I always love your positivity and energy no matter what the topic of the video! Loved learning about 'Frass' - Thanks for always being such an awesome teacher :)
Thank you for this informative video. I appreciate that you don't spend a lot of time off subject and everything you say is related to the topic. You also illustrate your points by showing examples of the pests as well as their damage. Excellent presentation!
Several of the techniques you mention such as trap crops date back to the early 60's where they were championed by Robert Rodale. They didn't work then and they don't work now. Bt and row covers do work. Nice video.
Good to know. I've found some more recent studies on trap crops, but they all seem rather inconclusive. I'm definitely sticking with Bt & row covers. Thanks & take care!
We had gaps in our garlic bed & I decided to plant several extra broccoli plants. The broccoli bed was right next to it. The one with garlic had a lot less moth pressure!
Hi Jenna! I just found your channel yesterday, and have been actively looking for good garden channels for the last 3 years! Can't believe yours didn't pop up. Love your channel. Fantastic content and you really have a great hostess personality. Just came back to gardening after 12 years of not being able to plant anything because my 2 dogs would destroy everything I planted. (Now they are too old so I can garden again...sad but so over the destruction.) So I'm basically starting from ground zero again. Grew up in Southern California until I was 40. Last year my husband and I purchased a 5 acre farm in beautiful SW Washington. I have a whole range of new plants I can grow. My sad problem is that my grandmother passed many years back and she was the only gardener and canner left in the family. So now begins my long journey to tap into other peoples knowledge and family traditions in farming to help my family reacquire these long lost skills. Last year for the first time in my life, I actually started my veggie garden from seed.....and they grew and I got a harvest off of them. I always thought that starting from seed was well beyond any skill level I would be able to posses. Now, I have my seeds ready for this garden season and a little bit of knowledge gained from last growing season, I'm ready to go. My husband and I are trying to grow the food we eat for a whole year....we even ventured into raising our own meat birds! My brussels sprouts were destroyed last year by something. I want to try again, but this time I'm thinking I'll use the row covers to keep the moths off. Any specific ones I should be looking for? Keep up your fantastic channel. You can count on me to watch each new video. And to suggest your channel to gardening friends.
Hello Tammie! Thank you so much for the kinds words, I truly appreciate it. I'm so glad to hear you're coming back to gardening (and totally understand about the dogs... that's why my entire vegetable garden is fenced in). It gives me so much hope to hear stories like yours- I love that you are interested in growing and raising your own food and learning new skills (or honing old ones). We raised meat chickens for the first time last year (after years of keeping laying hens) and it ended up being easier than I thought. We even butchered them all ourselves, which is something I never thought I could do! As far as row covers, most all of them that I've bought from different companies have been very similar. I use these quite often for pest control: www.gurneys.com/product/super-light-insect-barrier And, all-in-one tunnels like this are very handy www.amazon.com/Gardman-7682-Netting-Tunnel-Polyethylene/dp/B00711TB2O/ref=sr_1_38?dchild=1&keywords=netting+grow+tunnel&qid=1611795512&sr=8-38 The only problem with these are they're only big enough to cover young plants. When I've needed larger sized covers I've been really impressed with the selection on AgFabric.com. But overall, any fine mesh netting or super-light insect barrier fabric will work fine to keep the cabbage moths off your plants. I hope this helps and best wishes for a wonderful garden this year! Take care!
Just noticed on the video at 9:13 a deer ran right behind you. Then turned and went back the way it came from. Thank you for all the great video's and information you share.
I can recommended using a garlic, blend the garlic and then let the juice for one night, put in sprayer, use it for covering plant like cabbage or broccoli, it's smelly for bug and won't lay egg at your veggies plant
I have been doing this daily (garlic) it doesn’t seem to be working 😫 haha. I’m trying the phony moths too. . Hand squish, just when I think it’s ok.... it’s not. Looks like toe covers next year!
Jenna, I just subscribed to your channel . Your information us so clear and understandable and your persona lovely. Hopefully your channel will reach 1 million :)
Fantastic video! The striped variety the main cabbage worm that I deal with. You're so right about seeing the frass before I even catch a glimpse of the worm. That stuff is hard to miss.
Wow, I wish I had seen this video two years ago when I planted my first major garden which was filled with all of our favorite veggies: brussels, cauliflower, broccoli, and bok choi! I would spend at least five minutes every morning dutifully picking the wight worms off, but still my crops failed. This year I didn't see the cabbage wights until June, which is unheard of in my area. I did also do a ton of intercropping, which I think has helped now that they've finally arrived back. It's amazing what growth brassicas can put on if they're not constantly being nibbled by worms--my broccolis look amazing this year. Good to know about BT affecting all caterpillar/moth worms--I didn't know!
