The Observation Deck

Hi all---

I took this picture of one of my broccoli plants Friday morning, meaning to post it and ask if anyone knew what to do about the holes being eaten in my plants.



I ran out of time and didn't post it. Yesterday morning, this is how the same plant looked!



And in posting it here-- I can see a caterpillar on one of the leaves in the first one.

So I'm assuming that that's what is eating it.

My kids have been tending these carefully-- we had some high hopes of eating broccoli sometimes this summer-- but not if doesn't get a chance to grow.

Does anyone out there know what to do to get rid of these?

Thank you so much.

Betsy Voinovich

Betsy - from Mother Earth News:

http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/organic-pest-control-for-cabbage-worms.aspx#axzz2Z1dv4rdk

Something is eating holes in my new broccoli plants. Should I be worried, and if so, what should I do?

If you look very closely on the undersides of the leaves, especially along the leaf veins, you will spot the culprits — green worms (see photo) that have hatched from eggs laid by white cabbage butterflies and their cousins. Beneficial insects and birds will reduce the number of worms but broccoli, cabbage and related brassicas often need some human help to fend off these fast-growing butterfly larvae. Our recent online poll shows which methods are most popular:

The Bt product is a good choice; it's made from a bacteria and it only kills the worms that eat it; it won’t harm other insects, pets or humans. Johnny’s Selected Seeds offers a brand (Dipel) as either a dust or a powder that you mix with water and spray. This "dry flowable" powder will last "indefinitely" so you won’t have to buy it fresh every year. And Peaceful Valley Farm Supply sells a nifty Solo 1-liter sprayer that has a trombone extension and adjustable nozzle so that you can get the spray onto the undersides of the leaves, where the caterpillars like to hang out.

Blame the worms all you like, and I'm sure that they were co-conspirators, but were I you, I would also look to Brother Bunny and Sister Squirrel as being possible co-culprits regarding eating the seedy part so beloved by our present President and so despised by our former President GB I.

Just a conjecture here about all this, from a guy who originally hailed from the Pennsylvania hills and hollers.

Back in those hills and hollers, you could practically RIDE those rabbits.

"Course, it's probably too early for the seedy part just yet...but there WAS a lot of rain lately...

Back to the banjo...

Thank you for the great advice.

Peter, I turned my broccoli over and found... this!



and more, on every plant, a lot of them were completely aligned with the middle vein on the back of the leaf so hard to spot. This morning, I think I found baby ones, tinier than a finger nail. The plants have recovered since we rooted out the main ones last week.

And Gary! Have to tell you-- not rabbits, squirrels! I saw them! I didn't even know they would eat anything like that. Thanks for the tip because until you said that I wasn't looking for critters. So the spinach is under assault from at least two kinds of caterpillar (see the scary black and green one in the first photo) and at least one kind of creature.

Down the fence the cucumbers are fine and the I don't know what's going on with the sweet potatoes-- never tried to grow them before-- but I guess squirrels and caterpillars don't like them because there are no holes in their leaves.

I will update if I find out any more data from the field.

Betsy Voinovich

I have not tried this...but an old friend who double-majored in biology and chemistry at Syracuse University told me this works!!

Nicotine Insecticide

Nicotine, a toxic chemical most often associated with cigarettes, has been used as an insecticide since colonial times. One excellent benefit of using nicotine in your garden is that its effectiveness is short lived, but potent. You can kill the critters that damage your plants while saving the ones that protect them. Only a few hours after spraying, you can harvest and eat your vegetables.

Things You'll Need
- Cigarette butts (one cup per gallon of water)
- Bucket
- Water
- Fine stainer or cheese cloth
- Liquid soap
- Spray bottles
- Disposable gloves

1. Collect cigarette butts. If you smoke, this will be easy, but if you don't you can scrounge them others or from public ashtrays. (Wear rubber gloves when handling them.)

2. Soak one cup of cigarette butts in one gallon of water for 24 to 48 hours. At 24 hours, check the solution and look at the color. When it looks like iced tea, it's ready. If it's darker, dilute the solution with warm water until it looks like iced tea.

3. Add soap to your solution. For a long lasting spray, use a two tablespoons per gallon of solution. For spray that quickly dissipates, use half a teaspoon per gallon.

4. Remove the butts from the solution, then pour the liquid through a strainer or cheese cloth and into another container.

5. Pour the solution into spray bottles and store it in a cool, dry place out of the sun. It will keep for about a month.


Tips & Warnings

** Make only what you can use in a month. Fresh spray is much more effective.

** Don't use this solution on tomatoes, eggplants, or peppers because tobacco chemicals can kill these plants. Use an extra diluted solution if using near these plants.

Hi Peter, thanks-- I will do this.

Finally something good about all the smokers in my life.

Betsy Voinovich

ps Smokers argument: Stress kills more people than smoking. When I smoke I de-stress. The end.

Betsy Voinovich wrote:Smokers argument: Stress kills more people than smoking. When I smoke I de-stress. The end.

I was able to quit smoking when it became crystal in my mind and heart that a lot of people love me ... and my quiting was not so much for me as it was for them.

So, all you smokers out there, know that at least one person (me) loves you!

Peter Grossetti wrote:

Betsy Voinovich wrote:Smokers argument: Stress kills more people than smoking. When I smoke I de-stress. The end.

I was able to quit smoking when it became crystal in my mind and heart that a lot of people love me ... and my quiting was not so much for me as it was for them.

So, all you smokers out there, know that at least one person (me) loves you!

Hey Peter,

I think you're missing my point. My smoker friends have people who love them quite a bit, and they know that, and they know that their shortening their lives would hurt a lot of people, though thanks for adding your love.

My smoker friends' point is that they will stay alive LONGER if they keep smoking, because smoking allows them to relax, reflect, take a break, especially now, when they have to leave whatever building they are in and get out in nature.

Their point is that their NOT quitting is for the people who love them because being able to reduce stress is very valuable, and that stress kills a lot more and a lot sooner than smoking, and that comparatively, it's great to have a reliable de-stresser in a small box in your pocket.

My question is what do you say back to that.

Betsy Voinovich