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Rude Cabbage Worms and Remedies

in Gardening

sadcabbage

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.

dusted cabbage

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.
Win an EcoSmart Value Bundle!

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.

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.

Sheena Tatum

Hey, I'm Sheena! I married my jr. high sweetheart and together, we raise three tiny humans in NW Indiana. I'm an introverted free-spirit and serial dreamer obsessed with all things tropical and carefree. I love inspiring others to live wholly and find beauty in the mundane. I don't always get it right, but I'll keep trying anyway. :) Email: [email protected]

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  • Jaque R. July 30, 2011 at 8:56 PM

    I need the Safe Lawn and Outdoor Value Bundle because I have problems with weeds and often hornets. Thank you.

    View Comment
  • Mari July 30, 2011 at 5:57 PM

    I’d pick the safe patio bundle because we spenda lot of time in the backyard in the summer.

    View Comment
  • Steph A July 30, 2011 at 5:53 PM

    I commented on your playdate post!

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  • Steph A July 30, 2011 at 5:52 PM

    I follow you on twitter and tweeted!
    http://twitter.com/gnwg/status/97439416380948480

    View Comment
  • Steph A July 30, 2011 at 5:52 PM

    I like Eco-smart on fb! stephanie a….

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  • Steph A July 30, 2011 at 5:51 PM

    I like you on fb! stephanie a….

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  • Steph A July 30, 2011 at 5:50 PM

    I’d probably choose the safe picnic value bundle!

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  • susan smoaks July 30, 2011 at 4:29 PM

    i need the Safe Bed Bug Home and Travel Value Bundle to make me feel safe

    View Comment
  • kathy p July 30, 2011 at 3:48 PM

    like you on facebook kathy l pease
    kathypease(at)gmail(dot)com

    View Comment
  • kathy p July 30, 2011 at 3:45 PM

    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 Comment
  • Dara Nix July 30, 2011 at 2:49 PM

    I already follow you on Twitter (@Kitty32504) and tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/Kitty32504/status/97393054679433216

    View Comment
  • Dara Nix July 30, 2011 at 2:45 PM

    I like EcoSMART’s page on Facebook (Dara Nix)!

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  • Dara Nix July 30, 2011 at 2:44 PM

    I already like your Facebook page (Dara Nix)!

    View Comment
  • Dara Nix July 30, 2011 at 2:43 PM

    I 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 Comment
  • Viva July 30, 2011 at 2:11 PM

    I’d love the Safe Home Value Bundle because I hate putting poisons inside and these would be great to try. Thanks!

    View Comment
  • Lisa G. July 30, 2011 at 1:26 PM

    I’m following you on Twitter @lisalmg and Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/lisalmg/status/97372313351233536
    lisalmg25 at gmail dot com

    View Comment
  • Lisa G. July 30, 2011 at 1:25 PM

    I like EcoSmart on Facebook user Lisa Garner.
    lisalmg25 at gmail dot com

    View Comment
  • Lisa G. July 30, 2011 at 1:24 PM

    I’m your fan on Facebook user Lisa Garner.
    lisalmg25 at gmail dot com

    View Comment
  • Lisa G. July 30, 2011 at 1:24 PM

    I commented on the playdate post.
    lisalmg25 at gmail dot com

    View Comment
  • Lisa G. July 30, 2011 at 1:21 PM

    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.
    lisalmg25 at gmail dot com

    View Comment
  • Gianna July 30, 2011 at 1:05 PM

    Commented on your playdate post.

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  • Gianna July 30, 2011 at 1:04 PM

    Safe Plant & Garden Value Bundle since I have a garden.

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  • R Hicks July 30, 2011 at 12:17 PM

    follow you and tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/brich2222/status/97354827411099649
    brich22 at earthlink dot net

    View Comment
  • R Hicks July 30, 2011 at 12:16 PM

    like them fb
    richard hicks
    brich22 at earthlink dot net

    View Comment
  • R Hicks July 30, 2011 at 12:15 PM

    fb fan of you
    richard hicks
    brich22 at earthlink dot net

    View Comment
  • R Hicks July 30, 2011 at 12:15 PM

    left comment on playdate post
    r hicks
    brich22 at earthlink dot net

    View Comment
  • R Hicks July 30, 2011 at 12:11 PM

    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 Comment
  • Jennifer J July 30, 2011 at 10:35 AM

    i’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 Comment
  • Donna L July 30, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    I would like Safe Plant & Garden Value Bundle. We have little bugs eating my plants.

