BATTLING WHITE CABBAGE MOTHS? HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO WIN THE WAR!
BATTLING WHITE CABBAGE MOTHS? HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO WIN THE WAR!
White cabbage moths, also known as cabbage white butterflies, can be a nuisance in the garden, especially for brassica crops like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. Here are some effective, eco-friendly strategies to control them:
1. Netting
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Cover your plants with fine insect netting to prevent the moths from laying eggs. Ensure the net is tightly secured and has no gaps, as even a small opening can allow moths in.
2. Hand-Picking
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Regularly inspect your plants and remove any caterpillars or eggs you find on leaves. Look under the leaves, as that’s where they tend to hide. This is time-consuming but very effective, especially in smaller gardens.
3. Companion Planting
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Plant strong-smelling herbs like dill, rosemary, thyme, or sage near your plants to repel cabbage moths.
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You could also plant flowers like marigolds nearby, as they may attract beneficial insects that prey on cabbage moth caterpillars.
4. Natural Predators
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Encourage birds and beneficial insects like parasitic wasps and ladybirds in your garden. Planting a diverse range of flowering plants can help attract these beneficial insects, which prey on caterpillars. Try our Bee and Beneficial Insect Mix of seeds that grow plants they are attracted to!
5. Organic Sprays
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Use an organic insecticide like Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which is a bacterium that targets caterpillars without harming beneficial insects. Spray it on leaves where caterpillars are present, following label instructions.
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You can also try neem oil spray, which works as both a deterrent and a pesticide.
6. Decoy Plants
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Try planting a few sacrificial plants nearby that can serve as decoys. Nasturtiums, for example, will attract cabbage moths, keeping them away from your main crops. Cress American Upland is known as a dead end crop for Cabbage Moth caterpillars. The moths love to lay eggs on them, they will even leave other palatable plants alone to lay eggs on these! When the eggs hatch the caterpillars eat the leaves and the first bite kills them! The leaves contain saponin which is the ingredient in soap that makes it lather, deadly to caterpillars, but totally edible and tasty for us!
7. DIY Eggshell Method
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Some gardeners report success with scattering crushed eggshells around brassica plants or even placing whole eggshell halves on sticks. The white colour is thought to mimic other cabbage moths, which discourages them from laying eggs on “occupied” plants. You can also use chopsticks or any straight stick to tie a strip of white cloth to, the moths think the area is taken so look elsewhere.
Using a combination of these methods can greatly reduce cabbage moth damage in the garden without relying on harsh chemicals! And hopefully you will win the war!!