what's eating my kale seedlings

The imported cabbage worm is the juvenile stage of a small white butterfly sometimes called a cabbage white. These green caterpillars can quickly devour kale leaves if they're not properly controlled. Signs of cabbage worms include large bite marks or edges of the plants missing.

1. How do you protect Kale from pests?
2. What is eating holes in my kale?
3. How do you protect Kale from seedlings?
4. How do I keep bugs from eating my seedlings?
5. Is it OK to eat kale with bug holes?
6. What can you plant with kale to keep bugs away?
7. How do you control aphids on kale?
8. Can I eat kale that had aphids on it?
9. How do you transplant kale seedlings?
10. How do you plant kale seedlings?
11. Can you spray neem oil on kale?
12. What is eating my seedlings?
13. Is soapy water bad for plants?
14. How do you protect vegetable seedlings from insects?
15. How do I keep slugs off my kale?
16. Can you eat tomatoes with worm holes?
17. Can you eat spinach with holes in it?
18. Will baking soda kill cabbage worms?
19. Will dish soap kill cabbage worms?

How do you protect Kale from pests?

Many types of insects can afflict kale, ranging from cabbage butterflies to thrips and flea beetles. You can help protect your plants by using floating row covers. These covers prevent splashing water – that may contain pathogens – from touching the foliage, and can prevent insects from laying their eggs on crops.

What is eating holes in my kale?

These small holes are telltale signs of the cabbage worm. ... The adults come and lay their eggs on the leaves of cabbage, leaf lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower and kale and other leafy greens. The eggs quickly hatch and the young caterpillars start feeding.

How do you protect Kale from seedlings?

Remedy. Protect the plants from birds by covering them with netting or fleece. Scarecrows and bird-scaring mechanisms work for a while, but the most reliable method of protection is to cover plants with horticultural fleece or mesh.

How do I keep bugs from eating my seedlings?

Insects Bugging Your Plants? Try These 10 Natural Insecticides

1. Soapy water. Mix 5 tablespoons of dish soap with 4 cups of water in a bottle and spray plants with the solution. ...
2. Neem oil spray. ...
3. Pyrethrum spray. ...
4. Beer. ...
5. Garlic. ...
6. Pepper spray. ...
7. Herbal water spray. ...
8. Alcohol spray.

Is it OK to eat kale with bug holes?

According to Joshua Melanson, an organic farmer at Pumpkin Pond Farm, “there is absolutely nothing wrong with the kale. The flea beetle creates small holes but doesn't transmit any disease. There is simply less kale.” Apparently, it isn't just kale that flea beetles like to feast on.

What can you plant with kale to keep bugs away?

Planting dill near kale will protect kale seedlings as they mature. Alliums: Alliums like chives, shallots, and leeks deter common pests like flea beetles, cabbage loopers, and aphids that prey on kale leaves. Legumes: Legumes of all varieties enrich the soil around your kale by increasing the soil's nitrogen content.

How do you control aphids on kale?

Controlling Aphids on Kale

Clip off badly infested kale leaves and immediately dispose of them in an active compost pile. Without a live plant host, they will soon perish. Follow up with a botanical spray (like those described below), insecticidal soap, or a light horticultural oil.

Can I eat kale that had aphids on it?

Once the aphids have been drowned and rinsed off, the greens are perfectly safe to eat. Actually, it should be safe to eat the aphids as well, it's just unappetizing. Actually, aphids are totally edible.

How do you transplant kale seedlings?

Seeded or transplanted kale should be spaced 6 inches between plants in the row with rows 1 foot apart. Make a hole with a dibber or suitable stick (A piece of an old broom handle is ideal). Place the seedling plug in the hole and firm gently around the roots, water well.

How do you plant kale seedlings?

How to Plant Kale. If you're planting seeds, sow ¼ to ½ inch deep into well-drained, light soil. After about 2 weeks, thin the seedlings so that they are spaced 8 to 12 inches apart. If you're setting out plants (which is more common), plant them at the depth at which they are growing in the container.

Can you spray neem oil on kale?

Since aphids have soft bodies, they can be controlled effectively by spraying with neem oil. Neem oil is made from the seeds of the neem tree. To use neem oil, dilute it according to product instructions, and spray it on your kale plants. It is best to reapply neem oil every seven days.

What is eating my seedlings?

While garden seeds are commonly eaten by mice, most seedlings are damaged by voles, chipmunks, rabbits, or squirrels.

Is soapy water bad for plants?

Soapy wash water from dishes or laundry will help keep plants alive in an emergency, but you should be aware of certain possible problems. Chlorine. Bleaches commonly contain chlorine, which can damage plants, particularly if it touches the foliage.

How do you protect vegetable seedlings from insects?

Use Physical Barriers

Insect mesh or horticultural fleece will stop just about any pest from getting near your hard-won crops. Allow covers to rest on the plants or support them on hoops. Secure them around the edges so pests can't gain access by just walking in at soil level.

How do I keep slugs off my kale?

What You'll Learn

1. Trapping.
2. Erect a Barrier.
3. Use Black Plastic Mulch.
4. Avoid Organic Mulch.
5. Plant in Raised Beds.
6. Let Ducks Loose in Your Garden.
7. Buy Predatory Slugs.
8. Use Slug and Snail Bait.

Can you eat tomatoes with worm holes?

“People want these colorful heirloom-type tomatoes, but they do respond to their environmental conditions in ways that can cause some abnormal fruit.” And, of course, because these dry holes and lines represent successfully healed wounds, the tomato is still perfectly fine to eat. ... Tomatoes and Peppers.

Can you eat spinach with holes in it?

So if your plantings are small and your harvests limited in size and your spinach has a few holes in it, you should go ahead and eat the good parts, even if there's a hole or two involved it won't kill you.

Will baking soda kill cabbage worms?

Get Rid of Cabbage Worms

Another thing you can do with baking soda is to control cabbage worms in your garden. Mix equal parts baking soda and flour. Dust plants infected by cabbage worms (cabbage, kale, broccoli, etc.) This mix is effective in killing them.

Will dish soap kill cabbage worms?

Add 2 teaspoons of dish soap to this and mix thoroughly. Spray all of the plant's surfaces with that. Neem oil may also be good on its own. While it doesn't prevent the butterfly from laying its eggs, neem oil can make it less likely that the eggs will hatch if they're drenched with it.