Last month, I noticed a white butterfly fluttering around our garden. I immediately found it’s activity to be quite suspicious. It would not go away. There was something in our garden that tickled it’s fancy. I, however, didn’t know it was about our beloved cabbage. Two weeks later, I suppose, I started to notice teeny little holes in the cabbage plants that I was ever so proud of. So after noticing the holes in the our cabbage, I knew they had been attacked by cabbage worms. And I had discovered that the white butterfly that I had seen weeks prior, was the culprit. I tried making my own cabbage repellent solution and it failed me. It consisted of a combination of water, Fels Naptha shavings, and vanilla extract. It’s basically used to mask the smell of the cabbage to keep the worms at bay. Maybe I needed to add more of something to the solution, but it was unsuccessful.
After two days of spraying, the holes continued to get worse and the broccoli became victim of the little munchin’ monsters. I went out during the evening to discover worms all over our cabbage and broccoli. I removed the nasty little buggers, sprayed the cabbage and broccoli down again with my homemade solution and dusted them with flour. So far so good. And for good measure, I’ve just started using an eco-friendly garden insect killer by Eco Smart. They sent me a bundle of their products which also included the insect repellent (we’re always needing this), weed and grass killer (we have a few eyesores), and garden fungicide (just in case, I can’t take anymore surprises).
Since cabbage worms are such an invasive garden pest, I decided to include some information about the critters and how to get rid of them. Oh, and I have a little giveaway below that may come in handy :).
Cabbage worms attack the following:
Cabbage, Brussels sprouts, Collards, Rutabaga, Turnips, Cauliflower, Kale, Mustard Greens, Kohlrabi, Radishes, and Broccoli.
Your crops may be at risk of cabbage worms if:
- You notice white butterflies fluttering around the garden during the day or brown diamondback moths at night.
- You notice dark green droppings and oval-shaped, pale yellow eggs on the leaves of your plants. Be sure to check the undersides too.
- You notice any holes in the centers of plant leaves and unexplained rips in the plant leaves.
Cabbage worms can be prevented and controlled by:
- Planting mint, sage, rosemary, thyme or hyssop alongside the cabbage plants to repel the worms.
- Applying hot pepper spray (1/2 cup of ground hot peppers into 1 pint of water) every four to five days.
- Dusting plants with white flour after watering or during the morning dew.
- Using floating row covers for plants, especially in late spring when cabbage worms emerge.
- Placing a nylon stocking over each cabbage head until harvest time.
- Hand picking and destroying any worms at the first sight.
EcoSmart would like to give away a value bundle ($33 ARV) to one Sophistishe reader! Winner will be able to choose from the Safe Home Value Bundle, Safe Plant & Garden Value Bundle, Safe Picnic Value Bundle, or Safe Patio Value Bundle.
And the winner is… Mike (mtdoonmeister)! Congrats!
To Enter
Let me know what value bundle you’d need and why!
Extra Entries
Leave a separate comment for each entry you complete.
- Comment on my playdate post.
- Become a Facebook Fan of Sophistishe.
- Become a Facebook Fan of EcoSmart.
- Follow @sheenatatum and tweet about this giveaway. You can tweet daily!
Comments will close on July 30th, 2011 at 7PM CST. A winner from the continental U.S. will then be randomly selected and announced at the top of this post. Check out my Giveaway Rules if you have any questions. Good luck!
This post has been sponsored by EcoSmart with samples and the above giveaway prize. All opinions (if expressed) are always my own. Read my full disclosure policy here.
To support my blogging efforts and site expenses, I do share relevant affiliate links in my posts. Thank you for your support.
I need the Safe Lawn and Outdoor Value Bundle because I have problems with weeds and often hornets. Thank you.
View CommentI’d pick the safe patio bundle because we spenda lot of time in the backyard in the summer.
View CommentI commented on your playdate post!
View CommentI follow you on twitter and tweeted!
View Commenthttp://twitter.com/gnwg/status/97439416380948480
I like Eco-smart on fb! stephanie a….
View CommentI like you on fb! stephanie a….
View CommentI’d probably choose the safe picnic value bundle!
