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Tue, Jun 3, 14 at 19:21
| I'm a new gardener just starting out. I know nothing really. Mostar of my plants look healthy but my cabbage is being devoured. I have not put any type of pesticide on it and I prefer to stick with natural/organic. Any idea what this is and what I can do to stop it? Or is it pretty much done for? I wasn't sure if the black stuff was larvae of some type or poop. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by fern1knits 5/6 (My Page) on Tue, Jun 3, 14 at 20:06
| Maybe cabbage moths / larvae. They will lay eggs on the leaves and then when the larvae hatch, will devour the leaves. Look on the underside of the leaves - if you see patches of greenish eggs, smoosh them or spray with a hose. That's what I do with mine. You can also cover the plants with netting or row covers to prevent the cabbage moths from laying eggs. |
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| Spray with BT and it will go away. |
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| I second the BT. If you look closely on the leave's undersides, you'll likely find a green caterpillar. They are hard to see cause they have excellent camouflage. Encourage wasps in your garden.. I have lots and they help keep the caterpillars under control. I can see the wasps on patrol, look around my plants for these. |
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| Black stuff is caterpillar poop. As has been said, look for the caterpillars. Then deal with them. |
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| Bt is your best bet. It is organic, it works well and best of all, only targets the caterpillars not the good guys. I use the Garden Safe Bt Worm & Caterpillar Killer, but I have to order it online, since nobody around us seems to carry it. |
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