There's a bunch of these little guys feasting on the cabbages in our vegetable garden. I'm uncertain whether they're cabbage worms or not. Since we use only organic methods to grow our vegetables, I was wondering if anyone might know of a "natural" way to get rid of these larvae, preferably something that can be homemade. Thanks!
Use a floating row cover. It will prevent the eggs being laid. It may be too late for this year, but it would be worth a try, especially if you plan to grow anymore from seed this year.
This year I am spraying using the extract from boiled rhubarb leaves mixed with water and some soap in an attempt to eradicate this cabbage worm. Hopefully this upsets the growth cycle of the eggs and worms. The worm is the off-spring of those pretty fast flying, white butterflies fluttering around your garden. I sometime net them, but they are rather fast, and difficult to catch. So far this year it has been cold, so there are not very many. Another method to eradicate is to check daily and wash the green eggs off the plants using a water spray. This can be tedious if you have many plants. Usually the butterfly won't lay the eggs unless the day is quite hot. Eggs are laid on cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli.
It was suggested that a bit of cayenne pepper boiled extract added to the rhubarb leaf and soap mixture might improve the home made insecticide. I will add the pepper to my next mixture.
I only have about a dozen plants and I just came in from the garden after squishing the last of those tiny worms with my fingers (for today at least)
