Cabbages help

[GlisteningRipeElderberries]

Bought some lovely little cabbage plants, they were called pointy cabbages, I see them as sweetheart in shops.
We’ve got them in grow bags and a planter in a largeish plastic cloche .

The growbag ones are doing the best, but they are being completely eaten, first by slugs, now by goodness knows what. We will be lucky to get one of at least 6 cabbages.

We’ve used slug pellets, environmentally friendly ones, accord8ng to the tub, they kind of worked, and then I’ve used diatom powder to kill crawling bugs, but still had to wash off masses of bugs.

What else can we do, maybe next year to save them. ( if we attempt to grow them again next year )
My mum suggested fine mesh plastic wire or net.

It’ll be cabbage white caterpillars, they are voracious. They’re quite big now so go out and pick themoff and squish them. They hide down at the root of the leaves, so have a good rummage! Signs they’re the culprit are little black droppings (frass) on the leave, about twice the size of a full stop.

The mesh works (I have used enviromesh in the past), but only before the butterflies have laid their eggs.

Yes I think there was black mess on the leaves, I washed it off with the hose. I might try the diatom again ( dries out bugs, and use it for my chickens) thank you.
I will try and get mesh, and if not try for next year, as It maybe too late for these.
Thank you

A friend has shown a fabulous lettuce she’s grown on line, not a single leaf out of place, Ill have to ask her secret

It’s not a cabbage! Cabbage whites only go for brassicas and other members of the cabbage family. They don’t touch lettuce. Don’t put net on now unless you are certain you have picked off every single caterpillar or you’re just trapping them in caterpillar paradise. They are sneaky critters and very good at hiding in the middle of your cabbages.