Home | Contact Us | Volunteer | Client Grievance Policy |  Privacy Policy
– Kansas City Community Gardens
  • Programs
    • Become A Member
    • Beanstalk Children’s Garden
    • Community Partner Gardens
    • Giving Grove Orchards
    • Individual and Family Gardening
    • Rent A Plot
    • Schoolyard Gardens
    • Volunteer
  • Store
    • Plants
      • Cool Season Plants
      • Herb Plants
      • Warm Season Plants
      • Cannas & Pollinators
    • Seeds
      • Cool Season Seeds
      • Warm Season Seeds
      • Flower Seeds
      • Herb Seeds
      • Unique & Fun Seeds
    • Asparagus, Leeks, Onions, Potatoes, & Shallots
    • Sweet Potatoes
    • Fruit Trees & Berry Plants
    • Garlic
    • Merchandise
    • Supplies
  • Resources
    • 2025 Seeder’s Digest
    • Brochures
    • Find A Garden Near You
    • How To Videos
      • Planting and Maintenance
      • Harvesting
      • Fruit Maintenance
      • Cooking
      • Virtual Workshops
    • Fruit & Veggie Info Sheets
    • Gardening Guidesheets
    • Planting Plan Tool
    • Recipes
    • Garden Grants
      • KC Grow
    • What’s Growing At KCCG Blog
  • Workshops
    • Free Workshops
    • Girls Scout Badges
  • Events
    • Warm Season Plant Sale 2025
    • Gardens at Sunset
    • Fall Family Festival
  • About
    • KCCG Mission and History
    • KCCG Staff
    • KCCG Board of Directors
    • Employment Opportunities
  • Donate
  • En Español
  • Programs
    • Become A Member
    • Beanstalk Children’s Garden
    • Community Partner Gardens
    • Giving Grove Orchards
    • Individual and Family Gardening
    • Rent A Plot
    • Schoolyard Gardens
    • Volunteer
  • Store
    • Plants
      • Cool Season Plants
      • Herb Plants
      • Warm Season Plants
      • Cannas & Pollinators
    • Seeds
      • Cool Season Seeds
      • Warm Season Seeds
      • Flower Seeds
      • Herb Seeds
      • Unique & Fun Seeds
    • Asparagus, Leeks, Onions, Potatoes, & Shallots
    • Sweet Potatoes
    • Fruit Trees & Berry Plants
    • Garlic
    • Merchandise
    • Supplies
  • Resources
    • 2025 Seeder’s Digest
    • Brochures
    • Find A Garden Near You
    • How To Videos
      • Planting and Maintenance
      • Harvesting
      • Fruit Maintenance
      • Cooking
      • Virtual Workshops
    • Fruit & Veggie Info Sheets
    • Gardening Guidesheets
    • Planting Plan Tool
    • Recipes
    • Garden Grants
      • KC Grow
    • What’s Growing At KCCG Blog
  • Workshops
    • Free Workshops
    • Girls Scout Badges
  • Events
    • Warm Season Plant Sale 2025
    • Gardens at Sunset
    • Fall Family Festival
  • About
    • KCCG Mission and History
    • KCCG Staff
    • KCCG Board of Directors
    • Employment Opportunities
  • Donate
  • En Español
September 12, 2016  |  By Crystal Fritz In Schoolyard Gardens

How to Prevent Cabbage Loopers in your Schoolyard Garden

0
0
0

While out exploring in the garden with preschoolers from Learn A Lot in Raytown, Mo., we noticed green caterpillars on our broccoli plants! These small green caterpillars are called cabbage loopers. They enjoy eating greens in the brassica family (kale, cabbage, collards, broccoli, etc.). Cabbage loopers are especially pesky during the fall gardening season. After a full spring and warm summer, they are hungry for young transplants.

Cabbage loopers are hard to prevent, but if they are caught early enough you may still have a great fall crop! To prevent cabbage loopers from taking over the garden, it is wise to get into the habit of inspecting your greens. Look for caterpillars under or on top of the leaves of your brassicas. The loopers are the same color as your brassicas, and they are easy to miss, so look carefully!

If you’re having trouble keeping up with caterpillars, KCCG offers Dipel Dust, a natural bacteria powder that if sprinkled on top of the leaves eliminates these pesky caterpillars. Dipel Dust is an organic pesticide and safe to use in your schoolyard garden. Apply it after you water your garden, about once a week.

Children are usually very intrigued by the cabbage loopers. Find the students who are willing and task them with checking the garden each day at recess or during gardening time. The looper damage may subside quickly!

A garden for every school brassica cabbage loopers caterpillars fall gardening Schoolyard Gardens
Previous StoryMulching Your Schoolyard Garden
Next StoryThinning Seedlings in Your Schoolyard Garden

Related Articles

  • IMG_6645_800x450
    School Spotlight: EPiC Elementary
  • Picture3_800x521
    School Spotlight: Liberty Elementary

Recent KCCG Blogs

  • KCCG’s May 2025 Newsletter Thursday, 8, May
  • Tomato Days 2025 – Everything You Need To Know Tuesday, 22, Apr
  • KCCG’s April 2025 Newsletter Thursday, 3, Apr
  • Latest News on the Federal Funding Freeze and How You Can Help Wednesday, 26, Mar
  • Cool Season Plant Sale – Everything You Need To Know Tuesday, 18, Mar
  • Prospect Rental Plot Meeting Information Tuesday, 18, Mar
  • Swope Rental Plot Meeting Information Tuesday, 18, Mar
  • Ivanhoe/Richardson Rental Plot Meeting Information Tuesday, 18, Mar
  • Northrup Rental Plot Meeting Information Tuesday, 18, Mar
  • Kauffman Rental Plot Meeting Information Tuesday, 18, Mar

KCCG

6917 Kensington | Kansas City, MO 64132
Phone: 816.931.3877
Email: contact{at}kccg.org
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Instagram

Regular Office Hours:

Mondays 10am-5pm
Tuesdays/ Wednesdays / Fridays:
9am-5pm
Thursdays: 9am-6pm (until May 22nd)
Saturdays: 9am-12pm (until May 10th)

Get the latest KCCG News

Click here to sign up for our newsletter.

Copyright KCCG 2020