My Chicago Garden

The Illinois extension has this to say about Cabbage Worms.

"It is almost impossible to raise cole crops in Illinois without controlling these pests."

Well I can tell you I agree with that statement.  My cabbage plants were decimated last year (my first year growing vegetables in IL). I decided to run a little cabbage trial in my garden this year.  I put out a crop of cabbage utilizing a row cover and another crop without row cover. Everything else was exactly the same.  I had been seeing minor damage on the broccoli and cabbage leaves but nothing major until this morning.  I came out this morning and the uncovered cabbage was completely destroyed. Nasty little bliters! The base of the leaves were full of a green’ish colored "poop" which could be the eggs of the cabbage looper and on the most damaged cabbage I found small yellow egg sacks on the under side. I don’t remember seeing any of the cabbage moths flying around so it might just be cabbage loopers. Time to get out my insect encyclopedia.

Oh yeah…the covered cabbage…as pretty as can be and not a single pin prick of damage. In fact the leaves could easily make a hat they are so big.

Anybody else have issues with these guys?