Cabbage Worms...oh my

sheslostit 5/31/2011, 12:03 pm

So my poor brussel sprout was destroyed by cabbage worms. I was able to id them as cabbage worms. I initially tried plucking them off with no success. Went to the local nursery and with their advice got some organic pesticides. However, I sprayed the plant multiple times and they kept coming back. Finally for fear of attacking the other plants around it, I opted to sacrifice that plant and pulled it out. Anyone have any suggestions to help prevent these little buggers from getting on my plants in the first time. I know with slugs, i've heard of beer in a container. Can cabbage worms climb plastic. I've heard that some worms/catapillers cannot climb plastic so you can place used yougart containers around the plants? Please help me. I really want some sprouts this year but worry about the battle coming this fall when i replant some.

mcduff 5/31/2011, 12:36 pm

Row covers over your cabbage will prevent the little white butterflies from laying their eggs which become the cabbage worms. Here in the South you have to fight them constantly if you leave the plants uncovered.

sheslostit 5/31/2011, 12:44 pm

didn't know that. That's an easy fix. Thanks!
P(:

dizzygardener 5/31/2011, 2:51 pm

I'm assuming that the organic pesticide in question was BT? If so, you have to keep reapplying it. I think my bottle says every 5 days or something like that. The worms have to ingest the pesticide in order for it to work. BT is degraded by sunlight, so it looses it's potency very quickly. It is also very easily washed away for any rain or watering is going to minimize the effects.

For best results, I usually spray my plants at dusk once a week. I have been able to keep the damage to a minimum that way.

As the previous poster suggested, the easiest way to deal with Cabbage worms is to cover your plants with an insect barrier.

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Cabbage Worms...oh my

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