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  • Nancy July 30, 2011 at 8:31 AM

    I commented on your playdate post – what fun!

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  • Nancy July 30, 2011 at 8:29 AM

    I’d like the Safe Lawn and Outdoor Value Bundle.
    (My husband just got stung by a wasp yesterday when we were driving in the car, of all places!)

    View Comment
  • Nikki Davis July 30, 2011 at 7:20 AM

    Twitter follower and Tweeted giveaway,

    http://twitter.com/#!/NikkiDavis05/status/97280224215048192

    View Comment
  • Nikki Davis July 30, 2011 at 7:18 AM

    I would love to have the Safe Plant & Garden Value Bundle, I need all the help I can get.

    Thank you for the entry,

    View Comment
  • Sarah L July 30, 2011 at 2:07 AM

    I’ll take the safe picnic bundle because I don’t have a garden.
    Thanks for the contest.

    View Comment
  • Betty C July 30, 2011 at 1:30 AM

    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 Comment
  • Rebecca Shockley July 29, 2011 at 10:14 PM

    I 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 Comment
  • barbara wright July 29, 2011 at 9:21 PM

    We could use the Safe Plant & Garden Value Bundle

    View Comment
  • charline July 29, 2011 at 3:56 PM

    I follow ecosmart on fb as charline stanley
    stanleybilly(bellsouth(dot)net

    View Comment
  • charline July 29, 2011 at 3:55 PM

    I follow you on fb as charline stanley
    stanleybilly(bellsouth(dot)net

    View Comment
  • charline July 29, 2011 at 3:54 PM

    I would pick the safe patio value bundle
    stanleybilly(bellsouth(dot)net

    View Comment
  • shawna July 29, 2011 at 2:11 PM

    I would like the Safe Plant & Garden Value Bundle

    View Comment
  • Deborah Rosen July 29, 2011 at 1:59 PM

    I follow you and shared on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/AsTheNight/status/97018244887617536.

    View Comment
  • Deborah Rosen July 29, 2011 at 1:58 PM

    I liked EcoSMART on Facebook.

    View Comment
  • Deborah Rosen July 29, 2011 at 1:57 PM

    I like Sophistishe on Facebook.

    View Comment
  • Deborah Rosen July 29, 2011 at 1:54 PM

    I left a comment on your playdate post.

    View Comment
  • Deborah Rosen July 29, 2011 at 1:46 PM

    I’d need the Safe Plant & Garden Value Bundle because I have a garden, which means I have critters.

    View Comment
  • Tonya Dean July 29, 2011 at 4:57 AM

    Safe Home Value Bundle. We keep getting those little black ants everywhere and they are driving us nuts.

    tdlsfm(at)gmail(dot)com

    View Comment
  • Susan C July 28, 2011 at 10:52 PM

    I fan you on FB as Susan Chester
    smchester at gmail dot com

    View Comment
  • Susan C July 28, 2011 at 10:48 PM

    I would want the Safe Home Value Bundle because we have ants that we can’t seem to get rid of.
    smchester at gmail dot com

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  • April July 28, 2011 at 10:17 PM

    I like the Safe Bed Bug Travel Value Bundle for traveling

    View Comment
  • Dana July 28, 2011 at 7:59 PM

    i need the Safe Personal Care Value Bundle

    View Comment
  • Huong Lam July 28, 2011 at 4:50 PM

    I like personal value bundle. It’s handy and easy to use.

    View Comment
  • Kristie July 28, 2011 at 5:53 AM

    I need the Safe Patio Value Bundle because when you live in FL you can’t help but deal with roaches – YUCK!

    View Comment
  • Amoeba July 26, 2011 at 6:55 PM

    I would definitely need the lawn & outdoor bundle… We have sooo many pests in our yard eating our plants and flowers!

    View Comment
  • Ashley July 26, 2011 at 11:30 AM

    The Plant & Garden Bundle because we get lots of bugs and grass in our garden.

    View Comment
  • Crystal K. July 24, 2011 at 11:22 PM

    I follow and tweeted:
    http://twitter.com/ltl_lizzielou/statuses/95348175711375360

    View Comment
  • Crystal K. July 24, 2011 at 11:22 PM

    I’m a Facebook Fan of EcoSmart.

    View Comment
  • Crystal K. July 24, 2011 at 11:21 PM

    I’m a Facebook Fan of Sophistishe.

