I'm a beginner gardener and I've hit a rough patch. I planted Brussels sprouts this fall, but I've just noticed they're being eaten up by what looks like cabbage worms or slugs. I found them out there at night, and it was a total horror show! I have about four plants that are only 3-4 inches tall, situated in zone 5, while my carrots right behind them are flourishing. I even have potted Brussels sprouts that are doing great and untouched.
Feeling pretty defeated, I'm wondering if I should just give up and replant something else instead. This is my first year trying to manage an entire garden and I'm feeling overwhelmed! What did I do wrong?
3 Answers
In the future, try spraying them with BT or spinosad periodically to keep those pesky bugs at bay. Stay hopeful though, it’s all a learning curve! I’m not super familiar with your zone, but I know that all the brassicas are fall and early spring crops, and those worms can wipe them out overnight. Also, consider hunting for them at night with a UV flashlight – it makes spotting them much easier! Oh, and definitely get some BT, it works wonders on soft-bodied pests.
I totally understand your caution! I felt the same after that neem oil incident. I think BT is safer though, I just need to know more about using it without harming my plants.
You're not alone in this! Those annoying white butterflies lay their eggs on brassicas, which causes those worms to show up. The best way to tackle this is by covering your plants with netting before the butterflies arrive or spraying them with BT. If you start treating them now, there's a real chance they can recover. Remember to spray all brassicas weekly and after heavy rain for it to work effectively!
You can also look into using bug netting as a protective barrier. It works great if you can set up a frame over your beds. Just one thing to consider, what will you do with the netting once your Brussels sprouts outgrow it? It’s a bit of a tricky situation, but totally worth it for the protection they offer.
That’s a great point! I can definitely set up netting, but once they get too big, it’ll be tricky. Any ideas on how to manage that?
Got any specific brand recommendations for BT? And when's the earliest I can start using it? After a disaster with a bean plant where neem oil seemed to kill it overnight, I'm super hesitant to spray anything!