cold crops being eaten

[Joan]

Hi, first post here!
I planted cauliflower, brussel sprouts and cabbage. The cabbage are heading a bit but holes throughout. The other two are skeletal to say the least.
Perhaps lacey would be better. I covered with floating covers at someones suggestion. No help, now I am spraying a "safe spray" and see no improvement. I have seen an occasional worm. Any hope for my plants? Any suggestions? I am really frustrated. Thanks

[winter_unfazed]

You mean 'cole' crops?

[Joan]

Well I debated cole or cold but we tried the hot water this am and keep you posted!
BTW my hubby thought I was a bit crazy for doing this!
Thanks, Joan

[drobinson]

The only effective cole crop protector I have found is Dipel or Baccilus Therengenitis (one and the same, though the latter names may not be spelled correctly). This product is recommended by organic gardening magazine and other such like. It is in a powder form, not harmful to humans or animals, but kills the cabbage moth larva when ingested. Still I wouldn't breathe the dust, just in case. Now, if the holes are caused by slugs, the Dipel will not do much good. In that case, use a little lime dust or wood ashes dust on the leaves, or sprinkled around the base of the plants. Slugs really hate wood ashes. Or you might trap them in a can lid with a little beer, or molasses and water. They crawl in the lid and drown (so I'm told). Neither do the cabbage larva or other worm critters like the wood ashes dust.

[Joan]

I believe we will try an organic powder next year. To report on pouring hot water method, we think it worked. That is all I tried and picked a large cabbage plus 4 smaller ones, and 4 small heads of cauliflower but they were eaten the worst by whatever, brussel sprouts still there. So folks don't rule out the pouring of very hot water at first sign of insect damage. Thanks everyone!

[carl102842]

Last year for cabbage worms I used diluted Hydrogen Peroxide. If using 3%add 1 cup Hydrogen Peroxide To 1 gal. water with a squirt of liquid dish soap. If using 40% add 1/4 cup to 3gal. water & soap. I would spray this on the plants whenever there were lots of moths flying around & we had no live worms. It also helps to controll potato bugs