Mmmm, Fresh Broccoli

[so lucky]

I have been determined to keep the cabbage worms out of my broccoli and cabbage this year, so I have been hand picking daily and put up those egg shell on a stick things that seemed to do no good whatsoever. Make nice fairy umbrellas, tho. So I finally had to resort to using Dipel dust. Three times so far. Still, there are certain plants that the worms went for; a couple of cabbage and a couple of broccoli. I figured. OK. sacrificial plants. I can sorta handle that. Yesterday I cut some fantastic looking broccoli, and soaked it in salt water for a couple of hours, just in case there were any worms. I was dismayed to find about 10 little worms in the 3 heads of broccoli, even after all my care. I had cut it apart in little florets to make a broccoli salad, and the worms had still managed to hide in the tight little heads. well, after some more washing and soaking, I got the salad made and served it for supper. (I guess you can't really call it a salad, as broccoli is the only vegetable in it, with bacon, mayo and shredded cheese--Yum!) Anyway, I was chomping away when I looked down at my plate and saw a little worm working his way toward the edge of the plate.
The worms I have this year are tiny, with a black stripe or two. (can't see them very well) There can be 6 or so in about 2 square inches of leaf underside. Different than the cabbage looper I am accustomed to seeing.

 

[digitS']

I always had good luck using Bacillus thuringiensis for cabbage loopers, So Lucky. I never used the powder form, however. Did you mix it with water and spray it? Just curious, I suspect it wouldn't have been more effective.

There are caterpillars that it won't kill, as best I understand it. In fact, I guess they aren't really caterpillars in that they are not the larva of moths or butterflies.

The sawfly larva is supposed to be one of them. I am pretty sure that those things are around here but I've never identified them as a pest in the garden. Here is a link with some pictures of the larva:Wikipedia (click)

You might want to get some spinosad. It kills a broader range of insect larva.

Steve

 

[so lucky]

I used the powder form. I guess that may not get into the cracks and crevice like a liquid does. I do have spinosad. Just wasn't wanting to use it, being a broader spectrum killer, but I will if I have to, by gum!

 

[catjac1975]

The salt water at least should have killed them. Place a plate on top of them to keep them underwater. After all the cleaning eat the broccoli with out your glasses on. The worms will be gone.

I have been determined to keep the cabbage worms out of my broccoli and cabbage this year, so I have been hand picking daily and put up those egg shell on a stick things that seemed to do no good whatsoever. Make nice fairy umbrellas, tho. So I finally had to resort to using Dipel dust. Three times so far. Still, there are certain plants that the worms went for; a couple of cabbage and a couple of broccoli. I figured. OK. sacrificial plants. I can sorta handle that. Yesterday I cut some fantastic looking broccoli, and soaked it in salt water for a couple of hours, just in case there were any worms. I was dismayed to find about 10 little worms in the 3 heads of broccoli, even after all my care. I had cut it apart in little florets to make a broccoli salad, and the worms had still managed to hide in the tight little heads. well, after some more washing and soaking, I got the salad made and served it for supper. (I guess you can't really call it a salad, as broccoli is the only vegetable in it, with bacon, mayo and shredded cheese--Yum!) Anyway, I was chomping away when I looked down at my plate and saw a little worm working his way toward the edge of the plate.
The worms I have this year are tiny, with a black stripe or two. (can't see them very well) There can be 6 or so in about 2 square inches of leaf underside. Different than the cabbage looper I am accustomed to seeing.

 

[so lucky]

Yes, I'll have to just leave the glasses off next time, lol. I'm gonna go spray the plants with spinosad as soon as the rain passes. We got about 5" this afternoon.

 

[baymule]

Worms in salad! That's funny! Broccoli is a fall/winter crop here and we chow down on some broccoli salad, minus the worms!

 

[bj taylor]

we're probably all lucky we don't know how many times we've ingested a little extra protein in our veggies

 

[so lucky]

we're probably all lucky we don't know how many times we've ingested a little extra protein in our veggies

Definitely. At least I don't eat hotdogs (rat hairs)

 

[lesa]

Some years are worse than others for those little worms... I like to soak the broccoli in salt water, like Cat said. Most of them float to the top. We generally have ours steamed and that kills any leftover worms. I would rather eat worms, than put poison on my food...