GreenThumb Digest | 29 March 2026
Your seedlings are waking up fast, and so are the pests that love them. A few simple defences now will save you weeks of regrowth later.
By Tony O'Neill | Simplify Gardening
Your seedlings are waking up fast, and so are the pests that love them. Cabbage whites, flea beetles, and hungry pigeons can wipe out young brassicas overnight. A few simple defences now will save you weeks of regrowth later.
Main Topic
Brassicas are hardy but vulnerable in early spring. Keeping them covered and fed helps them establish strong roots before summer heat and insects arrive.
This week's key tasks:
Pro Tip
Raise hoops high enough to let plants breathe and grow tall -- good airflow prevents mildew under covers.
Mini Q&A
Q: When should I remove the netting?
A: Keep it on until heads begin to form or pests die back late in summer. Lift it only for weeding or feeding, then secure it again immediately.
Quick Tip of the Week
This Week's Tip
Sprinkle crushed eggshells or fine grit around young plants. It discourages slugs and adds slow-release calcium to the soil.
Resource of the Week
Free Download
For stronger, more resilient plants, download my free Slug Control Cheat Sheet. It lists natural, non-toxic ways to keep slugs off your brassicas without harming beneficial wildlife.
Early protection equals clean harvests. Give your greens the cover they deserve and enjoy flawless cabbages and kale later this year.
You reap what you sow,
Tony O'Neill
Green Thumb Digest | Brought to You by Simplify Gardening
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