Holes in cabbage leaves

derrynoose | 21:22 Sat 17th Mar 2012 | Gardening

4 Answers

I have a number of very healthy spring cabbage plants which have been attacked by some creature which has eaten lots of holes about 5mm in diameter in the lower leaves. Does anyone know what causes these holes, and is there a treatment which will prevent future damage. Thanks.

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Clematis

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Clanad

Sounds like slugs... for which you'll get lots of information for control... here in the U.S. there are two things that really help. At your local DIY store, buy a bag of play sand... the kind kids put in sand boxes... open the bag near your garden and pour it out and let it dry, whcih won't take long if you'll spread it out. When it's dry, pour a line around the cabbages about 3 or 4 inches wide and maybe just 1/2 inch deep. Keep it refreshed thorughout the season. The slugs hate the rough dryness of the sand and won't crawl over it...

The other method works pretty well, but needs to be refilled almost daily. Use the smallish styrofoam dish one usually uses for summer picnics... not to big. Form a small indentation in the earth near the cabbbage just deep enough into which you'll place the dish with the rim flush with the ground. Pour a goodly amount of beer into it... at least a couple of inches deep. The slugs are drawn to it, climb down the sloping side of the dish and drown in th enticing aroma of the beer.

There are commercial poisons available that smell like beer, but almost all warn about using thema round pets (or children).

Best of luck!

HowardKennitby

If it is slugs then salt will help protect.

derrynoose

Question Author

Thank you both. I will experiment with all three suggestions! Thank you , Clanad, for taking the time to give your extensive answer.

johnk

Slugs like cabbage, go out at night with a torch. I use the beer traps but still check them of a night as a lot of slugs take a drink without jumping in and a lot of teetotal slugs hide underneath! Pick them up with an old spoon and throw them in the bin where they will be in slug paradise. You can also use gone off wine and spirits or fruit juice

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