When it comes to cabbages (and other brassicas like kale or broccoli) cabbage moth is the pest to be aware of and the best way to battle this pest is through prevention.

Here I go into the three different types of protection: netting, spraying, companion planting.

Cabbage Moth Protection | Netting vs Spraying vs Companion Planting

Cabbage moth is the small white butterfly-like insect floating around everyone’s garden.

They lay their eggs on the back side of the brassica leaf.

When the eggs hatch, the caterpillars will eat your cabbages, kale, or broccoli to survive.

Since they lay their eggs on the back side and caterpillars are the same color as cabbage, it’s easy to miss them completely.

Holes in your leaves are usually the first sign of cabbage moth caterpillars but you must be careful because they will burrow their way into your vegetable making it inedible.

There are three different methods for cabbage moth protection:

• Sprays
• Companion Planting
• Netting

Spraying:

No matter if you are wishing to grow your food organically or not, there is a spray to suit your need.

BT is probably the most popular spray for cabbage moth.

BT spray is great for organic gardening since it’s just a particular bacterium used.

BT effectiveness is based on user error, however.

Also, the caterpillars have to eat the BT to work, so the pest will still be on your vegetables.

If you have very large crops, say for markets or you just like to grow 100 heads of cabbage for your family, sprays like BT could work to avoid the several feet of netting (while still providing organic cabbages).

Companion Planting:

Companion planting should always be included in your garden since diversity is key to resiliency, especially in a garden.

Cabbage companion plants include, dill, rosemary, lavender, thyme, oregano, marigolds, beans, carrots, beets.

I wouldn’t count on companion planting to work alone though.

If you truly have a cabbage moth issue, I suggest combining companion plating with either spraying or netting.

Netting:

The best way to prevent cabbage moth is to use simple garden netting.

It will not only leave your crop bug free but avoid the constant need to keep spraying or picking off bugs.

Installation is easy, even if you make a DIY netting frame like shown below.

You just need to look for a fine mesh netting that way no moths can fly in.

That’s It!

There are three distinct ways to battle cabbage moth, with NETTING being the best way to do it.

Although you should always encourage yourself to practice companion planting and having sprays on hand will never hurt.

Cabbages are easy to grow if you can control this pest. And homegrown cabbages make the best coleslaw and sauerkraut!

Enjoy!

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Happy Gardening!

-Chelsea, The Cottage Vegetable

Gardening & Preserving for a Practical Kitchen

The Cottage Vegetable

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12-IN 1 Metal Raised bed in Barn Red, featured in my own personal garden