How to easily get rid of aphids on cabbage using folk remedies

Aphids are considered one of the main enemies of cabbage. These tiny insects literally attack and spoil the vegetables, interfering with the normal development of the crop. As a result, the harvest can be spoiled or even destroyed beyond repair.

You can get rid of aphids on cabbage using folk remedies; they act quickly and are completely harmless to the vegetable itself.

Description of aphids and their harm

 

The cabbage aphid is an insect with translucent wings and a small, long proboscis (only 6-7 millimeters long). Its body is yellow-green, blending in with the cabbage leaves, making it easy to spot. The insect feeds on sap, piercing the leaf through its proboscis and sucking out the juice.

During the active season (spring and early summer), the female lays eggs on cabbage leaves. The eggs tolerate cold well and overwinter undisturbed, with the infestation of vegetables beginning in the spring.

The damage caused by aphids can be enormous. First and foremost, they reduce the quality of the harvest—cabbage begins to wither and dry out. Furthermore, aphids are considered carriers of numerous diseases, including late blight, powdery mildew, and others. Ants often come to the garden along with aphids (they are attracted to the insects' sweet smell), which greatly complicates treatment.

Reasons for the appearance of aphids on cabbage

The reasons for the appearance of the pest are:

• contaminated soil;
• diseased plants grown nearby;
• strong, frequent planting of plants on the site;
• increased soil moisture;
• poor soil porosity.

A combination of factors may also be present, causing aphids to proliferate on a larger scale, making eradication increasingly difficult. As soon as pests are noticed in the garden, treatment for cabbage should begin immediately.

Methods of control using folk remedies

Unlike chemicals, which are toxic not only to insects but also to the entire crop, folk remedies are safe: the cabbage can be safely eaten after treatment. Most folk remedies rely on a strong odor, which insects fear. After the second or third treatment, the pests disappear completely and never return.

Tobacco mixture

If tobacco leaves grow in the garden, they are picked and dried. Then they are grown:

• tbsp dry leaves;
• 5 liters of water.

Let the mixture steep for 24 hours, strain the infusion through cheesecloth, and pour it into a spray bottle. Apply the solution to the cabbage heads and soil. Repeat the treatment 3-4 days after the first application.

With vinegar

Vinegar is common in every home, so this method is easy. Simply dilute 100 ml of 6-9% vinegar in a bucket of water and spray the solution on your vegetables and soil. Pay particular attention to the undersides of the leaves, as this is where the larvae and pests are most often found. Apply vinegar once a week for three weeks.

To make the mixture stay on the leaves longer, first dissolve 100 g of grated laundry soap in a bucket of water.

Ammonia

Another substance that emits a distinctive odor is ammonia. It's sold in hardware stores and is inexpensive, but it works quickly. Dilute 50 ml of ammonia in 10 liters of water and water the cabbage and soil with a watering can.

Ammonia treatments should be limited to once every 10 days due to its high nitrogen content. Excess nitrogen can cause leaf deformation and disrupt plant development.

Ash with pepper

Ash is a remedy for most diseases and pests, including aphids. Red pepper enhances the ash's effectiveness, killing insects and preventing further plant infestations. To prepare the remedy:

• a glass of wood ash;
• 3 tbsp. crushed laundry soap;
• 1 tbsp red pepper;
• 10 liters of water.

Dissolve all ingredients in water and let sit for 24 hours. Then, apply the resulting mixture to vegetables and soil once every 3-4 days. Repeat this process twice more to consolidate the effect.

Herbal decoction

Strong-smelling herbs (wormwood, dandelion, or dandelion tops) can also help control insects in your garden. You'll need ¼ of a bucket of freshly cut herbs. Fill the bucket to the top with water and let it steep for 3-4 days. Dilute the resulting concentrate 5 times with water and spray it on your vegetables and soil. Repeat the process every 5-6 days. The total number of applications should be at least 2-3.

Prevention

Aphids on cabbage can be successfully avoided by taking preventative measures. These include:

• Pre-treatment of the soil before planting:
• processing of cabbage seeds;
• processing of grown plants.

These stages will prevent the appearance of aphids and other insects. The soil is most often treated with copper sulfate (2% solution) or a weak solution of potassium permanganate (pink color). Before planting, seeds should also be soaked in potassium permanganate or a solution of hydrogen peroxide (2-4%).

When the cabbage grows, it is watered with onion broth, prepared in the following way:

• peel from 3-4 onions;
• 5 liters of water.

Steam the husks in hot water for at least three days. Strain the mixture through cheesecloth and spray it on vegetables and soil. A couple of such treatments, spaced 10 days apart, will protect the future harvest.

You can plant a bed of onions or garlic next to the cabbage; sometimes lemon balm and mint are also grown. The strong odors from the plants will make the cabbage less attractive to aphids, and they won't attack it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql55Kxysbyc

It's better to take care of your harvest in advance than to hastily deal with pests later. Failure to take timely pest control measures or complete inaction often leads to a tragic outcome – the gardener simply ends up without cabbage. Aphids can be removed, and it's not that difficult, especially if they've only recently appeared. It's worth paying more attention to your vegetables to ensure you can stop the pests early, before they cause significant damage.