Brussels sprouts are among the cruciferous vegetables that are susceptible to some pests. Since these spread to different plants from this family, crop rotation is of great importance. In the event of a pest infestation, quick action is required.
The cabbage white also likes to eat Brussels sprouts
cabbage whitefly
Also known as cabbage whitefly, this pest lays its eggs right at the base of young plants, allowing scale insect-like larvae to feed on the roots. If the summer months are particularly warm, mass propagation occurs.
Whitefly damage
Both maggots and flies suck the sugar-rich plant sap from the pathways. They excrete the substances they do not need as honeydew, which forms a sticky coating on the leaves. Sooty mold fungi find an ideal breeding ground on the secretions, so that blackish lawns spread over time.
What you can do:
- Cover culture with vegetable protection nets
- Place plastic or cardboard cabbage collars around the root neck
- Scatter rock flour (14.13€) at the base of the plant
- Dig up and discard infested Brussels sprouts
Cabbage White
If you spot these brightly colored moths in your garden, be sure to inspect the plants for eggs. If you find individually placed eggs on the underside of the leaves, the cabbage white was at work. From these hatch velvety caterpillars with a light green color and yellowish stripes, which later eat into the heart of the cabbage plant.
Its relative, the cabbage white, places bright yellow egg packets containing 10 to 20 specimens on the leaf veins. Typical identification features of the caterpillars are the yellow-green basic tone and the black spots. With a length of 50 millimeters, the caterpillar pupates after a month.
This is how you should do it
Control measures must be carried out at an early stage. When feeding activity begins, the spread of pests can hardly be stopped and the harvest is in danger. Cabbage white caterpillars are active from June. The offspring of its less dangerous relative cause damage to crops from July to September. When you spot the butterfly eggs, scrape them off with your finger and crush them between your thumb and forefinger.
cabbage spiny midge
It is an important pest in humid regions of the foothills of the Alps. Females lay their glassy eggs at the base of plants or in the heart leaves. After a week, the yellowish larvae hatch and feed on the upper side of the leaf stalks. As a result, the lower section continues to grow, resulting in twisted leaves. Other symptoms are heartlessness and the formation of numerous side shoots. Brussels sprouts are particularly at risk between May and June.
Prevent and combat
Spray the plants with a soft soapy liquid as a preventive measure during the main flight season. Algal lime and rock powder prevent egg laying on the root neck and in the heart. Regular hoeing causes the pupae to dry out in the soil. Be sure to rotate your crops and place celery and tomatoes between the Brussels sprouts.