DJ54
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2009
- Messages
- 4,224
- Location
- Carroll, Ohio
- Tractor
- IH Farmall 656 gas/ IH 240 Utility/ 2, Super C Farmalls/ 2, Farmall A's/ Farmall BN/McCormick-Deering OS-6/McCormick-Deering O-4/ '36 Farmall F-12/ 480 Case hoe. '65 Ford 2000 3 cyl., 4 spd. w/3 spd Aux. Trans
We had a raised garden last fall for the first time. Raised broccoli and lettuce that worked out well. We also had lots of cabbage but, most of it got Infested with bugs. See picture below.
Anyone know what these bugs are and how to prevent next season?
MoKellyView attachment 683881
Cabbage worms. I get them here too. I use Spinosad, and BT (Bacillus thuringiensis " sprays alternately. Both approved for orgainic use. BT is often considered to be the best pesticide for cabbage worms because it targets only specific pests; it won't harm ladybugs, parasitic wasps, honeybees or other desirable garden residents. Do understand, pests need to injest/eat a bit of the leaves for it to work. It produces a protein that is toxic to larvae. I had very good control using both of those products. More than several companies make these sprays containing these products. Use Google, or your preferred search engine to find them, or read about them.
This year, pay attention, looking for white butterflies flitting around the garden. Those are the rascals responsible for laying eggs on your crops, that lay eggs for those worms. Personally, I also sow Daikon Radishes either side of the row of cabbage, and vining plants as a trap plant. In a normal year, they will bolt before cabbage forms heads, and the flowers will attract those butterflies, and will lay their eggs there. I spray the radishes when I see the butterflies working them, killing what larvae may emerge. Daikon seeds are relatively cheap when bought in bulk of 1/4, or 1/2 lb. amounts, and go along way. A second planting here, about 2-3 weeks after the first one will produce flowers, after the first one's die off. My first planting last year did not do well due to the weather, but the second one did. It did get me through the harvest, along with the BT, and Spinosad.