How to treat cabbage from aphids

Reasons why aphids are bad for cabbage

Aphids on cabbage are quite common. For aphids, plant juice is of greatest interest, which is contained in turnips, radish, daikon, cabbage. Simply put, in all cruciferous plants.

Aphids are a very dangerous pest for the entire Cruciferous family. If you do not process plantings with chemicals or using folk methods, you can lose the entire harvest. If such a problem appears, then you need to solve it as soon as possible, before the heads of cabbage begin to grow. In order for your control measures to be effective, you need to know well what this pest is, how dangerous it is and what methods of confrontation exist.

aphids on cabbage

In the structure of aphids there is a miniature proboscis, which pierces the surface of leaves and shoots of plants. After this happens, the plant begins to wilt and dry out, and then death occurs. This happens because photosynthesis ceases to function, and chlorophyll becomes catastrophically low.

Aphids multiply on cabbage in a short time. As a rule, aphids prefer young cabbage leaves for eating. As a rule, aphids are found on the underside of the leaf plates. Often, aphids affect the growth points of cabbage.

Let's say a few words about how pests develop on a plant. The fact is that the eggs of this harmful insect remain for the winter on the remaining parts of the cruciferous culture. When the air temperature rises to 11 degrees, the larvae are born. They then turn into wingless females that reproduce. And then winged aphids appear. This offspring actively reproduces, wandering from place to place.

As a result, spawning aphids on cabbage can do great harm to your crop. Therefore, it is necessary to apply various drugs against this pest in time.

How to deal with cabbage aphids

Many experienced gardeners plant tomato bushes in the vicinity of cabbage plantings, the smell of which scares off aphids well. You can also plant lavender, marigolds and calendula for the same purposes. It is worth remembering that you need to plant plants that are not too tall to scare off aphids. Otherwise, cabbage planting will receive unnecessary shade.

aphids on cabbage

There is another harmless way of dealing with aphids - this is to attract hoverflies. These are insects that eat aphids. However, it often happens that the houses created for hoverflies are inhabited by hordes of ants, which in turn are carriers of pests.

Often, various infusions are used against aphids. Also, a fairly simple and time-tested method is the irrigation of cabbage plantings with ash infusion. You can also use a solution of laundry soap, vinegar or ammonia for this purpose.

If aphids are actually infiltrating your cabbage plantings, then insecticidal preparations can be used. For example, such as Decis, Fufanon, Arrivo, Pirimiks. Before using them, be sure to read the instructions.

Getting rid of cabbage aphids using folk methods

Aphids on cabbage are not a major pest, but even despite their modest size, it carries an impressive danger to cabbage.Various insecticides are undoubtedly effective means against aphids, since not only insects, but also larvae die. However, chemistry can accumulate in the heads of cabbage themselves, and thereby harm your body. And since all cabbage is used for food, insecticides become even more dangerous.

aphids on cabbage

The most harmless ways against aphids are folk. There are quite a lot of them, so you can choose the most effective way specifically for your case. Let's move on to the most popular of them.

Tar soap.

This soap contains birch tar in its composition. It is this component that is fatal not only for aphid colonies, but also for ants, which act as carriers of this very aphid.

The most popular recipe for a solution based on this component is the following: add one hundred and fifty grams of tar soap to ten liters of water. By treating your cabbage plantings with such a tool, you will not only get rid of aphids, but also help the leaves of your plants recover. They begin to tighten the wounds on the plants, and the aphids, which do not tolerate the pungent smell of such soap, will leave your plantings. This procedure must be repeated after seven days.

Bay leaf.

This is also a very popular way of dealing with aphids among gardeners. In its composition, this spice has a lot of essential oil, the smell of which is repellent for aphids. This component is the main one both in dry formulations and in the form of infusions.

You can lay dry bay leaves under the bushes in your garden. And you can prepare an infusion. To do this, pour ten grams of bay leaves with a liter of hot water. You need to insist for about an hour with the lid closed. Repeat the procedure after five to six days.

Ammonia.

The ammonia is good for getting rid of aphids. It is usually used as an infusion. For this, mix fifty milliliters of ammonia with ten liters of water. You also need to grate laundry soap with a coarse grater and insist it a little in warm water. Add soap to the solution. Laundry soap, by the way, is sometimes replaced with shampoo or dish soap. During the growing season, this solution is used more than once. The interval between applications should be about seven days.

If you use this method of fighting aphids, then do not forget about your own safety measures. Be sure to wear a respirator or mask to protect the respiratory tract. Hands should be made of rubber gloves. The preparation of such a solution must necessarily take place on the street. This mixture should be stored in a place that children do not have access to.

Vinegar.

Ordinary table vinegar has a pungent, sour smell, which also repels aphids. To prepare a solution, six percent vinegar (1 cup) is diluted in water (10 liters). You can also add a little liquid soap there. Everything needs to be mixed well. The soapy component will make your solution more viscous, and will allow the product to stay longer on the foliage of the plants. As a rule, aphids collect on the back of the leaves, which is where most of your solution should go. This method is absolutely harmless.

If the weather is hot, then choose the evening time for processing. This will prevent the foliage from getting sunburn. This activity is recommended to be repeated every time after it rains.

