While fly moths in your cabbage garden might appear innocent , they often pass on behind their young — offenders that wreak mayhem on your shekels . Cabbage worm are stealthy pestis that will overrun your garden if given the chance . Although small , these worms will carry holes in the cabbage leaves , compromise the timbre and in the end leading to loss , especially when grown commercially .

The well news program is that there are dewy-eyed and constituent ways that you’re able to implement to remain forward of the problem . If you find yourself with a pest problem , try companion planting . Essentially , companion planting is growing different plants together for mutual benefit , for instance , cuss direction , nutritive update , and pollination benefit . Before delving into the best companion flora for pest direction for your cabbage , here is how you could tell between the two democratic shekels moths .

Identifying the Pests

The two most plebeian specie that are pop in the US are theimported cabbageworm ( Pieris rapae)and the cabbage looper ( Trichoplusia ni ) . The white cabbage moth , which is the grownup version of the cabbageworm , lie orchis on the undersurface of the works ’s leaves which finally hatch into thesepesky blighter . Cabbage looper , on the other hand , are the larval leg of the gray , mottled moth . Both these pests can be a nuisance to your cabbage garden , they will nibble at the leaves which ultimately stunt the development of the cabbage head . The main differences between chou worms and loopers are their movement and color . Loopers Australian crawl in a looping motion while worms move slowly and are very sluggish . When it derive to colour differences , loopers are suave and green with stripes , while worm come in unlike colors that include gray , green , and speckled John Brown .

cabbageworm are not very blazing , what gives them away is the mien of undifferentiated hole on the leaves of your moolah . That tell , discover the best plant you may plant alongside your cabbages that will guard by the worms and moths .

Thyme

Thyme ( Thymus vulgaris ) , is popularly grown for its use in the kitchen . It not only has good nip but also blends well with other cooking ingredients . The uses of thyme go beyond the kitchen ; this lowly perennialherbthat arise up to 20 inches , is also quite in force in avail repel lolly worms . Due to the front of thymol , the pesticidal properties happen in the plant scent , the flora is toxic to a reach of dirt ball including Brassica oleracea worm .

as luck would have it , thyme is quite adaptable allowing you to incorporate it easily into your cabbage garden . They thrive in the sun , receive between six and eight hour of sunlight per day . They also prefer vulgar well - draining soils because moist soils often have root rot . last , thyme is sturdy in zone 5 to 9 .

When incorporating thyme in your garden for pest control , view grow the upright varieties like Gallic thyme instead of the dry land - cover alternatives like caraway thyme ( T. herba - barona ) . While both potpourri have insect repelling properties , the upright selection tend to grow up rather than in a blanket mode that might take over the intact garden .

The three sisters growing in a garden

Clover

Another plant choice you could expend to rebuff cabbage worms isclover . While the term clover represent a kin of over 300 plants , the most common is the white clover ( Trifolium repens ) . This particular industrial plant help keep away cabbage worm and other insect thanks to an active component , eugenol , that has a warm scent show to repel multiple worm including the wampum worm .

Other than that , the clover plant life is also known to get in the way of the worm ’s colonization of the garden by improving the numbers of predator beetle . This is specially true for the sweet trefoil ( Melilotus ) it is a different trefoil variety , not the same as the white clover . The blooms of this cultivar will pull not just the predator beetles but also butterflies and other pollinator .

Pest mastery aside , this industrial plant is also fuck to aid in nitrogen fixation in the land which will be good to your cabbages . trefoil plants are not very destitute , they can grow in most land but prefer well - drained , loamy , or cadaver soil . The white clover is a short - livedperennialthat die after three to five years . The white and sweet trefoil varieties thrive in USDA zones 3 to 10 and 3a to 7b respectively .

Gardener watering tomatoes in the vegetable patch

Sage

Sage ( Salvia officinalis ) is predominantly grown as akitchen herb . This industrial plant features 5 - in , woolly foliage that produce an aromatic scent and peppery taste to meals . The strong scent that you love in your food is enough to deter dirt ball and other insect from your scratch plantation . Although sage plants are short - live perennials that will need replacement after four to five year , that is enough time for you to grow your lolly for multiple season .

Before mature salvia as familiar plants , keep in psyche that they will require at least six hours of sunlight daily . What ’s more , they prefer growing in organic , well - draining land . Generally , sages are quite gentle to maintain , in fact , they can tolerate drought for a while . However , for right growing , regard watering once the top 1 or 2 inches of soil begin to dry . Irrigating with 1 inch of water per week should be ideal . in conclusion , they do quite well in USDA zone 4 to 10 .

Oregano

Oregano ( Origanum vulgare ) is just the utter companion plant life forcabbages . First , oregano grow in almost the same consideration as cabbage . What ’s more ? The strong scent produced by the works help aim off the pesky lucre worm that would otherwise plague the crop . In accession to keeping the worm away , oregano is a culinary herb that will make its agency to your kitchen when they ripen , usually when they are at least 4 inch tall .

The oregano plant life is low maintenance , requiring no more than an column inch of water system per week . They grow well in rich well - drain constituent stain with a pH of 4.5 to 8.7 . This plant life choose acquire in the full sun receiving at least six 60 minutes of sun every day . Because they are perennial , you’re able to grow oregano in your garden for up to five twelvemonth . They are intrepid in USDA zone 4 to 10 . Since winter sweet is a spreading perennial , consider grow them in containers or pots to keep them from intrude on the entire blank space . This is to ensure they do n’t spread while getting the benefits of the repellent prop . Be certain to keep the potting mix reasonably ironical .

Hyssop

Besides providing gloss to your veggie garden , Hyssops ( Hyssopus officinalis ) also serve as Brassica oleracea worms skanky and as herb for your meals . This plant life bring forth a stiff fragrance that repel cabbage moth and flea beetles . One advantage of this special plant is that it is not as invading as other species of the mint family . This makes it safer to interplant without worrying that it will take over the entire outer space .

hyssop get as a shrub and can reach up to 2 feet grandiloquent , make them perfect for the border of your garden . Although they do n’t mind produce in most soils , rich and well - drain soils are ideal . They have it off the sun and should obtain at least six hours of sunlight daily . Lastly , Hyssops are hardy in USDA zone 4 to 9 .

Cabbage Growing Requirements

Cabbage ( Brassica oleracea ) is a popular plant in many gardens . It is well identifiable by its leafy green leaves that are densely packed into a circular head . This peculiar plant belongs to the mustard family , which loves cool conditions . Cabbages can be planted during spring or summertime . For spring gardening , starting this industrial plant indoors a few weeks before your neighborhood ’s last frost is ideal . Temperatures ranging from 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit are stark for optimal outgrowth .

For fall harvest , the best time to embed cabbages is early July . This hand the crop enough meter to mature before winter sets in . To harvest good tone heads , you need to bring home the bacon them with a drink on a regular basis , preferably one inch of body of water per week . They thrive in loamy , well - drained soil with a pH of 6.2 to 6.8 .

Keep Your Cabbage Safe!

prepare in the beginning is the best way to get onward of a potential worm encroachment . For the best results , consider growing a few of the works above . However , if grow these works is not an option , the next best alternative is to watch for white butterflies in the garden . This should be a signal that you should begin reconnoitre for eggs at the bottom of the cabbage leaves .

Dog shaking off after playing in the pool-1

cabbage worm

cabbage damaged by worms

thyme

thyme herbs

thyme

clover leaves and flowers

Clover leaves and flowers

sage leaves in garden

Sage leaves

oregano plant repels cats

Hyssop flower in garden

Beautiful Hyssop flower

cabbage vegetable in garden

Cabbage vegetable in garden