View Commenti need the Safe Bed Bug Home and Travel Value Bundle to make me feel safe
View Commentlike you on facebook kathy l pease
View Commentkathypease(at)gmail(dot)com
id love the Safe Plant & Garden Value Bundle because i see all kinds of little critters on my plants and i think they are sucking the life out of them 🙁
View CommentI already follow you on Twitter (@Kitty32504) and tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/Kitty32504/status/97393054679433216
View CommentI like EcoSMART’s page on Facebook (Dara Nix)!
View CommentI already like your Facebook page (Dara Nix)!
View CommentI would choose the Safe Home Value Bundle! When you live in Florida, there is ALWAYS something creeping, crawling or flying around! But I don’t like using traditional products around my cats (or myself, for that matter)! This would be a great way to combat the problem without endangering the household residents (both 2- and 4-legged)!
View CommentI’d love the Safe Home Value Bundle because I hate putting poisons inside and these would be great to try. Thanks!
View CommentI’m following you on Twitter @lisalmg and Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/lisalmg/status/97372313351233536
View Commentlisalmg25 at gmail dot com
I like EcoSmart on Facebook user Lisa Garner.
View Commentlisalmg25 at gmail dot com
I’m your fan on Facebook user Lisa Garner.
View Commentlisalmg25 at gmail dot com
I commented on the playdate post.
View Commentlisalmg25 at gmail dot com
I would like the Safe Picnic Value Bundle so that when the weather cools down I can enjoy time BBQing with my children without the worry of insects.
View Commentlisalmg25 at gmail dot com
Commented on your playdate post.
View CommentSafe Plant & Garden Value Bundle since I have a garden.
View Commentfollow you and tweet
View Commenthttp://twitter.com/#!/brich2222/status/97354827411099649
brich22 at earthlink dot net
like them fb
View Commentrichard hicks
brich22 at earthlink dot net
fb fan of you
View Commentrichard hicks
brich22 at earthlink dot net
left comment on playdate post
View Commentr hicks
brich22 at earthlink dot net
I want the Safe Picnic Value Bundle because we eat outside a lot and this would go a long way to keeping the bugs at bay!
brich22 at earthlink dot net
View Commenti’d choose the safe patio value bundle because my little girl & i go onto our patio quite a bit to play & i want to protect the both of us while we’re there!
View CommentI would like Safe Plant & Garden Value Bundle. We have little bugs eating my plants.
View CommentI commented on your playdate post – what fun!
View CommentI’d like the Safe Lawn and Outdoor Value Bundle.
View Comment(My husband just got stung by a wasp yesterday when we were driving in the car, of all places!)
Twitter follower and Tweeted giveaway,
http://twitter.com/#!/NikkiDavis05/status/97280224215048192
View CommentI would love to have the Safe Plant & Garden Value Bundle, I need all the help I can get.
Thank you for the entry,
View CommentI’ll take the safe picnic bundle because I don’t have a garden.
View CommentThanks for the contest.
I’d love to have the Safe Plant & Garden Value Bundle but I think it may be too late to save some of my crop.
View CommentI need Safe Bed Bug Travel Value Bundle because these bugs are like an epidemic! My kids go to daycare and I don’t feel that they are anywhere near clean and germ free as they should be!
View CommentWe could use the Safe Plant & Garden Value Bundle
View CommentI follow ecosmart on fb as charline stanley
View Commentstanleybilly(bellsouth(dot)net
I follow you on fb as charline stanley
View Commentstanleybilly(bellsouth(dot)net
I would pick the safe patio value bundle
View Commentstanleybilly(bellsouth(dot)net
I would like the Safe Plant & Garden Value Bundle
View CommentI follow you and shared on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/AsTheNight/status/97018244887617536.
View CommentI liked EcoSMART on Facebook.
View CommentI like Sophistishe on Facebook.
View CommentI left a comment on your playdate post.
View CommentI’d need the Safe Plant & Garden Value Bundle because I have a garden, which means I have critters.
View CommentSafe Home Value Bundle. We keep getting those little black ants everywhere and they are driving us nuts.
tdlsfm(at)gmail(dot)com
View CommentI fan you on FB as Susan Chester
View Commentsmchester at gmail dot com
I would want the Safe Home Value Bundle because we have ants that we can’t seem to get rid of.
