Dealing with Common Garden Pests: Cabbage worms and Potato bugs

It seems many gardeners on YouTube haven't discovered BT (yet) to combat cabbage worms. So, I thought I'd do a video on this product. You are basically infecting the little catepillars with a disease that paralyzes their digestive tract. They sicken and die soon after ingesting this bacterium. So, it's an organic choice as well to get rid of those ANNOYING worms! I also "demonstrate" an organic method of getting rid of the Colorado Potato bug larva.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• homesteading
• gardening
• hobby farming
• Colorado Potato Bug
• Cabbage worm
• organic garden pest control
• self-sufficiency
• preparedness
• prepping
• preppers
• economic collapse

[chicagocindybuddie]

Thanks. I think I have cabbage worms on my brussels sprouts. I'm going to try this. I live in the midwest. Not sure how big the plants will get, but I'm experimenting with new vegetables this year.

[Michigansnowpony]

@chicagocindybuddie -- I can never seem to get brussel sprouts to maturity before winter sets in. I And this year, I got everything in so late due to weather. I planted a little section of one row anyway in brussel sprouts. This Spring, I did have one plant that survived the winter and was probably going to bloom / make seeds this year. I was pretty excited to save those seeds from such a hardy plant. . . until hubby "helped" me and pulled it out this Spring. ARGGH!

[marieatthelake]

Are paper (made from wood) ashes an effective substitute?

[Michigansnowpony]

@marieatthelake -- I don't know, I've never tried using ashes (never had potato bugs before). But I mentioned it on the video because Ken from the centervilletn channel said that is what he did for his potato bug problem. Check his channel out -- he's got a beautiful garden!

[haserterr]

I have used Dawn soap and water. Some people add Cayenne pepper and garlic to it as well.

[Michigansnowpony]

@haserterr -- thanks, good to know. Although I must admit, I take a certain, sick satisfaction in squashing them. LOL

[TheWildernessRanch]

Try putting your chickens out into the garden once your plants are big enough for them not to scratch them up, They will eat all your bugs.

[WiseLove75]

hahahahhaha, you are amazing! I love your energy, you actually made me laugh speaking of getting sprayed in the eye with the bug juice, as I was getting increasingly grossed out.. ;)), great video!! thanks ;)

[Michigansnowpony]

@Hollyhocks0 Squash bugs are the only ones I've really had a hard time with finding something organic to deal with them. Interesting idea about using their dead comrades to deter them. . . .I may have to pick up a special blender at a garage sale this Spring! : )

[fatturdburger]

Have you herd of the Tanacetum cinerariifolium “Dalmatian Pyrethrum” it makes great insectacide & you can companion plant with it to keep bugs away!

[dalecalder2003]

Glad to know about the BT I'll get some soon just a few holes in some leaves so far.

[Dixie096]

I do what marthale7 does and cover my brassica family crops (kale, cabbage, cauliflower, etc.) with a floating row cover mesh cloth. It keeps the pesky white moth/butterflys from laying their eggs on the plants and avoids the worm infestation all together. I also heard small containers with an inch of beer under potato plants lure the potato bugs in and drowns them. This might help in between squishings!

[okieprepper]

I am no purest ether and when we decided to go with sevin dust on our potato bugs we were just at our wits ends with organic product shortcomings . You just have to wash your plants really well before consumption when using sevin dust.

[marthale7]

Good to know about the BT. I am growing in containers, and I have put netting over my kale stops the moths from getting to it so I don't have to spray at all HURRAY! I have seen people put PVC over entire rows with the netting over top. I am sold on this method. I wonder..... could you use a wick method to pull up water from below? If you were to dig a hole with the post hole digger and fill it with peat moss would that pull up water via wicking..... Just an idea.