Surely these guys are MUCH hungrier than I am?! I came back from vacation and the cabbage loopers took over. I guess my mistake was leaving two, JUST two of my delightful red cabbages in the garden. Planting them next to tomatoes did not seem to help discourage the moths from laying eggs in my sweet cabbages. According to this website, cabbage loopers are very common throughout North America and other continents, anywhere crucifers are grown. Cabbage loopers generally overwinter in the southern states and there can be as many as five generations per year! The moths lay their eggs on leaf surfaces. The time between when an egg is laid and maturity is about 18-25 days. That tells me there can be WAY more than five generations, but we'll just settle with the five for now.
I think next year I will try to cover the developing cabbages with tulle or cheesecloth to keep the moths from laying their eggs. Or maybe I will harvest earlier or just not plant. Nope, gotta plant, the Jimster loves the coleslaw too much not to.
in the garden....handpicking these bugs.
Yikes, so sorry...that would be very frustrating! Plus they are gross! Is row covers the way to garden in Tennessee? Yesterday I bought some golden lemon cukes and the check out woman told me she grew them under row covers! It was an interesting discussion that could only happen at Whole Foods!
ReplyDeleteI love red cabbage slaw, especially in fish tacos!
gail
Good morning all! Just sent my last born child off to high school. How time flies.
ReplyDeleteGail, They are gross. I hate worms and especially hate them on crucifers and corn. That is why I won't usually grow them. But I had such good success with the earlier harvested ones I kept these ones too. Not sure about row covers but I think that they are needed in some cases. On strawberries, blueberries (to keep birds away), crucifers and maybe zucchini? I wonder why the clerk grows her cukes under row covers? Got me befuddled.
Yuck-o. Those guys make me so skemish. Have fun picking them off.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week, I'm off on vacation and will be unconnected to cyberspace.
These are slimey and ....ewwww. The reason I gave up on growing broccolli.
ReplyDeleteCindy, See you when you get back. Have a great time!
ReplyDeleteDawn, Yup, awful worms. Gross me out.
Well, that is no good! :(
ReplyDeleteI think I would have to give them to someone for fishing. Looks like great bait.
ReplyDeleteHow sad, they just destroyed your pretty purple cabbage. I think the cheesecloth is a great idea, maybe row covers would work for you with the cabbage. My youngest will be starting back to school in about 3 weeks. He will be a 10th grader this year.
ReplyDeleteDo they eat their way deep into the cabbage? I can't tell if it is just the outer leaves or if the holes go deep. I've never grown cabbage so I haven't seen this pest or his handiwork before. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteMarnie
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ReplyDeleteYikes, those creepy crawlies were munching down on the purple goodies! I bet you were looking forward to a return with yummy cabbage waiting for you... ahhh too bad....
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about that cabbage! It looked like it was a nice one. I was going to plant cabbage but never got around to it. I hope you have some others you can munch on that the loopers haven't dined on yet!
ReplyDeleteStacy, Nope, no good at all. Yuck!
ReplyDeleteSarah, Hmmmm, Mr. Fix-it would like that for sure!
Marnie, They did go in a bit at the base of the cabbage. But when the Jimster prepared the slaw, we just cut off that part. There were also eggs in that part. They were pretty gross but the Jimster took it like a champ. He surprised me. I tell you he was determined to have some red slaw.
Skeeter, Still ate it, just cut off the damaged parts. Would've been better had we not had to do it though.
Dave, I got so many other cabbages that I think I would definitely grow them again. The cycles of insects are funny and you have to time things just right. This crop of pests just got to me. I have had my fair share of problems this year and have some more insect posts coming.
PG, I don't know how I skipped you-one of those moments I guess. Your youngest is about one year older than my youngest son then? I feel for you, teenagers! I have to say Jimmy is pretty good, always happy, though he could be more helpful and studious.
ReplyDeleteYuk on the worms. They are gross. That must be what just jumped on my collards. One day they looked fine, the next day they were eaten beyond use. Guess it is just that time of the yr. I think I'll try some cabbage this winter as it likes cooler weather. Time for more carrots also. Fall time & lots of work to do.
ReplyDeleteYikes!!!!! I'm so sorry to hear that. I guess I'll have to think of getting a cheesecloth for my cabbage when its getting close to harvest time. Those cabbage lopers sure look like the picture of e-coli up close in a microscope.
ReplyDeleteTina, have you ever heard of sifting flour on your cabbage plants to keep the worms away? Seems I remember hearing that somewhere. Don't know if it works or not.
ReplyDeleteLola, Hi there! No, I have never heard of sifting flour on my cabbage but I might just try it. Can't see what harm it would cause. I'll let you know next year. No more cabbage this year.
ReplyDeleteDP, Yup, be prepared when growing cabbage, brussel sprouts, broccoli or even cauliflower for these worms. They are big pests for sure.
Argh. Silly critters. At least you got to enjoy it still though. How was the trip?
ReplyDeleteHi Tina --sorry about the cabbage. My mother would always have us carry out a stew pot full of warm salt water to pour over our cabbage. It seemed to do the trick --never any ugly worm looking guys eating our cabbage:) Another very busy day today --tomorrow we have to leave by 0530. Such a fun day --hehehe. Catch you later! Girl Model was released around 1130 --got home at 1300. Poor thing needs to be a parent pick-up if the bus keeps her so long, kwim? I will try again and see how long it takes --just hoping it was because it was the first day back.
ReplyDeleteCinj, We had a super good time but of course I was thinking of the garden. lol Fortunately my mother let me garden at her place. Mom, How is it coming with that nice rain?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, I think a pot of salty water would work great on these worms. Hard to believe everyone is in school now. Even sidekick? How was Boy #1's first real day of high school? Not sure about the Jimsters, you know these teenagers. Ask how their day was and its,"Fine"-every single day! No matter what. Yeah right. Do try the bus again but it seems odd to be so long, first day of school or not. Our bus driver is johnny on the spot to the minute ALL the time. She is good.
Until this year, I never knew what a row cover was--one of the benefits of reading blogs!:)
ReplyDeleteI gave up raising cabbage and broccoli years ago because of the worms. Picking the tiny things out of broccoli was the worst! I'll buy mine at the store, thank you. Your red cabbage does look delicious, though; I hope row covers work for you next time.
Rose-thanks! I still think it was worth it as I got quite a few heads with no worms, but they were bound to get us sooner or later:(
ReplyDeleteAnonymous do you know the ratio of salt & water? Might try that if I get worms. Cabbage & such are winter veggies here. May try both so I know which one is best.
ReplyDelete