Who is eating my broccoli? (pics)

[TomNJ]

And more important, what can I do to stop them? They are also devouring my cauliflower and brussels sprouts.

Anyone have an organic or at least safe remedy?

TomNJ/VA

[Labradors2]

That is the caterpillar of the cabbage white butterfly. If you want to treat organically, Cayenne pepper might work. Row covers definitely would for next year.

In the meantime, you could hand pick, and squish any eggs that you find on the underside of the leaves.

Linda

[Worth1]

Bt might work.

Worth

[Wi-sunflower]

BT WILL work.

AND it's approved for certified organic as far as I know.

Carol

[Labradors2]

Originally Posted by Wi-sunflower

BT WILL work.

AND it's approved for certified organic as far as I know.

Carol

Very true, but it stinks and I would question putting it on anything I intend to eat.

Linda

[RayR]

Originally Posted by Labradors2

Very true, but it stinks and I would question putting it on anything I intend to eat.

Linda

Why? Bacillus thuringiensis is totally harmless to anything but caterpillars.
And nothing works better than good old BT,

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by RayR

Why? Bacillus thuringiensis is totally harmless to anything but caterpillars.
And nothing works better than good old BT,

[shelleybean]

I keep a big shaker can of Dipel Dust (powdered form of Bt) for everything in the cabbage family. I use it a lot more through the fall, winter and spring than the summer. Safe for people, pets, bees, everyone but caterpillars.

[northernimpala]

wouldn't BT kill all caterpillars? Good butterflies etc. response to the above post.

[TomNJ]

Originally Posted by northernimpala

wouldn't BT kill all caterpillars? Good butterflies etc. response to the above post.

It will only kill the caterpillars that eat the treated leaves, which for the cabbage family (includes broccoli and cauliflower) is the cabbage white moth caterpillar. When they ingest it, it paralyzes their digestive system and they stop eating within hours. Bt does not have a broad spectrum of activity, so they do not kill beneficial insects. It is organic, has no objectionable odor, and is easy to apply - just dilute and spray. Killed all of the caterpillars on my plants and the plants recovered fully.

Originally Posted by gssgarden

How long before you can eat food that may have come in contact with BT?

According to the label, you can spray up to the day of harvest. It's a naturally occurring bacterium common in soils throughout the world and is apparently harmless to humans.

TomNJ/VA

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by northernimpala

wouldn't BT kill all caterpillars? Good butterflies etc. response to the above post.

In more response to the above response many butterflies and moths go to only one type of plant and that is it.

Worth

[TomNJ]

Thank you all very much! I have about 70 plants to treat, so I'll go pick up some BT tomorrow.

Tom - we spent so much time on the phone talking onions, garlic, peppers, and wine that I forgot to mention this critter problem.

TomNJ/VA

[tjg911]

ha ha! you gotta get your priorities straight! start with the problems then move on to the light stuff.

tom

[MrsJustice]

Hello everybody

I have had the most busiest farming season {plus recovering from hurricane sandy}. Belief or Not: We originally to control unwanted bugs by using a Very hot pepper called Hinkel Hatz Pepper. It worked much better than cayenne peppers. For years we used both Cayenne & Hatz Peppers. This year to control squash bugs we have to put up the cayenne's around the squash plant and replace the with Hinkel Hatz Pepper . It woked so great we are now selling the seeds for the first time. Just remember to wear gloves when spreading the Hatz Peppers and /or wash your hands with vinegar, because they are just that hot hot hot. The Capsicum washes out of the soil in around seven day. so weekly we take around two hatz peppers and open them up around all plants. The very hot levels of capsicum affects the nervous system of unwanted pest. http://www.ebay.com/itm/130990132446...84.m1555.l2649

[Labradors2]

Originally Posted by MrsJustice

Hello everybody

I have had the most busiest farming season {plus recovering from hurricane sandy}. Belief or Not: We originally to control unwanted bugs by using a Very hot pepper called Hinkel Hatz Pepper. It worked much better than cayenne peppers. For years we used both Cayenne & Hatz Peppers. This year to control squash bugs we have to put up the cayenne's around the squash plant and replace the with Hinkel Hatz Pepper . It woked so great we are now selling the seeds for the first time. Just remember to wear gloves when spreading the Hatz Peppers and /or wash your hands with vinegar, because they are just that hot hot hot. The Capsicum washes out of the soil in around seven day. so weekly we take around two hatz peppers and open them up around all plants. The very hot levels of capsicum affects the nervous system of unwanted pest. http://www.ebay.com/itm/130990132446...84.m1555.l2649

That sounds interesting, but what exactly are you doing? Are you spreading the seeds all around the plants? Are you putting them ON the plants to be protected? They sound a bit hazardous if you have to wear gloves to touch them .

Linda