It is annoying when the yields in the garden are reduced by harmful insects. By planting cauliflowers in spring or autumn, you reduce the risk of pest infestation. Susceptibility is higher during the summer months.
Cabbage fly larvae eat the plants from the inside
cabbage fly
These insects lay their eggs on the root collar, so that from April onwards, the pests can appear in large numbers. The larvae damage the stalk and the outer leaves of the cauliflower wilt. A severe infestation can destroy an entire crop in a short period of time. Plant injuries lead to secondary diseases such as bacterial soft rot.
measures
Protect young plants with a close-meshed net so that the adult flying insects cannot get to the plant stand. Create mixed cultures. You can achieve a deterrent effect by planting borage. Once the insects have spread, pull the infested plants out of the ground. If the infestation is small, remove the pests and replant the cauliflower. Heavily infested plants must be disposed of with household waste.
spinner midge
They place their eggs on the heart leaves, giving their offspring a fresh food source. The growth of the cabbage plant, which often shows twisted leaves, flowers and shoot tips with a spiral shape, is impaired. In the early stages of growth, the heart atrophies completely. Complications such as heart and stem rot are possible.
prevention
The cabbage midge is considered sedentary and will almost entirely disappear if you don’t grow any host plants for at least two years. There should be no multiple cultivation of cabbage species in the following years on a bed, as this procedure favors the pest. Chemical treatments are not recommended. They are only successful during the short flight time of the insects.
Cabbage Weevil
An infestation by weevils can be detected by galls at the base of the plant or in the heart. They serve as a breeding ground for the larvae, which eat their way through stems and leaves after hatching. The parts of the plant show yellow discoloration and eventually fall off.
You can do this:
- Collect pests from plants at night
- Bury neempress cake in the bed
- spread special nematodes over the irrigation water
tips
Before leafing out, wrap a 20cm strip of cardboard around the base of the plant. In the evening, apple blossom spikes are hidden here, which you can easily collect in the morning.
aphids
The mealy cabbage aphid causes yellow spots resembling blisters. The harmful insects suck on all parts of the plant. In rare cases, such sucking points turn red due to the formation of anthocyanins. In addition to the indirect damage, a lice infestation leads to secondary diseases. Aphids are vectors of cauliflower mosaic and cabbage black ring viruses.
remedy
The plant sap suckers use cruciferous plants as host plants. Remove leftovers from the bed from last season to minimize the chances of a successful overwintering. Close-meshed crop protection nets protect young plants from colonization. Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps.