#Cabbage Looper

Maximizing cabbage cultivation by growing up to 87 cabbages per aeroponic tower annually. Early cabbage varieties take just 75 days from transplant to harvest, allowing us to produce 18 cabbages per tower per cycle. For optimal head size and airflow, we recommend planting two cabbages per growing level. The main pest we encounter with cabbages is the cabbage looper, a caterpillar that feeds on brassicas like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. As a preventative measure, we use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) which is a naturally occurring, organic biological control. When caterpillars ingest Bt, it disrupts their digestive system, stopping feeding and preventing damage, while remaining safe for beneficial insects, humans, and the plants themselves. #cabbage #farming #agriculture #gardening #hydroponics #verticalfarming #aeroponics

Not to be confused with the cabbage looper 🥬 🐛 Although for the sake of managing them there isn’t much difference. Both can be killed and prevented by the same methods. The cabbage looper (AKA inch worm) is much easier to identify as it gets its name from its iconic walking pattern. If you’re growing cabbage, the damage may be less obvious with these pests because they will burrow into the center of the cabbage head and eat their way out. You’ll usually notice the damage in the last few days of their development because they will eat about 3 times their body weight every day! If you’ve seen small white butterflies fluttering around your garden, those are the adult stage of the cabbage worm. Although they may look nice in your garden, all they want is to lay their eggs on your plants 😤 - - - - #cabbageworm #cabbagelooper #pestcontrol #gardenpest #gardencreatures #gardenideas #gardentips #beginnergardener #gardentip #insectidentification #organicgardening #cabbagemoth #fallgarden #brocolligarden #brocolli #autumngarden #homegarden #fall #thursdaythoughts

The cabbage worm is HERE. It’s the season that they chomp up all of our brassicas—kale, cauli, broccoli, brussels, cabbage—and to keep them from decimating our plants we need to look for them! If you have holes in your leaves this hungry little caterpillar is probably the culprit. Pluck them off and then spray BT Bacillus thuringiensis to keep them at bay. BT is a naturally occurring bacteria in the soil that is concentrated for spraying. It’s food safe. It’s stinky. And I rely on it to keep cabbage loopers at bay. Spray as needed and after a heavy rain. #marskitchengarden #bacillusthuringiensis #cabbageworm #cabbagelooper #kitchengardening #kitchengarden #gardenhacks #zone6gardening

Today I took a slow walk through the garden just checking on things. Nothing fancy — just the usual routine. I stopped to look over my onions, checked on my moringa tree, and admired how well my garden was coming along. Everything looked good…until I spotted a cabbage looper happily feasting on my collards like it paid the grocery bill. 🐛🥬 And that right there is exactly why I always say daily garden checks are a must, especially when you garden pesticide-free like I do. In a pesticide-free garden, you become the first line of defense. A quick walk through the garden can mean the difference between catching a pest early or coming back a few days later to find your plants looking like lace curtains. The good news is most of the time it only takes a few minutes. Just slowing down, looking closely at your plants, and letting the garden tell you what’s going on. Gardening teaches you to pay attention. The plants will always let you know when something needs your help. Be honest…how often do you walk your garden just to check on things? Daily, or whenever you get the chance? #greenthumb #gardener #fridaythe13th #fridayvibes

Companion planting: Broccoli edition -I’m planting sage and thyme with my main crop broccoli. Benefits of Sage for Broccoli: -reduces pest egg-laying of diamondback moths on intercropped broccoli Benefits of Thyme for Broccoli: - reduces cabbage looper and imported cabbageworm damage in broccoli. As an organic farmer, I don’t use synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Instead, I use organic only pesticides and fertilizers. Additionally, I companion plant every food crop with buddy plants to curb pests and diseases.