Tobacco.

Aphids do not like pungent odors, in particular, a tobacco smell. To prevent aphids from annoying your cabbage plantings, use tobacco in the form of a decoction or infusion.

To prepare the broth, take tobacco leaves (20 grams) and pour five liters of water. Put on fire and bring to a boil. You need to cook for a couple of hours. Let your tobacco broth cool, and then add enough water so that the volume is as at the very beginning. Then you need to strain your broth and add soap.

If you want to make a tobacco infusion, then take makhorka (200 grams) and pour five liters of very hot water. Close the lid and leave for two days.

Tobacco products are suitable for spraying plants, do not forget to pay special attention to the back of the leaves. There are most aphids.

Tomato or potato tops.

After the tomatoes are pinned, as a rule, a lot of green leaves of the tomato remain. They can be used for pest control.

Take fresh shoots (1 kilogram), they should be healthy, without damage and traces of diseases, then chop them and fill them with water. It takes about four hours to insist. Bring to ten liters with more water. Then strain and sprinkle over the cabbage.

Instead of tomato tops, many gardeners use potato tops. The infusion is prepared in the same way, the effect is the same. The procedure is repeated after about five to six days.

You can also prepare a decoction based on one or another tops. Take a green mass (half a kilogram) and fill it with ten liters of water. Boil the solution for about three hours over low heat. Then strain the broth and dilute it in a ratio of one to three. Do not forget to add thirty grams of soap for the viscosity.

Sagebrush.

This plant also repels harmful insects with its sharp aromas. Wormwood is easy enough to grow nearby. You can also lay wormwood branches next to your cabbage plantings. Before that, it is recommended to scald them with boiling water.

You can prepare a decoction. Take dried grass, about a kilogram and fill with water. You need to boil for about fifteen minutes. After that, cool the broth, strain and add water to end up with ten liters. To improve the efficiency, you can add soap (fifty grams).

Ash and spices.

As we said above, aphids on cabbage are very afraid of pungent odors, this scares them away from plants. For this purpose, a mixture of the following ingredients is used: wood ash (100 grams) + ground pepper (one teaspoon) + tobacco dust (100 grams). With this compound, you need to sprinkle the soil around your plants, and then loosen the soil about two centimeters in depth. This procedure must be carried out every five days.

Garlic and onions.

These ingredients are used to make an aphid infusion on cabbage. To do this, chop the onion and garlic (60 grams), then add water (two liters). This mixture should be infused for about five hours. Add a little soap to this solution, ten grams is enough. After that, strain and that's it, the infusion for spraying is ready. This event is held every ten days.

Chamomile.

This plant can also be used to keep aphids away from your plantings. An infusion is made, which more than once needs to be processed cabbage.

You need to take chamomile inflorescences (100 grams) and pour boiling water (1 liter) in an enamel bowl. Then close the lid and leave for about forty-five minutes. Strain the finished infusion and dilute 1:10 with water before use. You can water the cabbage with this remedy with a watering can.

The use of chemicals against cabbage aphids

There are a wide variety of chemistry-based remedies for various insects, in particular against aphids. As a rule, such measures are resorted to if a quick result is needed, as well as for use in large areas of planting. Before using any chemicals, be sure to read the instructions before this. Choose dry weather without wind for spraying chemicals. It is better to do this in the morning or evening. Be sure to protect exposed areas of the body and eyes. Do not smoke or eat in the vicinity of the processing area. After the procedure, wash your hands thoroughly with soap.

Experienced gardeners believe that the safest chemical agent is Deltamethrin and insecticide soap, which contains olives and flax.

Cabbage varieties that are not harmed by aphids

Of course, breeders did not stand aside and invented many varieties that have a high degree of resistance to various pests, in particular to aphids. Here are the most popular ones:

Aggressor.

This variety comes from Holland. In terms of ripening, it belongs to late-ripening. The care does not require a lot of effort and time. It can grow well even under not very favorable conditions. Heads of cabbage do not crack.

Amager 611.

The variety is late in terms of ripening. Possesses good resistance to low temperatures. It gives good results in terms of yield. The fruits are well stored and transported.

Bartolo.

The variety comes from Holland, belongs to the late ones. It gives a high yield, has good immunity against many diseases and pests.

Snow White.

This variety is late-ripening. The head of cabbage is rounded in shape, slightly flatish. The variety is very layable, the fruits can retain their qualities for six months. According to its purpose, this variety is universal. It is practically not attacked by pests, in particular aphids.

How to protect cabbage from aphids

In order not to face such a problem as an aphid infestation on your site, you must follow some measures:

- After all the cabbage is harvested, be sure to remove any remaining vegetation from the beds, as otherwise there will be a good place for the aphids to lay their eggs.

- In the fall, dig up the soil to a depth of about twenty centimeters

- Don't forget to weed your cabbage patch

- In spring, before you have planted plants, treat the soil from harmful insects

- Do not neglect the rules for planting and caring for cabbage. Observe crop rotation

- Buy special insects that feed on aphids in special garden stores: surfid, lacewing, coccinellid beetle.