    View Comment
  • Crystal K. July 24, 2011 at 11:21 PM

    I left a comment on your playdate post.

    View Comment
  • Crystal K. July 24, 2011 at 11:19 PM

    I need the Safe Home Value Bundle because ants seem to be bad this year!

    View Comment
  • Jennifer Marie July 24, 2011 at 9:43 AM

    I would need the Safe Plant & Garden Value Bundle

    View Comment
  • Mike July 23, 2011 at 7:29 PM

    Following you on Twitter

    @mtdoonmeister

    http://twitter.com/#!/mtdoonmeister/status/94926942498852864

    mtdoonmeister @ gmail dot com

    View Comment
  • Mike July 23, 2011 at 7:27 PM

    ‘Liked’ Ecosmart on FaceBook

    FB name: Mike M

    mtdoonmeister at gmail dot com

    View Comment
  • Mike July 23, 2011 at 7:26 PM

    ‘Liked’ Sophistishe on FaceBook

    FB name: Mike M

    mtdoonmeister at gmail dot com

    View Comment
  • Mike July 23, 2011 at 7:25 PM

    Commented on your play date post…

    mtdoonmeister at gmail dot com

    View Comment
  • Mike July 23, 2011 at 7:23 PM

    I 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 Comment
  • Sarah July 23, 2011 at 2:40 AM

    http://twitter.com/#!/sarohioan/status/94673215003176961

    View Comment
  • Sarah July 23, 2011 at 2:39 AM

    I need the Safe Patio bundle because we have lots of ants and mosquitos.

    View Comment
  • Meaghan F. July 22, 2011 at 9:48 PM

    We 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 Comment
  • Alicia Webster July 21, 2011 at 10:21 PM

    I would need the Safe Home Value Bundle the most because I am home with my three young children 98% of the time.
    Alicia Webster
    [email protected]

    View Comment
  • Geoff K July 21, 2011 at 8:53 AM

    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 Comment
  • Kimberly B. July 19, 2011 at 8:31 PM

    I follow you and tweeted.
    http://twitter.com/#!/winsome6/status/93492964487213058

    View Comment
  • Kimberly B. July 19, 2011 at 8:29 PM

    I’m a Facebook Fan of EcoSmart.

    View Comment
  • Kimberly B. July 19, 2011 at 8:29 PM

    I’m a Facebook Fan of Sophistishe.

    View Comment
  • Kimberly B. July 19, 2011 at 8:28 PM

    I 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 Comment
  • tracey k in ohio July 19, 2011 at 9:43 AM

    Wow! 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. 🙂

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  • SANDY July 19, 2011 at 6:16 AM

    Safe Home Value Bundle

    View Comment
  • mich pendergrass July 18, 2011 at 9:03 PM

    I commented on the playdate post 🙂

    View Comment
  • mich pendergrass July 18, 2011 at 9:02 PM

    I’m a fan on Facebook 🙂

    View Comment
  • mich pendergrass July 18, 2011 at 8:56 PM

    Can I enter?! I need the Safe Plant & Garden Value Bundle!!

    View Comment
  • sandra July 18, 2011 at 3:56 PM

    i’d need the patio bundle because it has an extra insect repellent and we’ve got tons of mosquitos

    View Comment
  • Terry July 18, 2011 at 2:45 PM

    I 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 Comment
  • Linda Lansford July 18, 2011 at 1:09 PM

    a Facebook Fan of Sophistishe

    View Comment
  • Linda Lansford July 18, 2011 at 1:08 PM

    I want Safe Home Value Bundle to keep us safe

    View Comment
  • Kristie July 18, 2011 at 8:48 AM

    I’m a fan on facebook.

    View Comment
  • Kristie July 18, 2011 at 8:47 AM

    This 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 Comment
  • Ann F July 18, 2011 at 5:46 AM

    We 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 Comment
  • Anthony from CharismaticKid July 18, 2011 at 12:15 AM

    So why don’t all BIG farms use this stuff? Sounds good.

    View Comment
    • Sheena July 18, 2011 at 12:37 AM

      That is a really good question! EcoSmart should start producing their sprays in commercial sizes ;).

      View Comment

    Sheena

    I'm an island girl at heart, unbothered old soul, and minimalist with extra tendencies. At my best, I love what I do... I want to encourage you to do the same, too. Live your best lives amidst trials and triumphs by crafting a life you love and deserve. Happiness is Iriemade❣ Read more...

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