cabbage problems!

[ethan]

There'e something eating holes in my cabbage. I haven't seen any bugs as of yet, but any ideas on something I can put down to stop whatever it is eating my cabbage?

[EDDIE BUCK]

If its not slugs or snails at night,look under the bottom of the leaves for DBM caterpillars.I have had them right much this year.If it is,try BT and make sure its applied on the underside of the leaves as well as the top.They will be really small and kinda hard to see.If you see one,touch it and it will drop down hanging on a small web line.That will tell the tale,diamondback moth larva for sure. http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/veg...ial/c&b&c.html

[Big Dave]

What is BT? I am having the same problem.

[Jennifer L.]

Bacillus Thuringienis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacillus_thuringiensis

Yes, you've got cabbage worms. Turn the leaves over, look for green worms that match the colour of the cabbage leaves and squash 'em! The Bt will take care of them, too, but it's satisfying to smush them, too.

Jennifer

[Rockytopsis]

Eddie, I have read a lot of post recomending BT. What is the brand name to look for in stores?

[Terri]

The cabbage worms lie along the ribs and veins of the leaf so that they are hard to see. Birds think that they are tasty!

[Micheal]

BT works, but so does wood ashes.
It's what I use plus using a light sprinkle of wood ashes also helps the soil something BT doesn't.

[suitcase_sally]

In the future, get some cheap, light weight pantyhose, cut off the legs and stretch over the cabbage plants. Cabbage moths will not be able to lay their eggs on the cabbage.

[Harry Chickpea]

Sometimes not doing anything can be the best response. We had cabbage and broccoli this spring and the cabbage worm eggs were covering the tiny cabbages. I figured that I'd just use the cabbage as a sacrificial to keep the bugs away from the broccoli. This past week it got hot enough to strip out that section of the garden and I harvested the cabbages. There were holes on the outer leaves, but the interiors were fine. I saw ONE cabbage worm in an area where it could do damage out of a total of nine plants. By NOT spraying, I apparently allowed some predator to have a feast and do a natural clean-out of the problem. Note that it doesn't always work out like this, but there are natural balances.

[EDDIE BUCK]

Originally Posted by Rockytopsis

Eddie, I have read a lot of post recomending BT. What is the brand name to look for in stores?

Well most folks know it as Dipel, but there are many more brands Bonide Thuricide,Thuricide,BT,it will only kill worms nothing else.

[Rockytopsis]

Thanks Eddie, I wrote those down for future reference.
Nancy

[mommagoose_99]

Amazon.com has Bt pretty reasonably priced. They also have Spinosad that kills worms and flea beetles on crucifers(Cabbage, Broccoli, turnips etc). Check it out
Linda

[ethan]

Thanks yall!!

[T-Bone 369]

There is another possibility - small hail. We had a thunderstorm a couple weeks back that had some small hail - would not have even known it if I hadn't been in the barn at the time (was working in the garden and tried to get the tractor and tools in before I got soaked). None of the other plants shown any damage (peppers, toms, squash, ect.) but the cabbage had small holes in the flat laying leaves. I know the hail did it as I had been in the patch right before the storm and right after. Long story made short if the holes are not re-appearing and you do not see insects it's something to think about.