09/03/2025
Cauliflower
I’m processing my cauliflower harvest, which turned out brilliantly.
The most important part of growing brassicas without serious damage from the white cabbage moth and WITHOUT using chemical is to keep on top of the cabbage moth EGGS.
Often we see the bright green larva that eat the vegetables and think they are the main enemy.
Not so.
The moths lay millions of eggs at the juncture where the leaves or florets attach to the main stem. The moist environment there is the perfect hatching conditions for the moist, soft eggs which look like caviar.
When the eggs hatch, tiny larva start moving throughout the florets and leaves of the plant. That’s where the fight is usually lost without chemical, because the worms move and eat deeply into the plant, where they can’t easily be seen, and they adhere tightly to the plant, so they can‘t be washed off.
To control the eggs before they hatch into an army of vegetable eating green larva, simply wash them off your plants with a garden hose. When they are washed out of their perfect environment (onto the ground, for example) they die. They really rely on not being disturbed from their ideal hatching grounds.
As you complete that step, look carefully through the plant and kill any larva you see. Because you’ve stayed on top of the eggs, you’ll be pleasantly surprised that there aren’t very many. Look for any stray larva wherever you see damage starting. The pesky little worm is likely still right there, chowing down.
You’ll need to do this about three time during the growing season.
Easy peasy 😊
This variety of cauliflower that I had such success with this year is called Cheddar Cauliflower.
