A Natural Repellent for Cabbage aand Broccoli Worms

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We usually hand pick all the green caterpillars we find on our broccoli and feed them to the chickens (they love them) but we don't always find them all. Thought I'd share this tip for a natural repellent.

Mix 1 cup flour with 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper. Sprinkle on plants. I plan on getting a shaker bottle just to hold this mixture.

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), April 29, 2002

Answers

Thanks Bren. I have always had big time problems with cabbage worms. I bought some of that insect barrier cloth this year. It should work to keep the moths off from the beginning. No eggs, no worms!

-- Mike in Southern PA (mleeyworm@yahoo.com), May 01, 2002.

Thanks Bren, I usually pick them off, too. Time consuming, isn't it. I'll try this. Is that regular flour, self-rising flour, or it doesn't matter? I'm been told to use self-rising flour for Japanese beetles and other creatures.

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), May 02, 2002.

Gosh! I wouldn't think it would matter what type of flour you'd use. I'd assume it was mostly a carrier for the cayenne pepper. Wonder why self-rising for the Japanese beetles??

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), May 02, 2002.

we've had good results on cabbage and tomatoes using a mixture of ashes from the wood heater and flour

-- Suzy in Bama (slgt@yahoo.com), May 03, 2002.

I put a section of panty hose over the head of broccoli as it starts to form; tying a knot in the top and fastening the bottom with a rubber band. I can't see those little green suckers quite so well anymore!

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), May 03, 2002.


last year I let dill come up where I planted broccoli plants. They acted as a repellent . I had very few worms and they were at the end of the broccoli season.

-- j. white (springcreekfarm52@yahoo.com), May 03, 2002.

Doesn't matter what kind of flour you use, as long as its milled fine. The flour coats the worm and they suffacate since they breath from breating tubes in their skin. Haven't a clue about the jap. beetles though.

-- SO.wesVA (x2ldp@aol.com), May 04, 2002.

I would hazard a guess that the baking power a etc in self rising flours would upset a beetles digestive system when they eat it and lead to death? Anyone got a cure for flea beetles besides mint?

-- Alison in NS (aproteau@istar.ca), May 06, 2002.

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