I think the first generation of them got killed by the late cold/frost this year in my area. I really didn’t see pressure like I do in a normal year. But yes- it is amazing what kind of fantastic growth they can put on when not being eaten by cabbageworms!!
Great information, tons of wonderful options! And I love the feature appearance of a bunny in the background (just about the last of the decoy part) and he realizes "Oh crap - the human is here" and runs off. :)
Oh I am delighted- I was wondering if anyone would notice! It's actually a tiny fawn! My kids saw it while I was filming... I had no idea it was back there! She (or he) visisted again a few days later 😀.
Ah, it was worth a shot. All your information is good. I guess I was hoping for some new magic that I wasn't aware of. I can share this. I have used DE with good success. My thoughts on trap crops are along the lines of what you said about removing "weeds" in the brassica family. The greater food source just leads to larger populations, unless you take the step of killing them once they find your trap crop of course. Like you, cabbage worms are the bane of my existence. I did search your channel looking for a video like this before I said something. Somehow, I missed this. Thanks for the link!
Love all the ideas. I had an infestation and killing them manually and spraying them with an organic spray of insecticidal soap didn't work for me. I am now trying to grow them in a large container on the deck and covering them with a grow cover. Thanks for the video!
For 1st time I was successful last year covering my brassicas with tulle! We were so proud ...cabbages were big. At the end they still got in under the net probably when we lifted the net to clean the bed even for just a few minutes!! However not a lot of damages.
Just came across your channel looking for much needed relief for when I plant cabbage. I had 2 plants in 2 different locations and while both were attacked, one was worse than the other. The less attacked was planted next to basil and cilantro so I can confirm that it helps. I wanted to comment about Neem oil. While it can be useful, people should remember it is an oil so do not spray while plants are in direct sunlight or bugs will be the least of your worries. Great video! New sub here.
Thanks for bringing up that point about neem. Even with organic solutions, folks need to take care to follow all directions and realize that if not applied properly some of them can harm your plants!
Great video. I do two cabbage crops every year (spring and fall) and they really did a number on them. I think this was the worst garden I've ever had between the weeds, bugs and downy mildew.......Next year will be better !!!!!
I'm very sorry to hear that! It seems like this year was a tough year for many folks, I know I had some serious pest pressure! But that's the great thing about gardening- we can always learn and make next year better. You & me both are hoping for an improvement next year... take care!!
hey Jenna love the deer that came "on-set" heard you talk said to itself "ohh she's here" and ran ... RAN SO FAR AWAY...LOL love your videos as always as im in zone 7 and find your information always a treat. keep up the GREAT work and have a great growing season!
Great video! Cabbage moths almost seem like an all or nothing thing...Like one day my brasicas are beautiful and the next day they are skeletons!! I left a couple of collards in the garden last year and called them my "sacrificial lambs." That seemed to keep them away from all the other brasicas. Going to plant more flowering herbs out there for sure and I also have DE and will attempt that as well. PS: a deer jumped into the background and about 9:17!
First time watching you and I enjoy your content. I am also in zoned 6A Michigan. I’m struggling with my cabbage and greens with those green worms 🐛 eating up my vegetables. Thanks for sharing your video with me. Peace and love ❤️
Hi Jenna Just having my morning coffee and watched this older video and had to laugh! One other method is the crazed gardener running after the butterflies with a tennis racket! Very effective...at the height of the season I was taking out 10 - 15 of the little beggars every day! Now...I did have to put up with some of my friends and neighbour's comments and outright laughter but it helped! I tend to let the caterpillars have their fun, then strip off almost all the leaves (leave the top 3 - 4 leaves) destroy those and then soak down what is left with BTK. The plant then regrows well and most of the caterpillars have been taken out. I also now tend to plant my brassica plants for late fall harvests. This spring I am going to give row covers a whirl - I have tried trap cropping and spreading the brassica plants throughout the garden but haven't really notice a big difference in damage levels! And yes they are one of most irritating pests to deal with. Have a great day and Thank you for taking the time to do the great videos you do! Mike 🇨🇦🍁👍🤾♂️
Haha yes! My dad has done this and it is quite comical. This spring I told the kids to get their butterfly nets and catchall they could! The netting covers have been a game-changer for me. I won't grow any other way now! Have a great day!
I have some Eastern Phoebe (birds) living near my garden. They are bug eaters. They are on their second brood of hatchlings for this season. I have never seen harder working bug eaters. They fly in and out of the garden alternately feeding the babies. They have to be helping to rid the garden of bugs.
