Daily gardening tip · Southern hemisphere · Friday 2 October 2026 · mid spring
Check Brassicas for Cabbage White Caterpillars
As mid-spring warms up, newly planted brassicas like cabbage, broccoli, and kale become prime targets for hungry pests.
10 minuteseasypests
Locate your young brassica plants, such as cabbage, broccoli, kale, or cauliflower.
Gently turn over the leaves of each plant to inspect the undersides.
Look closely for small, bright green caterpillars blending in with the leaf veins.
Search for clusters of tiny, bullet-shaped yellow eggs glued to the leaf surface.
Pluck the caterpillars off by hand and drop them into a bucket of soapy water.
Squish or wipe away any eggs you find to prevent them from hatching.
Why it works
Cabbage white butterflies lay their eggs on the shady undersides of leaves to protect them from the sun and predators. Finding and removing these eggs and young caterpillars early stops them from eating large holes that can stunt or kill your young spring vegetables.
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