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Garden Betty

the most destructive caterpillars in spring are tiny—here's how I control them 🐛


This time of year, I have an abundance of cabbage, kale, broccoli, kohlrabi, and pak choi seedlings (all members of the cabbage family) in the garden. These cool-season crops love our mild spring weather (which stills drops into the 30s Fahrenheit at night) and grow enthusiastically until summer's heat sets in.

The only problem is... I'm not the only one who finds them tasty.

Peak season for the cabbage family also happens to be peak season for tiny pests like cabbageworms and cabbage loopers, which—in spite of their size—can do a LOT of damage in a matter of days, especially when your plants are still young and susceptible to nibbles.

The green caterpillars are the larvae of cabbage butterflies and owlet moths, which lay eggs on the undersides of leaves in early spring. The eggs don't take long to hatch—usually just 2 to 4 weeks—so several generations of caterpillars can emerge in your garden each year!

While some people automatically reach for sprays or oils to try to control these pests, there's a much easier and better way to handle them—and it involves creating a barrier.

​Here's how I keep caterpillars off my cabbage crops—WITHOUT sprays.​

Seasonal Tips

A Visual Guide to 32 Types of Green Caterpillars in Your Garden

I Found a Way to Stop Slugs in the Garden (Without Poison, Copper, or Coffee Grounds)

A Simple Way to Harden Off Seedlings in 7 Days (Or Less)

56 Best Vegetables and Herbs That Grow in Shade

Florida Weave: A Better Way to Trellis Tomatoes

12 Tips to Grow Tomatoes Like a Boss

P.S. Don't let cabbageworms and cabbage loopers ruin a good crop. Keep them off your plants all season with these tips.​

P.P.S. Most people grow things like broccoli and cauliflower for the heads—but did you know the rest of the plant is edible? You can easily double or triple your garden harvests this season without planting more plants. Get my guide below and learn about all the delicious tops and tails you've been needlessly throwing out.

$12.00

How to Eat the Parts of Plants You Didn't Know You Could Eat

If you've ever wondered how you can maximize your garden harvests, this is the guide for you.
It covers 47 types of... Read more

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Garden Betty

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