Check brassicas for pests

Brassicas are essential crops but are prone to problems. Hot weather in July damaged cabbages and cauliflowers by scorching outer leaves. Holes in leaves can be caused by slugs if they’re near ground level but at the tops of the plants it’s likely to be caterpillars of cabbage white butterflies. Pick these off when you see them, before they start munching into the heart. Look for grey, mealy aphid in the growing tips of Brussels sprouts. If not controlled they’ll spread to the tiny sprouts.