The kohlrabi has been planted, is lovingly supplied with water, the temperatures are good and the harvest could actually start soon. Unfortunately, pests such as the cabbage white butterfly also like to feast on the fresh tubers and a flock of small whiteflies buzz around the plant. Collect, combat, prevent – what helps?
What causes holes in the leaves of kohlrabi?
Holy kohlrabi leaves can be caused by pests such as cabbage white butterflies, flea beetles, cabbage gall weevils or whiteflies. To combat them, you can collect eggs and caterpillars, set up glue boards, remove infected young plants or use fine-mesh vegetable protection nets.
Cabbage white butterfly, flea beetles, cabbage gall weevils and whiteflies are annoying pests that attack the plant tissue and hinder the growth of the plant.
cabbage white butterfly
Large holes in the kohlrabi leaves and an accumulation of white butterflies in the garden indicate an infestation with the cabbage white butterfly. It lays its eggs on the plants. Later, the caterpillars eat holes in the leaves or bore into the plant and poison it with their excrement.
Remedy: – Check the undersides of leaves for yellow eggs and yellow-green, black-spotted caterpillars
- Collect and crush eggs
- Destruct caterpillars
- a vegetable net might help
Flea beetles
The young leaves of the kohlrabi are perforated like sieves, and there are tiny black or yellow-striped beetles on the leaves that can jump: This is an infestation with flea beetles. They mainly colonize young plants and inhibit plant growth, especially in dry weather.
Remedy:
Glue boards
Cabbage gall weevil
Hollow, spherical growths on the main root or root neck of kohlrabi plants indicate an infestation with the cabbage gall weevil. The small, gray weevil lays its eggs on plant stems. The larvae sit in the growths and feed on the plant tissue.
Remedy:
sort out affected young plants
Whiteflies
Who doesn't know this - you touch the kohlrabi and startle a swarm of whiteflies. Whiteflies are about 2 mm in size, usually sit on the undersides of the leaves and damage the plant by sucking.
The leaf surfaces are covered with a sticky honeydew. This in turn is a breeding ground for various fungal diseases. Severe infestation leads to wilting and death of the kohlrabi plant.
Remedy:
- spread out fine-meshed vegetable protection nets
- Fertilize the soil and pull weeds regularly (removes food source)
- Application of chemical agents such as Neudosan AF Aphid Free (€31.00 at Amazon), Naturen AF or Neem;preferably in the morning
- try organic remedies such as tobacco decoction or a solution of soft soap
Tips & Tricks
Anise and mugwort - two plants that are not liked by cabbage white butterflies. If you plant them as an accompaniment to cabbage, it should be safe from infestation.
