Keep weeds away from your plants to reduce habitat for insects. Make it a routine to check over your plants once or twice per week. Slugs and caterpillarsboth eat cabbages, and the key to protecting cabbages is determining which pest is destroying your crop. While kale is a relatively low-maintenance crop that draws few serious pests, from time to time insects may invade a particularly lush plot. In 2012, Parris was honored with awards from the Missouri Press Association for best feature story, best feature series and best humor series. These pests are known to chew holes through kale leaves, but they can be killed through natural and nontoxic means. How do I keep bugs off my kale? These plants have hardy leaves that will stand up to water spraying once per day. Spritz the kale leaves with the soapy water. In North America, harlequin bugs wait until the weather warms in … The aphids were all shriveled up and could be cleaned off with a sprayer on a garden hose. of liquid detergent into 1 gallon of water and apply the solution to any affected plants. So much so that it’s contagious. Highly aromatic herbs such as lavender or basil grow well when planted next to kale. of liquid detergent into 1 gallon of water and apply the solution to any affected plants. https://homeguides.sfgate.com/naturally-kill-bugs-kale-79436.html Tarnished plant bug. Drop them into a bucket of soapy water to kill them and ensure they will not return to infest your kale. If you seal your row covers completely immediately after transplanting your kale, they can keep flea beetles away. While sprays are convenient, inexpensive and simple to make, they must be reapplied regularly to be fully effective. Identifying the culprit is the first step in eliminating the pest and protecting your crops. Many insects that damage kale, spread diseases overwinter in plant debris left in the garden at the end of the season. Fill with beer or milk and let it … The spicy flavor and strong scent will keep many unwanted pests at bay. Also known as lygus bugs, these are tiny 0.25” bugs that start out as nymphs. To make a basic bug spray, simply stir 2 tbsp. As best as possible, leave any crop debris from non-diseased plants on your soil surface or near your garden beds since there are likely predatory insect eggs (and yes, pest eggs too) on the debris – this also helps feed your soil as the old roots are decomposed by microorganisms. Row covers work great to protect your crops from a wide variety of pests, including: cabbageworms, flea beetles, squash bugs, potato beetles, root … Plant kale in a well-drained bed that receives about six hours of direct daily sunlight. I found this aphid killing solution at this website: Sprays for Aphids. Spray the entire cabbage plant, including the underside of leaves. The surfactants in the detergent clog the insects’ breathing apparatus and smother them. Spraying your plants with a jet of water might be enough to knock the caterpillars off too. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, Capital District Community Gardens: Garden Pests and Diseases. Spray kale with strong jets of water from a garden hose to physically remove pests that may be on the leaves. I don’t want to puncture the pure and easy-growing image that kale has. Kale can keep a really long time in your fridge, but you worked so hard for it - you should enjoy it soon. Pepper spray. Be sure to drain the leaves on a towel and pat dry or spin them in a salad spinner until all the water is off the leaves. Pyrethrum spray. Choosing to use homemade pest control means fewer bugs and fewer toxic chemicals in the garden. Lisa Parris is a writer and former features editor of "The Caldwell County News." Everyone wants to grow kale. Clove oil helps keep numerous flying insects at bay. Caraway, fennel and spearmint draw in minute pirate bugs and damsel bugs which also feed on other insects. Bad News Butterflies. The next year I grew them under a light, floating row cover (sometimes called Remay, garden fabric, or frost blanket) to try and keep the bugs out so we could at least harvest some of the heads. If the idea of handpicking caterpillars off of your kale plants makes you squeamish, you can also control the pests by spraying your plants with Bt. When bringing new plants home, check to ensure they are free of both whiteflies and viruses. Ladybugs, for example, are attracted to dill. You can save your seedlings by delaying planting or transplanting your kale for about two weeks after temperatures warm to that point. Use physical barriers. I keep noticing holes in the outer leaves. Weeds harbor pests, so keep your kale garden weed-free to help prevent infestations. Homemade insect sprays keep pests under control by coating visible bugs and vulnerable kale foliage with slippery soaps and pungent spices. Prevention is always the fist line of defense when it comes to any garden pests. Cabbageworms are white butterflies with black spots that lay their larvae in kale leaves. Classic methods such as putting cups of beer or milk in your garden are surprisingly effective. I was pleasantly surprised by the results. I actually don’t want to do this. Fall cleanup, including disposal of plant debris and turning the soil to expose insects goes a long way toward preventing problems in the spring.. Kale Plant Protection She recommends setting the bugs you pick off to the side, for the birds to get to. If slugs and snails are destroying your vegetable garden, cedar wood and pine oils can help fight both these vegetable garden pests. I don’t even fancy kale as much as you health nuts out there, but for some reason I’m growing a lot of it. When you’re out on the hunt, keep in mind that cabbage worms are most often found on the underside of leaves, or tucked in the new growth at the plant’s center. Homemade insect sprays keep pests under control by coating visible bugs and vulnerable kale foliage with slippery soaps and pungent spices. Heavy infestations are identified when 10 percent or more of the kale is wilting or showing signs of pest distress such as holes in the leaves. Herbal water spray. Slugs eat leaves using a raspy tongue with tough spots that rub against the leaves. Hand-picking the worms off will slow an infestation (but if your infestation is anything like the one I had on my kale last season, you will never win). Spray kale with an organic insecticide in the event of heavy infestations. Use the organic bug spray recipe ALL OVER your susceptible crops – I used it all over my broccoli, Mix water and a few drops of nontoxic dish detergent and put it into a spray bottle. Young kale seedlings are especially susceptible to beetle and caterpillar attacks. The same pests that like cabbage and kale will also flock to collards if given the chance. Kale is a cold-hardy, leafy green well-suited to life in cooler climates. Fortunately, there are several easy home remedies that effectively remove insect pests while posing no threat to children, pets or plants. keeping the bugs away, naturally With all this rain we’ve been having over the last fortnight I’ve barely even looked at our garden. Harlequin Bugs. To make a basic bug spray, simply stir 2 tbsp. This farmer says he only removes his row cover once the plant, say broccoli or cauliflower, has started forming a head. They are natural predators of many aphids that prey on kale and other cole crops, and they will not harm the kale. Homemade insect sprays keep pests under control by coating visible bugs and vulnerable kale foliage with slippery soaps and pungent spices. Create a longer-lasting repellent by adding a few tablespoons of garlic, onion powder, red pepper or hot sauce to the soapy water before spraying it on the plants. Well-chosen companion plants can ward off unwanted pests all season long. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! The mixture will repel the worms from the plant. When in the garden, inspect the undersides of leaves for whiteflies. After spraying the solution on the kale plants and leaving it for 4-6 hours, I rechecked the plants. Clear up any surrounding debris and keep your plants in check. They’re green and often have markings on their back that are lighter in color. Neem oil spray. Kale plant protection for next year’s crop begins after the fall harvest. As the kid of a good dutch mother, I was forced to eat plain steamed kale quite often. This aphid killing solution at this website: sprays for aphids could be cleaned off with pesticide... 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