I had noticed light green, fat worm caterpillar things on my cabbages when they were still quite young. I thought I took care of it with an insecticide soap spray. Well, I picked one today, and have found at least 2 of those worms and some aphids. Is there anything I can do for the remaining cabbage plants? And is it safe to eat? Or not? I haven't cut it open yet, I found these when I was cleaning the large leafy leaves off around the head. It really creeps me out. :-| Bugs...ooohhh...*shudder* Is there a way I could wash it besides just water? I've heard we should wash our veggies and fruits in vinegar, would this help remove the bugs?
Ok, well, I cut it open, and the worms and aphids were only on the outer leaves. Thankfully. It made a nice soup.
Hi there, Melissa. When we grew cabbages the white butterflies laid their eggs on them, and the entire heads were swarming with caterpillars. I was told that the only thing that is safe and works well, is to pick the caterpillars off and check for eggs constantly. Since I'm such a sissy and hate the thought of squashing caterpillars, I just gave up on cabbages.
Hello Melissa, You have asked two things if I read it correctly: What can be done with the remaining plants--Well, at this stage, I don't think that there is much more that you can do except look-over the cabbages regularly and pick off any worms that you see. The aphids you can mash to bits with your thumb--if you don't find that too icky. You could spray the aphids with that soapy solution though. That is about all. Another way to wash the cabbages--When I have aphids,slugs or worms on my brassicas, I soak them for a half an hour in salty water before preparing them to eat. The salt seems to irritate these beasts and they turn loose and I can easily skim them off from the water's surface and the wrince the veg 2-3 times and "Bob's yer uncle", as the Brits say. By soaking and washing, the residual soapy spray that may present will be removed. As for using vinegar--well, I have never done that, so I don't know anything about it. Those were a few comments about the things that you asked about, but I would like to say a word about next serason. The pests that invade and infest your cabbages are the same culprits that we have here in Nederland. I use enviro-mesh to cover and protect my plants and have great success. The gauze is so fine that these things cannot get through--of course you have to be careful to seal the sides carefully. I give water right through the gauze and harvest in the evening when the flying insects are not about. The only things that I have trouble with now and then is a slug or snail that finds the plants. Of course the enviromesh tunnels are not so pleasent to the eye, but it is necessary (here at least). The netting also protects against the doves and pigeons that love to eat all sorts of brassica leaves. I hope these few comments will be helpful to you, I am sure that our comembers will also have tons of advice of things that have worked for them. Good luck.
I hand pick them too Melissa. Squishing them kind of grosses me out so I carry a pail of soapy water and throw them in there.
I pick off the lopers too.I put them in a jar in vinegar it kills them.Be careful not to spill any on your plants.
