Cabbage leaves with holes – why? What to do? These remedies will help.

Hollowed cabbage leaves are a sign of pest infestation. Folk remedies or chemical treatments can help combat them. To choose the appropriate method, carefully inspect the plants and identify the pest.

Causes of holes in cabbage leaves

Pests not only spoil the aesthetic appearance of succulent leaves but also hinder the plant's development. The appearance of holes in cabbage leaves can be caused by:

• cruciferous flea beetles;
• cabbage white butterfly larvae;
• cabbage moth caterpillars;
• snails;
• slugs;
• cruciferous bugs;
• aphid.

Symptoms

If cabbage leaves resemble a "sieve," it's time to carefully inspect the plants and look for insect pests. Symptoms of damage appear gradually, beginning with the appearance of several holes on the outer leaves. If a gardener closely monitors the plants, they can take action and begin treatment promptly.

Treatment

If parasites aren't detected promptly, you could lose your entire harvest. The key is to begin treatment as soon as you notice the first hole on a leaf.

Folk recipes

Ash, wormwood, and potato tops are most commonly used. Recipe options:

• wood ash infusion (a glass per 10 liters of warm water) - leave the solution for 6 hours, then spray on the plantings;
• infusion of flowering wormwood (250 g of herb per 10 liters of warm water) - leave for 10 hours, spray on cabbage;
• pollinate with a sugar solution (200 g per 10 l of water) - the sweetness attracts wasps and ants that feed on slugs and caterpillars;
• A weak vinegar solution (50 ml of essence per 10 liters of water) helps against cruciferous midges - apply superficially in dry weather;
• A soda solution repels caterpillars and other parasites.

Chemicals

Commercially available products are the most effective in controlling insects. They are safe for humans if used as directed. Popular options include:

• Diazinon;
• Dimilin;
• Fox;
• Ratibor;
• Aktara 240cs, etc.

Insecticide treatments are carried out several times, since the larvae hatch gradually.

Mechanical methods of pest control

Some gardeners collect larvae, caterpillars, and slugs by hand. This method is ineffective, as new pests attack the plants, requiring constant removal. It's best to collect insects first thing in the morning.

You can use special nets to keep butterflies out. They allow air and sunlight to pass through, but prevent insects from coming into contact with the cabbage head.

Good results can be achieved using syrup or beer traps. The enticingly scented liquid is poured into a shallow container and placed in the garden bed. At least two traps should be placed per square meter of soil.

Prevention

To avoid pest attacks, experts recommend choosing the right plantings. Cabbage beds should be planted next to tomatoes, basil, mint, or onions. The plants' pungent scent repels insects. Other preventative measures are also effective:

• crop rotation: do not plant cabbage in the same bed every year;
• Frequent weeding disturbs the top layer of soil containing insect nests and passages dug in it;
• moderate watering;
• The harvest should be completed by clearing the garden bed of all residues and digging it over.

Another way to prevent leaf holes is to plant seedlings early in the garden. This way, the cabbage will form before pests become active, making it more difficult for them to attack the plant.

Adviсe

You can identify the insect that makes the holes by their size. Small holes are made by caterpillars, while larger ones are made by slugs. Caterpillars are easier to control, but slugs require manual collection and regular spraying.

As a preventative measure, the space between rows of cabbage plantings is sprinkled with tomato shoots.

Some gardeners use a solution of laundry soap to prevent and control pests. They spray it on their plants in dry, windless weather.

After the rain, it is essential to collect all the slugs – they crawl to the surface when the air humidity is high.

Reviews

Svetlana, St. Petersburg

It's incredibly frustrating when you put a lot of effort into your garden, only to have pests destroy the plants. My favorite method is to use beer traps. Spraying is almost useless if it rains. And I don't use chemicals on principle (after all, we'll end up eating those vegetables ourselves!). But, of course, you need to pay attention to your plants and spot insects early, otherwise the harvest may be lost.

Leonid

Last year, I encountered holes in my cabbage. On a neighbor's advice, I sprinkled ash through a fine sieve on all the plants. It worked—a few days later, I inspected the heads and didn't find a single pest.

Holes in cabbage leaves appear quite often. Preventative measures and timely insect repellent treatments help keep the heads healthy.