Asked on May 18, 2012
Something is eating my collard, cabbage and pepper leaves. Any idea what it is and how I can stop it?
by LaTrelle F
+32
My dad, who is doing the gardening, has resorted to putting some type of white power on them. So that is what you see in the photo. I am not sure of the name at present.
Collards
Collards
Red Cabbage
Pepper
Egg Plant
Cabbage
28 answers
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Japanese beetles, maybe?
![Leslie D]()
Leslie D
on May 18, 2012
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A lovely example of cabbage looper damage! This green caterpillar is common on the plants you're growing. The good news is that it can be controlled organically. Apply a product containing B.t. (Caterpillar Attack, Dipel, etc) once a week.
![Walter Reeves]()
Walter Reeves
on May 18, 2012
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Looks like the same thing that is eating my hostas! Its not snails. I can't find the critters at any time. Been out at 2 am with a flashlight-nothing!
![Denise Gentry A]()
Denise Gentry A
on May 18, 2012
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Cliff, will that work for grasshoppers as well??
![Becky H]()
Becky H
on May 18, 2012
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these are a type of catapillar. use sevin dust to kill them. that is probably the white powder he used. The critters will eat any green leaves.
![Pixie H]()
Pixie H
on May 18, 2012
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Thank you all so much!!!!. The plants are growing so beautifully, except for all these holes. [Pixie, i found the box and u r correct, that powder is Sevin]. [Cliff, I like your organic solution, so I am going to give the baking soda a try.]
![LaTrelle F]()
LaTrelle F
on May 18, 2012
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Japanese Beetles and caterpillers make these marks here in NE NY. The beetle bate works great just make sure you assemble the trap indoors or you will have a swarm of them overhead.
![Wendy P]()
Wendy P
on May 18, 2012
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Have you seen little white moths flying around them...?
![Lisa D]()
Lisa D
on May 18, 2012
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Walter's solution, Bt, or Bacillus thuringiensis, is completely safe. It is a naturally occurring bacterium common in soils throughout the world.
![Douglas Hunt]()
Douglas Hunt
on May 19, 2012
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Seven Dust, and there is also a Seven Liquid, takes care of critters that eat broad leaf plants.
![Diane B]()
Diane B
on May 19, 2012
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Have you seen any green "inch" worms on these? And sticky lumps of greenish bug poop (frass)? Probably cabbage looper.
![Mary T]()
Mary T
on May 19, 2012
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Probably slugs and snails chewing on the leaves, put dried crumbled eggshells around the plants and they can't crawl over them.
![Pat S]()
Pat S
on May 19, 2012
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I am no expert, if you look at it early in the morning when pest eat you might be able to tell what is eating it .
![Susan M]()
Susan M
on May 19, 2012
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Lisa D (Asheville, NC) - actually I have seen one or two white butterflies, that my dad calls "something", but I can't understand what he is exactly saying [he is 92], but he complains about them flying around
![LaTrelle F]()
LaTrelle F
on May 29, 2012
- See 2 previous
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Some people call them "skippers". They are laying eggs on the plant leaves...and the eggs will quickly become caterpillars.
![Walter Reeves]()
Walter Reeves
on May 30, 2012
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Thanks so much Walter and Lisa D. I got the BT this weekend and am giving it a try.
![LaTrelle F]()
LaTrelle F
on May 31, 2012
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Baking soda will kill the plants I have been using it around my pool to kill weeds, because the baking soda will not hurt the pool other then changing the PH, it changes the PH of the soil so that plants will not grow. I would not use it round a place where you want to continue to garden. Sevin dust is a horrible pesticide and not something I want on my food, it will totally negate the organic goal and the major reason I grow my own food. My cabbage look like this but not my pepper plants or my squash, and I have looked and looked for bugs and found nothing. I will by the BT and see if it works.