And so it begins 🥴.......I've been leaving before the sun rises & getting home after dark for the last few days & we've had some rain, so I knew they were gonna get me. 🫣 edit...PSA... I'm not an advocate of killing any and everything in the garden & have been made aware that although annoying AF, these and other caterpillars also serve as pollinators as well as food for other wild life & are a necessity for a healthy eco system. Eventually, I will be better at organic prevention such as interplanting & companion planting, net covering, etc... it's a learning process outside of the learning process.... next time I may try putting them in a bowl to see if the birds will eat them until I get my chickens! #tistheseason #cabbagelooper #redrussiankale #moreraincoming #gardenpests #organicgardening #pickemoff #caterpillarseason #caterpillar #moth #backyardgarden #gardenstuff #gardening #containergardening #gardenwalk #greenspace

Cabbage looper 🐛 #cabbagelooper #reel #reels #reelvideo #reelkarofeelkaro #reelitfeelit #reelsvideo #réel #viralpost #viral #viralvideos #viralvideo #reelsindia #reelsinsta #reelitfeelit❤️❤️ #reelsofinstagram #catterpillar #natures_talk_ #naturephotography #photooftheday #naagin #song #sadsongs #qoutes

#cabbagelooper #owlettemoth

I think this guy’s a little cabbage looper :•) #caterpillars #lepidoptera #buggirl #insects

WHY GROW NASTURTIUMS - Not just a beautiful flower with attractive foliage, it is edible and packed with vitamin C. MORE FACTS: 1. Act as a trap plant lure aphids, whiteflies, squash bugs, beetles, cabbage looper 2. Attract beneficial insects- hover flies, bees, hummingbirds 3. Ground cover- provide shade, retain ground moisture 4. End of life cycle, decompose and add nutrients back into the soil. Grown in @vego_garden Modular raised bed. Grown with @drearthorganics Home Grown Vegetable Garden planting mix with Home Grown Tomato, Vegetable, and Herb fertilizer. Link to bio for purchase #nastrium #attract #beneficalinsects#groundcover #shade #retainmoisture #growfood #growvegetables #growveggies #gardening #vegogarden #raisedbeds #drearth #organicsoil #organicfertilizer #organicgrown #homegrown #growfood

Recently learned some amazing facts about how good bugs track down their prey. Listening to the beet podcast via Kevin Espiritu @epicgardening . He interviewed Jessica Walliser who is a Horticulturist, author of multiple science based books, and coauthor of the website Savvy gardening. Here is an overview of the interview during the podcast episode. Thanks to @jessicawalliser for the amazing info! As pests are eating our plants, the plants release volatile chemicals into the air, odors, called herbivore induced plant volatiles. (HIPV’s for short) These are a scent cue for beneficial predatory insects that are most likely to prey on the particular pest attacking our plants. Most of the tests in the scientific community have been done on parasitic wasps. They’ve found that our plants actually release specific HIPV’s that signal to the correct species of parasitic wasp that prey on specific pests. So as an example, our plants can actually tell the difference between a cabbage worm, cabbage looper, and scientists think even the different sub species of each type of pest. Scientists don’t know exactly what mechanism draws these predatory insects to the plants but they theorize it could have to do with saliva, or it could be chemicals released from insect’s feet, or a combination of factors scientists haven’t yet understood. Scientists have also learned that common plants next to each other will message each other to increase HIPV’s of specific need to protect against attack by pests. Within about 2 weeks of a pest infestation on some plants, predators will be signaled and come to feed due to the series of cues most likely coming from HIPV’s. Scientists have known about HIPV’s since the 1980’s but the gardening world wasn’t super aware of this until more recent years. Obviously there is so much more that science has to learn about pests, predatory insects, and how plants communicate. The facts that have been made known so far help us become better, more patient gardeners. If we pay close attention and keep learning, we can encourage a diverse ecosystem in our outdoor spaces and grow a more positive impact on the system as a whole. Happy Earth Day! 🌎

If you have an organic garden, the best way to get rid of your caterpillar problem is to pick them off with your hands and drop them into soapy water…or feed them to the fish or chickens if you have them. I choose to use gloves for this, but you don’t have to. These particular caterpillars are called cabbage loopers and they are harmless to humans. If you aren’t sure of your caterpillar, always do your research before touching them with your bare hands. Once you have gotten all of the ones you can find, go back the next day and check again. Keep checking each day because they are great hiders! It is better to check a lot so you can save your plants. #organicgarden #greenthumb #tomatoplants #gardenpests #raisedgardenbeds #cabbagelooper #caterpillars #caterpillarsonmytomatoes #chickenfood #growtomatoes #backyardgardening #suburbangardening #zone7b