Children would find them cute and enjoy the sight of them. However, a gardener who has put a lot of love into his broccoli plants will frown and look critically at the caterpillar that is leisurely crawling on the broccoli
How to keep caterpillars away from broccoli?
The most effective means against caterpillars on broccoli plants areCulture protection nets Such a fine-meshed net should be placed over the broccoli plants in May. It prevents the cabbage white butterflies and other species of butterflies from laying their eggs on the broccoli.
Which caterpillars attack broccoli?
It is usually the caterpillars of the cabbage white butterfly that like to attack broccoli plants and other cabbage plants. You can recognize the caterpillars of the small cabbage white butterfly by their green color and those of the large cabbage white butterfly by their yellow-black coloring.
Are the caterpillars a concern when growing broccoli?
The caterpillars areworryingfor the broccoli plants because they eat the leaves and can even eat into theflower heads. They leave their droppings behind, weaken the entire plant and pupate on it. Therefore, the cabbage white butterfly caterpillar is a pest on broccoli that can cause considerable damage.
How can I fight the caterpillars on broccoli?
You cancollect the caterpillars on broccoliand release them again in another place away from the broccoli plants. You can also have the caterpillars on the cabbage plant removed usingbeneficial insects such as parasitic wasps or birds. To do this, you have to make your garden attractive to these animals so that they come in.
Is it possible to prevent caterpillars from eating broccoli?
You can specifically prevent caterpillars from eating broccoli with aculture protection net, but also with amixed cultureand the regularSearchof the leaves for possibleEggs If you decide on a crop protection net (also called a vegetable protection net), attach it early on, ideally when you have the young plants put in the bed. For example, the following are suitable for a mixed culture that deters cabbage white butterflies:
- Celery
- Thyme
- Sage
- Peppermint
Can caterpillars sit on broccoli even after harvest?
Sometimesthe caterpillars can only appear when you want toprepare the broccoli at home. The caterpillars can be stuck in the florets or in the spaces between them. Therefore, clean the broccoli properly and remove any leftover feces. A trick to detect caterpillars on broccoli: Soak the raw broccoli in s alt water for about ten minutes. The caterpillars come out and swim on the surface.
Tip
Even a cabbage white butterfly is suspicious
It is already suspicious if a cabbage white butterfly is buzzing around your broccoli plants and keeps settling on the leaves. Be sure to! The cabbage white butterflies are often busy laying eggs. Afterwards you can check the broccoli plants directly for eggs.
