I'm currently battling cabbage loopers and aphids on my plants. I know there's some debate about whether to spray neem oil or BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) first. My readings suggested it's best to wait a few days between treatments. Yesterday, a cabbage looper wreaked havoc on one of my kale plants which was about 7 inches tall and had 6-7 leaves. I've been hand-picking the caterpillars and removing the leaves infested with aphids, but I could use some guidance on the best approach for these pests.
3 Answers
I’d recommend using a garden net to keep those cabbage worms off your brassicas. I usually grab some tulle fabric from a craft store and make my own covers, and they work wonders! For the aphids, mixing neem oil with a bit of Castile soap can do the trick. Good luck tackling those pests!
If you're dealing with caterpillars, try using a handheld black light at night—those little guys glow in the dark! It's a fun way to spot them. Just a heads up, their droppings glow too, so watch out for that!
Just to clarify, you might be looking for BT, which is really helpful for caterpillars! I’m not so familiar with what to do for aphids, but I heard lemongrass can kill the larvae too. Just a thought!
Ha, I didn’t know about the poop glowing! That's a neat trick.