View Commentsmchester at gmail dot com
I like the Safe Bed Bug Travel Value Bundle for traveling
View Commenti need the Safe Personal Care Value Bundle
View CommentI like personal value bundle. It’s handy and easy to use.
View CommentI need the Safe Patio Value Bundle because when you live in FL you can’t help but deal with roaches – YUCK!
View CommentI would definitely need the lawn & outdoor bundle… We have sooo many pests in our yard eating our plants and flowers!
View CommentThe Plant & Garden Bundle because we get lots of bugs and grass in our garden.
View CommentI follow and tweeted:
View Commenthttp://twitter.com/ltl_lizzielou/statuses/95348175711375360
I’m a Facebook Fan of EcoSmart.
View CommentI’m a Facebook Fan of Sophistishe.
View CommentI left a comment on your playdate post.
View CommentI need the Safe Home Value Bundle because ants seem to be bad this year!
View CommentI would need the Safe Plant & Garden Value Bundle
View CommentFollowing you on Twitter
@mtdoonmeister
http://twitter.com/#!/mtdoonmeister/status/94926942498852864
mtdoonmeister @ gmail dot com
View Comment‘Liked’ Ecosmart on FaceBook
FB name: Mike M
mtdoonmeister at gmail dot com
View Comment‘Liked’ Sophistishe on FaceBook
FB name: Mike M
mtdoonmeister at gmail dot com
View CommentCommented on your play date post…
mtdoonmeister at gmail dot com
View CommentI would use the Picnic collection. I really would like to be able to keep the bugs away without poisoning everything around me
mtdoonmeister at gmail dot com
View Commenthttp://twitter.com/#!/sarohioan/status/94673215003176961
View CommentI need the Safe Patio bundle because we have lots of ants and mosquitos.
View CommentWe could use the Safe Home Value Bundle. We live in the country and my room is the basement. Yeah, we get a lot of bugs. Miss_slytherin[at]live[dot]com
View CommentI would need the Safe Home Value Bundle the most because I am home with my three young children 98% of the time.
View CommentAlicia Webster
[email protected]
I could use the Safe Plant & Garden Value Bundle the most because our garden often gets infested with weeds and pesky bugs, so it would be great to have some added protection. Thanks!
View CommentI follow you and tweeted.
View Commenthttp://twitter.com/#!/winsome6/status/93492964487213058
I’m a Facebook Fan of EcoSmart.
View CommentI’m a Facebook Fan of Sophistishe.
View CommentI would need the Safe Home Bundle the most because I don’t want to use anything that is not safe for my family and my pets. Also, this is the time of year that the pests try to make their way in.
View CommentWow! Looks like the “munchers” got you pretty bad! I posted about this @ my “If I Plant It Blog”: I had been using a mix of melted Ivory soap in a spray bottle – wasn’t working. So I found Ortho “EcoSense” Insecticidal spray. It’s very gentle & can be used on veggies & flower leaves. Hope your harvest recovers. 🙂
View CommentSafe Home Value Bundle
View CommentI commented on the playdate post 🙂
View CommentI’m a fan on Facebook 🙂
View CommentCan I enter?! I need the Safe Plant & Garden Value Bundle!!
View Commenti’d need the patio bundle because it has an extra insect repellent and we’ve got tons of mosquitos
View CommentI would like the Safe Plant & Garden value bundle. It seems like the bugs are bad this year due to all our rain (Oregon) and the leaves on certain plants have been eaten by something!!!!
View Commenta Facebook Fan of Sophistishe
View CommentI want Safe Home Value Bundle to keep us safe
View CommentI’m a fan on facebook.
View CommentThis time of year the Safe Lawn and Outdoor Value Bundle would be great! I’d love to get rid of the weeds between cracks in the cement and there are always wasps and hornets nests popping up. Plus we could use the insect repellent…mosquitoes and ticks are really bad this year!
View CommentWe could really use the EcoSmart Safe Home Value bundle because we always have problems with ants and yellow jackets during the summer months.
abfantom at yahoo dot com
View CommentSo why don’t all BIG farms use this stuff? Sounds good.
View CommentThat is a really good question! EcoSmart should start producing their sprays in commercial sizes ;).
View Comment