If your kale leaves have a number of really tiny holes in them, it is likely that they are infested with flea beetles. These shiny black beetles jump when disturbed. Older plants can tolerate an kale, but young plants are more susceptible to damage.
What could be eating my kale?
While slugs and snails have been known to eat from kale, your culprit is most likely going to be caterpillars. Caterpillars are the first thing I expect to find whenever I start seeing holes in the leaves of my Brassica plants, kale included.
What can I spray on my kale?
Neem oil is made from the seeds of the neem tree. To use neem oil, dilute it according to product instructions, and spray it on your kale plants. It is best to reapply neem oil every seven days.
Can you eat kale that has been eaten by bugs?
Fortunately, there’s good news! Greens with holes in them that were created by feeding insects or slugs should be fine to eat, if you cut away the damaged parts.
What can I spray on kale for aphids?
Soapy water (a drop or two of dish soap or Dr. Bronner’s in your watering can or spray bottle) kills them easily.
How do you keep pests off kale?
Many types of insects can afflict kale, ranging from cabbage butterflies to thrips and flea beetles. You can help protect your plants by using floating row covers. These covers prevent splashing water – that may contain pathogens – from touching the foliage, and can prevent insects from laying their eggs on crops.
What rodents eats kale?
Gophers Chomp On Kale
Gophers tunnel in your yard and potentially wreck several plant root systems in your garden. These critters will also eat your kale and many other vegetables that provide them with all the nutrition they need.
What bugs eat kale leaves?
Master gardeners: What to do about kale-eating critters
- Flea beetles. These leave many tiny holes.
- Cabbage worms. These leave large and jagged holes in leaves.
- Diamondback moth. These leave holes on bottom of leaves that are visible from the top.
- Slugs or snails. These leave large bite holes in leaves.
What does aphids look like?
Aphids are small, 1/16- to 1/8-inch-long (2-4 mm), pear-shaped, soft-bodied insects. They can range in color from green, black, red, yellow, brown or gray. Mature aphids can be wingless or can have wings. Winged aphids are similar in color but are a little darker.
Can I eat kale that had aphids on it?
The best way to remove the aphids is to submerge the vegetables in cold water for at least 10 minutes. Then drain, rinse them off, and dry them. Salad spinners are perfect for this. Once the aphids have been drowned and rinsed off, the greens are perfectly safe to eat.
Should I cut off leaves with holes?
You should remove leaves with holes if they are caused due to a disease. This will help prevent spread of the disease if it’s a fungal problem. You can also remove leaves with holes if you are growing the plant for aesthetic appeal. You should remove leaves with holes if the major portion of the leaf is damaged.
How do you treat holes in leaves?
For both, treat with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. Sucking insects poke tiny holes in leaves and draw the juices out of them. Common sucking insects include aphids, squash bugs, and spider mites.
Why do aphids keep coming back?
The primary reasons aphids keep coming back is because of their constant reproduction, ability to hide, and ability to move to new plants. Controlling pests, especially aphids, is not a once-and-done deal.
How do you make an aphid spray?
Soap and Water
A few tablespoons of liquid dish or insecticidal soap diluted in a pint of water is the simplest way to make a natural aphid killer spray for that aphid infestation. After mixing the water and soap mixture, fill up a squirt bottle, take a dish sponge and head out to your garden.
What causes aphid infestation?
Aphids become more of a problem when things get out of whack, which can happen when plants are stressed by drought, poor soil conditions, or overcrowding.
How do I keep bugs from eating my leaves?
Use 1 tablespoon of mild soap (like dish soap or castile soap) to 1 cup of vegetable oil. Mix well. Add 2 tablespoons of the oil mix to 1 quart of water and pour into a spray bottle. Spray the top and bottom of each leaf where the insects are dwelling and the stems if needed.
How do I keep slugs off my kale?
What You’ll Learn
- Trapping.
- Erect a Barrier.
- Use Black Plastic Mulch.
- Avoid Organic Mulch.
- Plant in Raised Beds.
- Let Ducks Loose in Your Garden.
- Buy Predatory Slugs.
- Use Slug and Snail Bait.
How do I keep bugs from eating my plants naturally?
Spread crushed eggshells beneath the targeted plants and creepy-crawlies will move along. Make A Stink: Many aromatic herbs, like yarrow, citronella, mint, fennel, catnip, basil, and lemongrass are natural deterrents for garden pests from aphids to potato beetles.
Do rats eat kale?
Fruit: apples, cherries, grapes, bananas, strawberries and other berries, melons, plums. Vegetables: broccoli, potatoes, peas, carrot, cooked sweet potato, kale, parsley, bok choy, squash. Cooked liver and other very lean cooked meats. Whole wheat pasta and bread.
Do mice eat kale?
Healthy treats for mice (to be fed in small amounts):
A variety of fruits and vegetables including broccoli, curly kale, strawberries and grapes.
Do squirrels eat kale plants?
Vegetables. Squirrels eat a variety of vegetables, and gardeners know this all too well. If a squirrels happens upon any leafy green such as lettuce, chard, kale, spinach, or arugula, they will chow down.