For those people who grow vegetables on their property, the problem with insects and parasites always remains relevant. Treating cabbage against pests with vinegar is an effective way to get rid of insects on vegetables once and for all. But when using this product you need to be very careful not to harm your health.
The most common insects on cabbage
Protecting cabbage from pests is the only difficulty encountered when growing this unpretentious crop.Gardeners struggle with a large number of pests, since cabbage leaves are juicy and insects love to feed on this juice.
What insects most often infect cabbage:
- Cabbage leaf beetle
This is a tiny bug with long antennae. The wings and body of the beetle are black with a metallic tint. You can see a thin straight line on the back of the cabbage leaf beetle.
- Whitefly
Another common pest found on cabbage forks. The whitefly lays its larvae on the underside of cabbage leaves. The hatched larvae feed on plant sap, after which it begins to die. Externally, adults resemble white moths.
- Wavy flea beetle
The wavy flea beetle is a small black bug. Its characteristic feature is bright yellow stripes along the entire body. The insect is very similar to the black flea beetle, but the wavy flea beetle prefers plenty of moisture.
- Aphid
Aphids live primarily in colonies and feed on plant sap. You may notice that if there are ants in the area, then there is a high probability that aphids have infested the garden.
- Slugs
Slugs are most often found in very wet soils. And, since cabbage loves abundant watering, slugs prefer to gather near cabbage beds. Outwardly, they can be confused with snails, which can also be seen on cabbage heads.
How to treat cabbage with vinegar
Almost all gardeners grow cabbage in their gardens. This is not surprising, because the culture is unpretentious. It can grow on any soil, even infertile soil.
Forks are very juicy and attract a large number of pests. Caterpillars, aphids, slugs and this is not a complete list of insects that can ruin the entire harvest.The fight against cabbage pests and diseases can last throughout the summer until harvest.
The most effective remedy for solving this problem is ordinary acetic acid, which can be bought for pennies in any supermarket. Using acetic acid you can get rid of parasites once and for all.
It is recommended to process forks in the evening after sunset. You cannot spray the plants during the day; the polka can burn the entire crop. The best time is after six o'clock in the evening. When spraying, you need to be very careful so that the acid does not get on the skin or mucous membranes.
How to get rid of aphids on cabbage using vinegar
The use of vinegar in gardening to combat aphids is quite effective. When the heads of cabbage are already large, it is not recommended to use chemicals. But you can resort to a simple method of traditional medicine. How to use acetic acid against aphids?
With this simple recipe, you won't have to fight aphids for long. To prepare the solution, you need to take 15 ml of vinegar and 1 liter of warm water. Dilute it in water. If essence is used, then for 15 ml you need to take 10 liters of water. Treating cabbage against aphids carried out 2-3 times a week until all aphids are exterminated.
The most optimal time for spraying heads of cabbage is early in the morning, when all the dew has already dried. You need to water the cabbage generously. It is advisable to do this using a regular watering can. The prepared spray solution using vinegar must be used immediately. If there is a large amount of liquid left, it cannot be used even the next day.
How to get rid of slugs on cabbage
Slugs are another common pest that can be found on cabbage forks. These are insects that look like snails, but instead of having a hard shell, they are covered in mucus. It saves their body from drying out. Slugs most often appear in the late afternoon, when the sun's rays are not so scorching.
It is advisable to treat cabbage against pests early in the morning or late in the evening, when they are still on the forks. This is the best time to get rid of slugs. During the day they are practically absent from cabbage heads, so there will be no effect from the treatment.
You can get rid of slugs on cabbage using acetic acid (you can also use malic acid) and valerian decoction.
I treated cabbage forks against slugs as follows:
- To prepare this remedy you will need 15 ml of 9% vinegar, valerian root and 2 liters of water.
- Finely chop the root, add 200 ml of water and put on fire. Bring to boiling point. Then turn off and let the broth brew for 12 hours.
- Then dissolve 15 ml of vinegar and valerian decoction in 2 liters of water. Mix everything thoroughly.
- It is recommended to spray cabbage heads using a spray bottle. The most optimal time to treat the plant is in the evening. Spraying cabbage needs to be repeated every three days. Once all the slugs have disappeared, the procedure can be stopped.
How to deal with caterpillars and cruciferous flea beetle
Every second gardener has to fight caterpillars on vegetables. They cause enormous damage to the crop. The caterpillars not only eat the leaves, but also leave toxic secretions on them. In addition, caterpillars during active growth are very voracious and can ruin more than one head of cabbage.A few caterpillars are enough to eat all the cabbage.
Flea beetles on cruciferous crops are also very difficult to control, since they appear on cruciferous crops in large quantities. The main danger of this insect is that fleas are very small and difficult to notice. Therefore, it may take a long time before you realize that a parasite has appeared on the site. Flea beetles usually appear in July.
How to spray cabbage to get rid of cabbage butterfly and cruciferous flea beetle caterpillars? You can use apple cider vinegar for spraying.
A solution of apple cider vinegar will help get rid of caterpillars on cabbage. The same product can also be used to kill cruciferous flea beetles.
How to get rid of insects:
- Buy apple cider vinegar at 9%. Heat the water (it should be lukewarm);
- Dilute 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in 1.5 liters of water. Mix the liquid thoroughly and pour it into a watering can;
- It is recommended to treat plants in the evening after sunset, when the sun's rays are not so bright;
- If it rains heavily after you have sprayed the forks, the procedure will have to be repeated the next day;
- This remedy should be used no more than 3 times a week until the cruciferous flea flea and caterpillars completely disappear. Spraying is recommended to be carried out in calm, windless weather.