You have to love birds that do this! It looks like I'm in the Eastern Phoebe's breeding range, but not in the area where they live year round- but I've never actually seen one here. I may have to try to put up a shelter to attract them next year!
Haha... luckily I didn't have as much pressure from the cabbageworms this year as I did when that video was shot. The late freeze seemed to kill off the first generation. But Bt always works quite well for me. Best of luck!
Companion planting with alliums. 2 years in a row, NO cabbage moths, can't be coincidental. I read several articles that stated the moths HATE the scent. We have a 20x30' garden 3 raised beds and numerous buckets/bags. Onions are planted along 2 perimeters, 2 strategically placed rows in the garden, and a very near by raised bed of Garlic. Also some sacrificial onions planted amongst the brassicas. Onion seed is cheap and easily started in the house, preseason and planted out. Since they get shaded out, and wont generally grow to a viable sized bulb, you can still take leaf cuttings for your salads and soups, which intensifies the scent. Works for us.
I'm so glad to hear this works for you! I've not had great luck using aliums to deter the pests, but I'm thinking perhaps a spray made from alliums may be more effective for me. Have you ever tried that?
@@GrowfullywithJenna No, we have not. To be honest this finding was by complete chance. Last year because of a change in our layout of raised beds our Cauliflower was planted between a row of peppers and a row of onions. Row being 2x8 raised bed. Planted on a 4" grid. 140+ onions. Mostly slug damage from a few rogue slugs that braved the scattering of eggshells around them. Yesterday I saw the first cabbage moth of this year. Fluttered toward the garden, dive bombed our Cauli, got about 3 feet from them then rocketed straight up and out of sight. :) As to using a homemade onion spray, I know of no info, that it would cause any damage, nowhere near as much as not trying it. Mix some up, onion and garlic, spray a couple plants and see if it helps. Let us know please. Best of luck. :)
Thank you so much for this video!! Please continue you explain gardening where I actually have stayed focused:) . I planted cabbage and the little green evil monsters have started eating my leaves. Do I only remove the leaves with holes or remove the entire plant? I'm hand picking the little boogers.
I like to catch the ladybug larva and wolfspiders and move them to my garden lol Especially if you provide hiding places for them, the wolfspiders will hangout until the food source runs out. When they leave, you can just catch more and let them enjoy the buffet.
The person who runs our school garden recommends spraying crops with mild soapy water... apparently the bugs don't like it and it can just wash off afterwards (you might need to be careful with which soap/detergent etc you use?).
Thank you for the excellent video, information, and worm types. Appreciate your thoroughness with the different methods of planting, companion plants, covers, organic sprays. A lot of helpful tips. Even the decoy's is worth a try for my girls to cut out and hang our garden.
@Jeffrey Bradley thank you so much for the feedback- I am very glad you found the video helpful! It's funny you say that about the decoys, my kiddos got the biggest kick out of them. I had the same thought- it might be worth doing it again just for the fun of it! Thanks for watching & I hope you have a great week!
Nice job I am not an organic gardener but I will use non chemical means first. My go to is Imidacloprid ( a Nicotinoid ) it has the same concerns as BT but is more effective so I use less and less often. I have not had good luck with Spinosad. Great video Ill be watching you.
Hello & thanks for stopping by! I appreciate you taking the time to watch and let me know what has worked (and not worked for you)! I also find that with the 2 cabbageworms I'm dealing with my area (imported & cross-striped) the BT is more effective than the spinosad. Have a wonderful weekend!
I can recommend cutting out foam shaped butterflies about 11/2 inches and putting a hole in the middle put stick up through the hole to where you barely see it come through, sticks are bent slightly, I seen 2 fighting on the outside of the garden and 1 had started to land on the plants so I stuck them in the garden, I have had several to go near the garden but fly off, so far it is working
Have you tried epsom salt? Lots of bugs won't like to have to eat it. Just mix 1-2 teaspoons for one gallon of water, water the base of the plant or combine with fertilizer and also spray the leaves. Not sure if it works but I think it's worth a try if you have not done so.
I had some cabbage worms at the beginning of the season but I used a garlic spray and I believe it helped since it seems like no further damage has come to them but are the cabbages safe to eat? We did wash off the poop when we saw it but not sure if it’s still safe to eat. Thanks!
The imported ones have hit my garden this year, and it's the first time I've grown broccoli and brussels sprouts. Fortunately, there don't seem to be too many of them, and I've been able to pick them off before they've done too much damage - at least, for now.