![Cathy Rodriguez]()
Cathy Rodriguez
on Sep 04, 2013
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Baking soda is Sodium Bicarbonate. Sodium is salt. Plants don't do well in salted soil. I would not recommend it on plants you want
![Tammy T]()
Tammy T
on Sep 25, 2013
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Ladies, you would have to use baking soda by the tractor trailer load in order to effect either ph or the salinity of the soil. Baking soda is a great way to "sweeten" an area that is very acidic and no it's not that kinda "salt" chemically speaking.
![Catherine Smith]()
Catherine Smith
on Sep 25, 2013
- See 1 previous
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You are the one that said it takes truck loads, and it does not, and it is not apples and oranges. I would not use it any where near soil I wanted to continue to grow in. That is my choice, as it is yours. The weeds were all kinds, crab grass, prickers, clover. I do know it has saved me a lot of work, and all I do is sprinkle it on right before a rain and it is safe to use around the pool. I have been putting crushed egg shells around my cabbage and it has worked, and they are good for the soil. No chemicals, no PH changes, and the eggs are organic and range free. Next year I will try the BT, This year they were too far gone, to spend the money so I tried the egg shells to see if they worked, and it seems to be working.
![Cathy Rodriguez]()
Cathy Rodriguez
on Sep 27, 2013
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I use to be all chemicals because I worked so hard on my garden. Now I have learned many things. One thing I do is rotate my garden every year. This really helps. Then I get up early and pick off the worms and brush off the leaves. I only use natural bug killers which even Walmart sales. Only in dire circumstances will I use chemicals which so far is never. If you get up early and closely look at the leaves you will see green worms. Pick them off, I wear gloves and have a bucket. I also brush off the leaves. And then I rinse off the leaves with my garden hose. I do this every morning. I have a fairly big garden. It takes time. But I have learned by garden flourishes and we eat healthier. If you use Seven Dust wear gloves and a mask. And wash your food several times.
![Sherrie]()
Sherrie
on Feb 07, 2014
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This is a greatposting, and last summer my Cabbage and Collards looked just like these pix-ugh. Glad to see what it is and solutions. Thank you !
![Kathleen]()
Kathleen
on Mar 30, 2014
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WE have always used wood ash on cabbage I am 66 yrs old and learned this from my grandmother. I lightly mist the plants and sprinkle wood ash on them. Realize everyone doesn't have access to ash. Maybe you know someone that has a fireplace I sift the ash to a fine powder Have one of those powder spreader don't remember the name has a little box with a crank and a tube that dispenses the powder.
![Cindy tustin]()
Cindy tustin
on Mar 30, 2014
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Use dish soap. Look on line. They have lots of different recipe for natural bug killers for the garden
![Cindy woosley]()
Cindy woosley
on Apr 24, 2015
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Seven dust or diatomaceous earth is a good bug killer. You will have to reapply if it rains.
![Carol Fredette]()
Carol Fredette
on Jun 02, 2016
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![Bri12998009]()
Bri12998009
on Nov 27, 2016
Well, I learned from a Great Aunt with a green thumb to sprinkle just white flour not self rising.Wow it works everytime!!!! You have to reapply sometimes. -
![Judy]()
Judy
on Dec 12, 2016
looks like flea beetle damage...they like everything in the cabbage family -
![Analice Resende Afonso]()
Analice Resende Afonso
on Dec 14, 2016
Compartilhe seus pensamentos!
Leslie D
on May 18, 2012
Walter Reeves
on May 18, 2012
Denise Gentry A
on May 18, 2012
Becky H
on May 18, 2012
Pixie H
on May 18, 2012
LaTrelle F
on May 18, 2012
Wendy P
on May 18, 2012
Lisa D
on May 18, 2012
Douglas Hunt
on May 19, 2012
Diane B
on May 19, 2012
Mary T
on May 19, 2012
Pat S
on May 19, 2012
Susan M
on May 19, 2012
Cathy Rodriguez
on Sep 04, 2013
Tammy T
on Sep 25, 2013
Catherine Smith
on Sep 25, 2013
Sherrie
on Feb 07, 2014
Kathleen
on Mar 30, 2014
Cindy tustin
on Mar 30, 2014
Cindy woosley
on Apr 24, 2015
Carol Fredette
on Jun 02, 2016
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