There is nothing more debauch to a gardener than to lose your quick - to - be - picked produce to a stealthy pestis . Cabbage family ( also known as Brassicae or Cole ) crops , admit many democratic vegetable like loot , Brassica oleracea acephala , broccoli , collard greens , brussels sprouts , turnip cabbage , cauliflower and others , are subject to damage , mainly from a mixture of caterpillars . as luck would have it , there are both ethnic and insecticidal exercise that can aid manipulate the damage .

The Pests

In Virginia , there are three major and several less - common culprits , all larval stage of various moth species that target cabbage family crops .   The most common are the imported Brassica oleracea insect , the scratch measuring worm , and the diamondback moth . I would wish to let in a 4th , the cross - striped cabbage dirt ball , because it is peculiarly problematic for me . These pesterer are often called “ cabbage worm ” even though they are in reality caterpillars . While each has its unique characteristic , they divvy up a coarse oscillation and development unconscious process . The moths position their egg on the plant , typically on the leaves , singly or in clusters . Small caterpillars hatching in a few day and grow big and change coloring as they run . First , they make translucent windows in leave-taking , progressing to eat up large holes as they grow . This degree survive 2 - 3 weeks , then the worms enter a cocoon . During the tender seasons pupation lasts for about 10 days and a new cycle begins . The full cycle live 4 - 5 weeks and there can be several overlapping generations each year . The pupae overwinter in plant debris and lead up the next season ’s cycle in the leap . Rumors that fall crop suffer less from these gadfly are not accurate . They remain active and destructive up to the first cleanup frost .

The imported chou worm is believably the most conspicuous in the adult point because it is participating during the day . unseasoned larvae are , on the other hand , hard to spot because they are petite and fleeceable like the innkeeper plant .

The earliest arriver in fundamental Virginia , or at least in my garden , is the cross - stripy cabbage insect .   They lie larger numbers of eggs and small “ worm ” seem to seem everywhere at once in mid- to recent May . Their interracial color may make them sluttish to spot than some others , but once they arrive , they are prolific and point the beginning of the long fight ahead . They are typically found on the underside of parting . Here is what they look like on my kale a few days after incubate .

The Damage

Just hatch larvae are tiny miner that make windowpane in leaves . As they grow , they eat more and more bigger holes in parting , leaving only mineral vein if leave ungoverned . They can also bore into heads , doing more than surface hurt to head crops .

Cultural Controls

For the backyard gardener , there are a act of low wallop recitation that help thin the chances of major harvest damage :

Organic Insecticides

If non - chemical measures do n’t suit you or are n’t effective enough , there are multiple insecticide options usable for controlling sugar worm .

Bacillus Thuringiensis(Bt ) , is a by nature - occurring , spore - forming soil bacterium . It produces proteins that combine into crystal and are toxic when consumed by the larva of many insect species . Bacillus thuringiensissubsp.kurstaki(Btk ) , and subsp.aizawaiare the specific varieties that are used as pesticides for cabbage pests . Bt ’s groovy welfare is its specificity . It is harmful only to the targeted larva and does not move other insects . It must be sprayed on the portion of the plants , typically the leaves , where the larvae feed , and at the sentence when they are feeding . It does n’t kill straight off but stops them from feed immediately and kills them in 1 to 2 days . It break down speedily in the environment , specifically in UV light , and must be reapplied every 3 - 5 24-hour interval . It is an organic pesticide because it is observe naturally in land around the macrocosm . It has no known harmful effect on homo , although carefully follow recording label directions , as with any insect powder , is of import .

While Bt is likely the least toxic insecticide option available , there are other constitutive options . They include Spinosad , which does n’t break down as tight as Bt , so does n’t necessitate to be reapplied as often . Its drawback is that it is not as selective and can do harm to other insect that use up treated industrial plant parts . Other constitutive insecticide combat-ready fixings that are applicable to cabbage worms let in pyrethrins and neem oil . Read label directions carefully to be sure you choose a ware that fits your needs and preferences .

Synthetic Insecticides

There are also synthetic insecticides appropriate for at least a part of our objective larvae universe . fighting ingredients include permethrin , bifenthrin , cyfluthrin and esfanvalerate . Some Diamondback moth populations have developed resistance , so say label cautiously before making a selection . Advantages of synthetic admit quicker defeat and long viability in the environment . drawback are mellow perniciousness generally and harm to good insects . Pay special attention to the pre - harvest separation on the label . Harvest green groceries at the end of the interval to downplay residuary chemical in the garden truck you eat .

Floating Row traverse : A Non - Chemical Preventive Solution

Floating row book binding are refer above as one of several cultural measures that can reduce cabbage worm equipment casualty . They require some clip and effort to build , but overall are less employment than plunk and squelch and are more constitutional than spraying . And they play .

There are any bit of ways to make floating row covers . A simple method acting is to use ¾ ” compromising PVC tubing to make a hoop to span the bottom to be protect . thin the tube to a duration that allow it to span the bed at a height that clears the industrial plant . Create stakes out of ½ ” steel rebar , about 16 ” long . push back them 8 ” deep into the ground and leave 8 ” show above earth . Slide the tubing over the rebar on two sides of the bed , creating a radiate hoop . Place hoop every few feet along your row or bed . Then cover the lot of hoops with an dirt ball resistive spun polyester cloth and ground the textile to the hoops and the ground to keep the insects out . It can be fastened to the hoops by making clip out of old garden hose slit lengthwise and slid around the hoops on top and sides . Secure the textile to the solid ground with grunge , rock-and-roll / bricks , or longer pieces of wood , rebar or other material with enough system of weights to hold the fabric down . The right fabric Lashkar-e-Taiba light and water through while restrain insects out . It also moderates temperature , fill in plants on spicy 24-hour interval and hold some heat in cool weather .

Once set up , row covers supernumerary gardener the day-after-day inspection chore , preserve prettier green groceries , and eliminate the risk of a guest finding a caterpillar in their intellectual nourishment . There is quite a little of guidance about construction of floating row covers on the web . Here is a link that I found helpful .

And a Hail Mary

in conclusion , a plausible but personally unproven method that may be of sake . Cabbage moth are territorial . When a moth learn that another of its coinage has beat it to its specify target , it look for another place to lay its ball . No less a professional than the master vegetable gardener at a major domain historic attraction , string up imported cultivated cabbage moth decoys over her cole crops and claims right success at preventing infestation . Here is a link to an article with footmark by footprint instructions . It is simple , cheap , organic and worth a try .

It ’s About Balance

If you are a backyard gardener aiming for low environmental impact and   minimum chemical solutions to gardening upshot , there are plenty of non - chemical way to preserve your cabbage kinfolk harvest . If you are more inclined to take the chemical - base route , they exist too . Or , as my mom once said to my sis , refer to the cabbage worm she found in the cole slaw , “ It ’s mostly cabbage anyway ; what are you worried about ? ”

Sources :

“ The pest cat of cole crop in Virginia,”www.pubs.ext.vt.edu.pdf

“ Imported Cabbageworm in Home Gardens,”pubs.ext.vt.edu / ENTO-253.pdf

“ Cabbage Looper,”pubs.ext.vt.edu//3104 - 1544 / ENTO-244NP.pdf

“ Diamondback Moth in Virginia,”pubs.ext.vt.edu//444 - 007

NC State Cooperative Extension : curb Caterpilars in Vegetable Gardens , Charlotte Glen , https://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/2013/09 / controlling - caterpillars - in - veggie - gardens/

NC State Cooperative reference : dependable Bug / Bad Bug , Charlotte Glen , https://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/2011/05 / good - bug - bad - bug/