Wow those white "butterflies" did a number on your plants in such a short time! I have considered not even growing broccoli this year. *Have you heard of the SWD (Spotted Wing Drosophila fly?) It's affecting fruit from itty bitty back yard plantings to orchards;* they took hold of my Raspberries last year - ugh - maggots coming out the berries! Do you have any ideas of what would keep the flies away/even kill all flies but not affect the beneficials, of course bees. When I figured out what was going on I put the white netting over the bushes and some vinegar "traps" and while they might have worked I don't know for sure because I was also frustrated that the bees were kept from being 'in-touch' with the blooms. I'm new to raspberries but know they're Heritage, so they produce berries in late Spring AND early Autumn. *It would be helpful to know if a variety of Raspberry produces a huge crop in Spring and nothing in Autumn which would help to keep the little bastards from laying eggs in the raspberry fruit all summer long. Any thoughts would be appreciated : D*
Yes they did!! I have heard of the major issues/concerns with SWD. Luckily, the haven't made their way to me yet... but it's only a matter of time! Regarding varieties 'Prelude' is a nice one that produces only an early summer crop. I also really like 'Nova'- it's a summer-bearer only, more of a mid-season. Most of the advice I've seen for SWD control is geared toward large commercial operations and relies on a course of chemical sprays. Proper cleanup is also key- keeping all ripe fruit picked right away and anything that is inedible needs to be destroyed (not left lying on the ground near the plants). You might find this article helpful, as it gives some organic treatment options: gardenerspath.com/how-to/disease-and-pests/spotted-wing-drosophila-control/ but unfortunately, even the organic sprays can mess with pollinators! Switching to a summer-bearing (one crop) variety would be good, because then you CAN net them- allow the pollinators to do their work when the plants are in bloom, and then net them after the majority of the blooms are done.
First year growing brussel sprouts & just this week they have been attacked. So far my napa cabbage is unaffected, but they are in a different bed & maybe the caterpillars like the sprouts better. I only have one small row of them sprouts, so I've been on a bug squishing mission & I'm treating everything else to hopefully prevent them from attacking the rest. Thanks for the prevention tips; at least I know for next time. Curious about the butterfly decoys though as I still see those butterflies from time to time...
I love this video! Thank you! I cannot find that worm, but I noticed the holes and the poop... I'm going to go hunting! Lol Is this still safe to eat once I harvest and wash it?
I'm so glad you loved it, Nicole- thank you! It is absolutely safe to eat even if cabbage worms have been feeding. I like to soak my brassicas in salt water after harvesting as this seems to help remove all those hidden critters that might be there! Take care!
Neem oil didn’t get rid of the cabbage worms I had but it seems to slow down the moths from putting down new ones. N I can just handpick once it’s controllable
Ever try to grow a trap crop of mustard micro green mix, I've found they love it and due to the diversity they stay localized. im guessing with the variety they feel they are moving around yet are really just still in the same bush.
Is the BT spray safe to eat? My caterpillars are eating the broccoli itself (as well as the leaves) I’ll have to get rid of it all but wondering if after washing something sprayed with BT is safe to ingest?
I've tried neem oil and DE with mine - and it did back them off...super effective, I'm not sure. But definitely a dent. That combined with hand picking and I seem to have gotten things under control - (not advising others here... just to add to your pool of various experiences from others)
I am glad to hear that. I've been interested to hear from someone who uses DE & neem on the cabbage worms- whether it actually works for them, so I very much appreciate your input! I hope you have a great weekend!
hi from Australia... i have planted marigolds in and around my veggie plants.. and found that they have been decimated by little green caterpillars... with the black frass you mention... any ideas why they are doing this please.
Hi Jenna. Does anyone know the other botanical names collards come in? In my country nurseries l have asked for this plant say that they don’t sell them! Pretty frustrating! Cheers Sofia - new subbie 🌱
Hi Sofia- collards, Brassica oleracea, are the only name I know of. They aren’t super popular in some areas of the country, which maybe why your local nurseries don’t carry them. I typically purchase my seeds online.
@@GrowfullywithJennaOh great, l may have to order the seeds from online since nurseries sell neither plant nor seeds! Another plant you cannot find is Comfrey, although l did locate Borage seeds, another unpopular one to find! I really would like to buy some Comfrey & so l continue the search….. Thanks so much for your quick response! Cheers Sofia 🌱 😊
I had a problem and used DE and they were gone for quite a few weeks. It has been a couple days since I checked the garden (raining) and they are at it again!
