[Liz M]

OK, I know I should have netted all my veg, but I somehow forgot and had the cheek to go away for a few days. Can anyone tell me what I can use to kill the caterpillars and save the crop ................... you'd have thought they had eaten enough! Lost all my Brussels and cabbages, just have my broccoli left and a few savoys     

[Fleecewife]

I prefer to pick off the caterpillars so the crop is not being sprayed with poison.  If you have a lot then it's a big job.  Pick them into a bucket, but they will set off at quite a lick to escape, so empty it regularly, or keep a lid on. Ducks might eat the caterpillars, but my hens won't touch them.  Squashing is the most effective way of disposal, if rather messy.
 
As well as the big stripey ones there will also be soft green ones which the hens do love.  Unfortunately your savoys may well have some of them already in residence inside and you really only find out when you crop one and cut it open.  The broccoli should recover well once you've dealt with the very hungry caterpillars.
 
It's a good idea to have a water spray with you, set on jet, to wash away the caterpillar droppings - I think it's called frass, or something similar.  If you leave it behind then it will go mouldy and still damage your crop even without caterpillars.
 
Once you have picked off all the big ones you have to wage war on the eggs and newly hatched tiny caterpillars which can be found on the underside of the leaves - so you patrol along the rows examining the leaves closely.   Next year, if you don't net them again, start searching for the caterpillars and eggs before you see any damage.   I know - time is always a problem 
 
There is a similar thread one page back in veg.

[Mammyshaz]

I also tend to pick them off or squash thin little ones and rub the eggs off too. It doesn't take too long to check and do.

poor you, those pesky caterpillars have no right squatting while you were away    hope the surviving crops make it 

[plt102]

I had the same problem. 2 week holiday and all my crop eaten. I'll b spraying next year :-(

[Lesley Silvester]

I pick them off and give them swimming lessons in a tub of water.  They're not very good at it.      I also squash eggs.