Growing sprouts? It's time to protect cabbage from caterpillars gnawing to get a healthy crop

Hello, caring gardeners!

Do you want to grow healthy and beautiful cabbage suitable for long-term storage? Run the task interfere with the cabbage pests attacking beds in search of succulent leaves. In the publication, you will learn preventive measures, such as reducing the risk of caterpillars on cabbages; and what to do if the tracks still were seen on the cabbage crop. Looking ahead to say that the chemistry used is optional.

It is interesting: Cabbage butterfly caterpillars attack at least 4 types: the diamondback moth, white butterfly, Pieris rapae and armyworm. Adult insects will not harm the landing, but lay larvae. Of which later appear very hungry caterpillar. They also gnaw the cabbage leaves, sucking the juices and nutrients causing damage to crops.

Can I pre-warn the appearance of caterpillars on a cabbage?

Timely preventive measures give good results, but can not give a 100% guarantee. Right action will reduce the risk of mass Jora cabbage. By "popular" methods should be treated with a share of alertness - not all of them work and some useless at best. Let's deal!

Create a dining room with a varied menu for caterpillars - not the best choice

If pests ate only cabbage, long ago disappeared. Generalists specializing in active eating the leaves of all plants of the cruciferous (Brassica). The greater concentration in one particular corner of the garden, the more tracks will dwell there.

Therefore, do not put next to cabbage turnips, radishes, turnips, turnip and horseradish. Ornamental flowers from cruciferous (e.g., levkoy and obrietta) also represent theoretical risk. And be sure to remove weeds such as shepherd's purse.

mechanical barrier

Best way to work cabbage protect against moths (and hence from the caterpillars) - to create a mechanical barrier between them. Close planting fine mesh or agrovoloknom.

But in practice, so almost no one else does. Butterflies have time to bring 2 or even 3 generations of caterpillars of the season, and their age lasts from late April to September. Therefore, to wrap up the cabbage will have all the time.

"Marigold smell bad and deter pests"

You can meet a lot of recommendations intercrop cultural planting ornamental annual flowers with a strong odor that repels pests. To be honest, I have not heard or seen a marigold someone scared with neighbors. And scare butterflies attractive flowering plants - an option, I would say so myself.

About the importance of dandelions

There is no question that near the cabbage rows in the garden should not be blooming dandelions. Everything is simple: adult butterflies feed on their nectar. Therefore, if your garden has flowering glades, and the concentration of the pests will be higher.

People smekalochka

Which means not only the popular read on the internet! But we must realize that, despite its availability, one spray will never solve the problem completely.

What to look for:

• A separate stand near recipes use of odors, the aroma of which is to make the tracks to get out of bed. I like the option of spraying cabbage solution ammonia (50 ml per bucket of water volume 10 l). It is also a nitrogen fertilizing. Alternative - solution essential oils of coniferous trees. But we must understand that as soon as the smell of weathered, caterpillars come back again.

• I read a lot of positive feedback on the application of gardeners toothpasteDiluted in water. Have you tried this exotic way? If so, write your impressions in the comments below the article.

What if the caterpillars on cabbage still there

Of course, you can try to collect caterpillars hands, but to replace one come another 3. In the market there are a variety of products, labor-saving gardener. Optional use of toxic insecticides!

I prefer to biological agents, safe for humans, insects and plants, "Fitoverm" (fungi) and bitoksibatsillin (bacteria). The idea is that the microorganisms destroy the caterpillars without harming the environment. Grow cabbage and the article was useful? Put in response to "Thumbs up!" Thanks. Also I recommend to read by clicking on the title of the article: Planted cabbage? What should I do to avoid clubroot and How to deal with cabbage flea beetles