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I transplanted some cabbage about a month ago (after starting it from seed in a flat). Now I see that something is eating the cabbage leaves:

Cabbage Image #1

I also see that one pair of seedlings is doing very poorly:

Cabbage Image #2

What is eating these leaves? the lettuce growing next to the cabbage appears unmolested. I have seen a rabbit or two in the neighborhood, but I don't think a rabbit would cause this kind of damage, would it?

And what (organic) options do I have to protect my cabbage?

EDIT: Found this critter on one of the leaves:

caterpillar

Flimzy
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3 Answers3

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That looks like it could be imported cabbage worm (Pieris rapae). Though it could be one of the other species that also gets lumped under the generic "cabbage worm" label.

I've had similar-looking worms and very similar damage. You can (mostly) prevent them from getting on your cabbage (and other brassicas) by using row cover as soon as you transplant or direct-seed.

Now that you've got them on your plants, you'll have to spray. I've had good luck with Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), an organic-approved biological control. You can get it at your garden center; follow the instructions on the label. I spray every couple of weeks and the damage is minimal.

bstpierre
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It's some kind of bug - not a vertebrate. If you're not seeing it at all during the day, go out at night. One common bug that does this that you should be able to spot during the day is the cabbage looper - green caterpillars with two white stripes on each side.

Ed Staub
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These caterpillars don't move during the day - they're still and sleeping and come out at night to do their feeding. Come sun up they align themselves with the midrib of the leaf and they don't move until it's dark again. Hard to spot - but they're there.

Ted
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