

as you want a non chemical approach keep picking although you can use some soapy water as a spray to discourage the butterflies that are laying the eggs
you don't say which plants but I am assuming they are cabbage type you can cover with a fine net to keep the butterflies from getting to the plants in the first place but its not a cheap option

Answer 4

Mix up a solution of washing up liquid and water. Not too much, just as you would to wash the dishes and spray it onto all the leaves. This actually suffocates the caterpillers (and aphids) and does not harm the plant.

Answer 5

likely they are not eco-friendly caterpillars, however the hated "tomato computer virus". they are with regard to the width of the stem and can be confusing to be certain, yet, %. them off, get a espresso can with the two some poisonous answer, brake purifier, and so on. you prefer to break them. they are between the main gross issues I certainly have seen in a backyard.

Answer 6

Keep picking. They will entirely decimate your vegies.

Answer 7

you need to go and buy a special spray to get rid of them