How valerian helped save cabbage from pests

Many garden pests have taken a liking to cabbage as a food source—its leaves are succulent and soft. Furthermore, insects have the ability to lay eggs in inaccessible places. For those who grow these succulent heads of cabbage in their gardens, pest control is always a pressing issue, but not everyone is willing to resort to chemicals, trying to find alternatives. Valerian root is one simple, affordable, and completely harmless remedy.

Cabbage pests and periods of activity

The effectiveness of cabbage pest control depends not only on the products used, but also on the timing of application, so it's important to know when the insect is most vulnerable.

Aphid

Aphids are small but noticeable insects that infest the undersides of tender leaves of developing cabbage heads in May. They migrate from weeds and neighboring cruciferous crops. They are most active in June, when the insects and larvae feed on the plant's sap, depriving it of nutrients necessary for development. They also hatch in the last month of summer, when they lay eggs and overwinter in the soil.

Thrips

Invisible to visual inspection, the insect leaves visible traces—black dots of excrement. Deprived of the juices on which the pest feeds, the cabbage leaf turns white, then brown, and eventually dries up. Thrips infestations are triggered by dry weather and lack of soil moisture, so regular watering and moist soil will prevent their spread. If an infestation does occur, treat the plants and soil every 2-3 weeks.

Cruciferous bugs

This brightly colored (yellow and white spots, stripes, and dashes are visible against a dark background) and fairly large insect feeds on leaf sap, causing the leaves to turn yellow, develop marbled spots, and then die. The larvae are the most dangerous, as they can destroy the entire plant. They retreat for the winter in mid- to late August. Adults can be collected by hand, which is quite effective.

Cabbage fly

Late spring is the time when the fly lays eggs in the soil near the seedling. A week later, the larvae colonize the undersides of leaves and roots, causing the colony site to rot. The plant becomes wilted for no apparent reason, and a leaden-colored coating appears on the leaf blades.

Cabbage moth

The cabbage moth is a small, gray-brown moth with a life cycle of one month. In northern regions, it lays numerous colonies of eggs (up to 300) on the underside of leaves in early summer, and in southern regions, in mid-spring. The egg clusters are recognizable by their light yellow coloration. The larvae emerge after three days and consume the entire leaf, feeding around the clock. The next generation emerges every five to seven weeks, continuing throughout the season.

White butterfly

This small, light-colored butterfly is a type of moth, distinguished by dark spots on its wings. Its egg colonies are smaller than those of moths, with approximately 100 eggs. The caterpillars hatch after 1-2 weeks and are very voracious, devouring every soft part of a leaf.

Owl butterfly

A small, inconspicuous butterfly (light-brown wings with broken light spots), it lays eggs (up to 2,700) from May to mid-autumn. The egg clusters are clearly visible on the underside of the leaf. The colorful caterpillars feed on the leaf pulp, chewing large holes in the leaf, thereby disrupting the plant's nutritional supply.

Cruciferous flea beetles

These tiny beetles can quickly destroy seedlings, as they spread very quickly—they move by jumping. Plant debris in the area also facilitates their spread.

Uses of valerian

To detect the presence of insect pests, visually inspect the leaves and cabbage heads, as it's not always possible to see the butterflies arriving. If you notice signs of insect presence, take immediate action to prevent their rapid reproduction.

Methods of use:

1. Valerian tincture and soap: Dissolve 1 bottle of valerian tincture in a 3-liter jar of water, add 2 tablespoons of liquid soap, and spray all plants, not just those where you noticed insects. You can repeat the procedure after a few days. It's best to use laundry soap.
2. Valerian juice solution. To obtain the juice, grind 1 kg of fresh valerian in a meat grinder, squeeze out the liquid, and store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 30 days. Before use, stir 10 drops of the juice into a pesticide solution (10 liters). Apply to plants and soil.
3. A tobacco-valerian decoction is prepared from fresh tobacco leaves (500g), valerian rhizomes and roots (200g), and 5 liters of water, heated to 100°C (low heat). Place the boiling decoction in a dark place. After cooling and letting it sit for a short time, it can be used as a spray twice every 7 days.

Reviews and advice

Maria Sergeevna, Pskov

I used valerian to repel insects, planting it around my cabbage beds, but I don't think it was effective. It was very hot that year, there wasn't much rain, and there were more pests in the garden than usual, so maybe that's why it didn't work. Now I use valerian tincture—it's the simplest way to use it. I spray the seedlings 1-2 weeks after planting and then a few more times throughout the season. Sometimes, but not always, I add soap to the solution.

Alexandra, Krasnodar

Our weather is hot, and pests thrive in these conditions and multiply like crazy. I cover my cabbage plants with lightweight spunbond, fortunately my space is small. I weight it down around the edges with bricks and stakes to prevent it from blowing away. Watering is easy because the material is permeable, and the plants also get enough light, so the cabbage gets everything it needs. Spunbond is inexpensive, but the effect is noticeable. I remove the cover once the heads are firm and compact, and pests are no longer a threat. I also always plant lots of marigolds, mint, and tansy in the garden, not just near the cabbage—they look beautiful and there are fewer insects. I also dry the mint and tansy for the winter.