How to treat cabbage from pests using folk remedies

Pest control is an important step when growing cabbage, but not everyone wants to resort to harsh chemicals. Fortunately, there's an alternative—harmless, natural remedies.

What to do if aphids appear

An aphid attack can be identified by simple signs: cabbage leaves will curl, whitish or brown spots will appear on the surface, and soon after, the plant will lose strength and die.

The most effective and safe means of treatment against this pest are considered to be:

1. Use a solution of regular laundry soap – each plant should be thoroughly wiped by hand. Use one bar of soap per bucket of warm, clean water; for convenience, you can grate it.
2. Tomato tops and onion peels infusion – side shoots are often left over from processing tomatoes. Mix these green tops (approximately 2 kg) with onion peels and liquid hand wash. Pour boiling water over the ingredients (except the soap) and let them steep for about 2 days. You can divide them into separate containers or mix them all at once. Apply the resulting mixture to the cabbage.
3. Tobacco tincture – take approximately one cup of regular smoking tobacco, mustard powder, ash, and any soap. Pour warm water over the mixture and leave it in a dark place for a day. It's best to add the soap just before use.

The effectiveness of such methods depends on the number of insects – it may be necessary to carry out several treatments.

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Methods of protection against caterpillars

Cabbage white butterflies love the dense and nutritious cabbage leaves; they lay eggs on the inside, which later hatch into caterpillars.

They can quickly eat and spoil the harvest, so it is necessary to carry out treatment as soon as possible using the following methods:

1. An ash infusion—you'll need a glass of ash, then add a small spoonful of soap (tar soap is best), and dilute the mixture with 5 liters of warm water. After letting it steep for 24 hours, you can spray the seedlings with a spray bottle.
2. Chicken manure is a powerful product that also acts as a fertilizer. When using it, it's important to calculate the concentration: 1 part manure to 20 parts liquid.
3. A 24-hour infusion of a mixture of tomato leaves, garlic, and a spoonful of soap. Dilute it in about a bucket of water and then apply it to your plants.

Fighting cruciferous flea beetles

The insect's insidiousness lies in its dark silver coloring, making it barely visible to the human eye. The flea beetle can jump long distances and attacks seedlings and young cabbage leaves.

If you notice small round holes on your cabbage, you need to act as quickly as possible using the following methods:

• You can pre-sprinkle the beds with ash, or even better, mix it with tobacco leaves or waste (after each rain, you will have to renew the protection);
• You can add fir oil to the irrigation liquid (about 15 full drops per bucket);
• plant garlic near cabbage seedlings - the smell repels flea beetles;
• 10 liters of water is required dilute regular table vinegar Spray the mixture thoroughly on all sides of the leaves. It's best to do this before sunrise or sunset, as vinegar can cause burns.

Chicken manure can also be used – dilute a small amount in water and water the plants.

Protection against slugs and snails

These pests are active at night and love to feast on juicy cabbage leaves.

The most effective methods for getting rid of them are considered to be:

• ammonia - for a solution, it is enough to add 50 ml to about 5 liters of water, wipe the cabbage;
• mustard powder – diluted in a small concentration and applied to the plant, you can additionally add garlic or ash;
• The peel of a common onion is steeped in boiling water for 24 hours. The aroma of this infusion will repel many pests and insects.

General means of controlling cabbage pests

When growing cabbage, it's important to protect against pests not only during attacks but also for prevention. Several folk remedies have proven effective, are environmentally friendly, and do not harm the crop.

First, you can try infusions of herbs that grow in almost any area—wormwood, celandine, or tansy flowers—they prevent insect attacks. Slaked lime is also useful; it can be simply sprinkled over the beds.

In case of cabbage fly and other pest attacks, celery can be used: chop the stalks (about 4 kg) and boil them in 10 liters of water for half an hour. Spray the plants with soap first.

Every gardener uses proven and safe products, so it's worth trying several suggested options to find reliable and permanent protection.

Cabbage leaves are quite dense, can withstand any impact and are not afraid of manual processing, for this reason you should not be afraid to use folk remedies pest control methodsOnly with proper care can you get a good harvest.