Yes, it is safe to eat your cabbage- BT has no pre-harvest interval, which means it can be sprayed up until the day of harvest and is still considered safe. This is because studies have shown that Bt ingested by humans passes through the digestive system with no ill effect. Even so, I always recommend washing your produce first and I personally try to stop spraying at least a week before harvesting. Hope this helps!
@@GrowfullywithJenna I only sprayed once. Thinking about it though I'm sure the ones I buy at the grocery store is sprayed heavily and I just wash it really good. Thank you so much. You are so helpful!
Knock on wood... aphids are one of the few pests I don't have much trouble with in the garden. So I don't really have any personal expertise to share. However- I did have to do a research project a couple years back about pest control, and this is what I found about aphids: Check plants regularly for aphids (twice per week during the active growing season), turning leaves over to check the undersides. The presence of large numbers of ants can also indicate aphid populations, as ants are attracted to the honeydew that aphids secrete. Early on, aphid populations can simply be knocked off the plants with a hard stream of water, or infested areas of the plant can be pruned out and disposed of. Encourage the presence of aphids’ natural predators in your garden. These include lady beetles, lacewing larvae, minute pirate bugs, predatory midges, ground beetles, spiders and parasitic wasps. Aphid populations often increase significantly after insecticide is applied, as this kills off the predators that would otherwise keep them in check. Certain cultural practices can discourage population increases as well. Silver reflective mulches can be successful in deterring aphids from melon, summer squash and other vegetables. Over-use of nitrogen fertilizer can encourage aphid populations to grow, so use nitrogen as little as possible. Start seedlings in an indoor location, free of aphids, and transplant outdoors when seedlings are larger, and better able to recover from aphid feeding-plants are most susceptible to damage while they are in the tender, seedling stage. Horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps are the best bet for controlling aphids with fewer negative impacts on the predatory populations which keep them check. Products containing pyrethrins, such as Pyola, can also be used on aphids. Sticky traps are available as well, and are helpful in trapping and monitoring for the presence of aphid populations.
If I remember right, I heard that lady bugs and wasps might take care of aphids. Or try planting something that is very smelly. I recommend something in the mint family like peppermint, spearmint, mint, catnip, are my favorite to use. Many bugs hate that smell but it attracts pollinators such as bees, wasps, and butterflies.
Yep spring. Made my collards look like swiss cheese. They look like small green inch worms. There eggs all under the leaves. Either there eggs or small worms balled up. There very hard to get off the leaves. Or there eating them one > Best way is to mash them
Those green lizards. When there around? I don't see the worms. So i go around getting the green lizards. To keep them around my collard greens.. Either the Lizards, or Praying Mantis, Is what i keep in the garden
It's probably history... but it depends a bit on your growing location. If your weather is still cool and wet- there's a chance. Here it's 90+ degrees and my cabbage would not grow back if it were that far gone.
my raddishes and lettuce got attacked by imported green worms! HELP I think I need to remove them and replace them with flowers RIP what flowers do you guys think I should buy? Help :(
I think that neem can be very useful for specific applications. However, it feels a bit as though it's been made out to be a miracle cure in the organic gardening world, and it's not that. It's not a fix for all pests. In my experience it does not work particularly well on hard-shelled insects (particularly beetles- think Japanese beetles, cucumber beetles, flea beetles, squash bugs) and I find that BT is much more effective against cabbageworms. But neem can be quite effective against soft-bodied pests, things like aphids and mites.
It has always worked on the cabbage worms for us. I bought organic on amazon, add to water, a little bit of peppermint oil and a squirt of dish soap (Dr Bronners)
I have a small petunia plant are pansies and twice I've seen the tiny little caterpillar looking worms. I found one today finally and the other one once I removed it do they travel in packs because I removed one and I don't know how it's if it's I don't know I got the other one and I have the little plant sitting with the flowers sitting up on the wall seems like when it sits a little lower to the ground is when they get infested?
@@GrowfullywithJenna I use cigar tobacco and let it sit in water for days before I strain it into a spray bottle. More tobacco for bug issues. More cayenne for animal damage. I’ve never covered my brassicas in northwest Indiana. I’m considering giving it a try this year for comparison.
Hi Charlie, Sevin has a preharvest interval of 14 days for brassica greens like collards (meaning you should wait at least 14 days before harvesting & consuming your greens). Sevin's active ingredient is carbaryl, a hazardous chemical that can affect the respiratory system, nervous system, cardiovascular system, reproductive system, as well as blood, skin and the cholinesterase of the body, according to the Center For Disease Control. According to the manufacturer, after 14 days the plants have metabolized and broken down this hazardous substance, making them safe for human consumption. But, you might consider an alternative cabbageworm control for future use. Take care!
