Seems we've spent too much time worrying about pigeons and slugs. While our backs were turned, our focus on other things, a big new bad boy was munching his way through our crops.
Catterpillars.
Went up to the plot yesterday evening, glorious September warmth bathing the hillside site, only to find all our swede leaves munched away.
A bot of investigation found an infestation of furry wannabe butterflies looking fat and guilty on the stems where big green bits used to be.
Evil little grubs. Lets just say their dreams of flying came true early when I hurled them as high and far as I could into the neighbouring field.
Problem is, the net we have over the top of the patch to stop the pigeons getting in and eating the leaves also stops the pigeons getting in and eating the catterpillars.
Might try the soot trick to see if that will keep them away, but I'm thinking its too late, the damage looks pretty severe.
If these swedes were wired up to all kinds of machines on a TV hospital drama the doctors would have stopped shouting "Get me 10cc of adrenochrome stat" and the beepy machine would be making a long, constant, ominous whine.
Oh well, who likes delicious golden mashed swede on the side of a plate of Sunday roast anyway? Drenched in organic butter, a slight sprinkling of salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Catterpillars=evil. Anyone got the number for Crimewatch?