You head out to your garden to gather some cabbage for a meal and notice tons of holes in your plants. We know just how frustrating it is when cabbage worms eat their way through your brassica crops, and we’re here to help. Whether you’re dealing with white butterfly larvae, cabbage loopers, zebra caterpillars, or diamondback moth larvae, we’ve got you covered. Read on for the best ways to get rid of cabbage worms safely and effectively so you can get back to enjoying the fruits of your labor.
Things You Should Know
- Pick the cabbage worms off by hand and put them in a pail of soapy water. Alternatively, spray soapy water on your cabbage plants.
- Use Bt , diatomaceous earth , or neem oil for natural pest control.
- Plant red or purple cabbage alongside companion plants like dill , sage , rosemary , peppermint , and chamomile to deter cabbage worms.
- Protect your next crop with floating row covers and decoy moths .
Steps
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Tips
- Avoid spraying insecticides on open flowers that bees are actively feeding on to preserve the honeybee population. [19] X Research sourceThanks
- Chickens and ducks will also eat cabbage worms, but may end up eating your plants as well.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/caterpillars-cole-crops#physical-controls-3201912
- ↑ https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef300
- ↑ https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef300
- ↑ https://www.gfloutdoors.com/will-dish-soap-kill-cabbage-worms/
- ↑ http://thefarmersgarden.com/blog/6-Ways-to-Control-Cabbage-Worms.php
- ↑ https://www2.ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/cole-crops/Cabbage-looper/
- ↑ http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html
- ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/integrated-pest-management-i-p-m-for-cabbage-looper/
- ↑ https://www.bhg.com/gardening/pests/insects-diseases-weeds/stop-cabbage-loopers/
- ↑ https://www2.ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/cole-crops/Cabbage-looper/
- ↑ https://gardenversus.com/will-dish-soap-kill-cabbage-worms/
- ↑ http://thefarmersgarden.com/blog/6-Ways-to-Control-Cabbage-Worms.php
- ↑ https://piedmontmastergardeners.org/article/omg-whats-eating-the-broccoli/
- ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/caterpillars-cole-crops#physical-controls-3201912
- ↑ https://www.allaboutgardening.com/cabbage-worms/
- ↑ https://gms.ctahr.hawaii.edu/gs/handler/getmedia.ashx?moid=67204&dt=3&g=12
- ↑ https://www.fpconservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/3-Companion-Planting-PDF.pdf
- ↑ https://www.bhg.com/gardening/pests/insects-diseases-weeds/stop-cabbage-loopers/
- ↑ https://chatham.ces.ncsu.edu/2014/09/controlling-caterpillars-in-vegetable-gardens-2/
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