Mitigating and Eliminating the Impact of Aphids and White Moth Butterflies on Cabbages, Okra and Collards Using Sustainable Agricultural Practices

Table 2022

Analysis of Okra Planting - 2022

An experiment for a eleven week period between July 18 and September 26, 2022 was conducted.  A study of 10 malvo plants was conducted. 8 plants were part of the experimental group and treated and two were not. Okra is a farmer's dream due to the beautiful flowers and daily yield once the plants mature.  The lateness of getting the first grant payment delayed the planting of the batch of okra. Instead of seeds, seedlings had to be used. Ten seedlings were planted. 8 were sprayed and two were part of the control group. The first 10 plants were planted in July 2022.   Initially the seedlings were covered for five weeks to protect against four legged pests, like groundhogs, etc. They were watered at the base daily or every other day.  After the fifth week, once the seedlings started growing, the netting was removed. However, once the netting was removed holes were seen in the experimental and control group of seedlings.  Many times if farming more than one type of produce it's easy to take the eyes off checking the leaves and before you know it, the results of a pest is discovered. By the 6th week, okra leaves showed  tiny holes in the experimental and control groups. Once holes were found workers started spraying Neem oil and hosing the experimental group of 8 plants.  Pests that were noticed were aphids and the remnants of the white moth butterfly larvae or caterpillar.  The soft body pests would leave  for a short period after spraying but the leaves never recovered from the holes.   It could be that the spraying was inconsistent or a  leaf was missed. It could also be workers did not spray the front and back of the leaves in a consistent manner. The leaves were sprayed in the early am and at dusk.  Shelf Neem oil was used. Also, it was discovered that the shelf Neem oil may not had the power needed to fight the mighty aphids. The impact of the aphids and the caterpillars was dropping of leaves, holes and eventually losing the whole stock which impacts the yield.  In the end only 4 plants were left that were sprayed. The plants that were not sprayed were lost completely.  Another observation in  the okra beds were ants. Research  has shown when ants are seen in okra beds, that's a sign that aphids are nearby. Research shows ants and aphids bh are symbiotic. At the end of the year 1 research out of ten plants,  8 plants  in the experimental group were sprayed and only four or 50% or 4 remained and they were not in good shape. The control group or 20% of the plants were all lost.  Out of the control group, 80% of the plants, one half lived but were not healthy.  Out of the four remaining  plants that I sprayed they barely had leaves.  Yield:   4 lbs of okra; Other factors: Did not do a before and after soil sample, did not release beneficial insects, lateness of planting.

OkraSARE22Okrafff

Analysis of  Collards and Kale -2022

An experiment to identify the effects of aphids and white moth butterfly, and caterpillar  on collards and kales was conducted  for a fourteen week period between July 18 and October 17, 2022.  Collards and kale are part of the brassica family. An experimental group consisted of 16 plants,  12 plants(7 collard and 5 kale) or 75%  were treated and part of the experimental group;  and four plants or 25% were part of the control group and not treated.  Collards and kale are both beautiful brassicas but are sensitive to soft body pests. The lateness of getting the first grant payment delayed the planting the collards and kale seeds so seedlings were used for the first year.    Initially the seedlings were covered intermittently for eleven weeks to protect from the soft body pests like the white moth butterfly, caterpillar.  The experimental and the control group were watered every day or every other day.  Even with the netting, the white moth butterfly laid larvae, on both the experimental and control group.  By the 4th week, even with the netting and especially the collards showed small tiny holes in the experimental and control groups. Once holes were found workers started spraying Neem oil and hosing the experimental group of 12 plants.  The aphids would leave a gray  coating.   It could be the hosing and spraying was not done consistently. It could also be workers did not spray the front and back of the leaves in a consistent manner. The leaves were sprayed in the early am and at dusk.  Shelf  Neem oil was used. Also, it was discovered that the shelf Neem oil may not have had the power needed to fight the mighty caterpillars and aphids. The impact of the aphids and the caterpillars was dropping of leaves, holes and eventually losing the hole plant which ultimately impacted the yield.  In the end only 4 plants were left that were part of the experimental group. At the end of the experiment, within the control group, no plants remained. Another observation is that the kale plants were a little more resistant to caterpillars and aphids.  At the end of the experiment only four plants or 33% remained, two collards and two kale, however they were not in the best of shape. Within the control group or 25% of the plants were all lost.    Yield:   4lbs  of collards and 2lbs of kale. Other factors: Did not do a before and after soil sample, did not release beneficial insects, lateness of planting, did not crop rotate in the raised beds so aphids or caterpillars could still be in the soil.

SARE22CollsKalefff

Analysis of  Cabbage Planting - 2022

An experiment to identify the effects of aphids and white moth butterfly, and caterpillar on cabbages was conducted  for a twelve week period between August 8, 2022 and October 24, 2022.   A study of 10 plants was conducted. 8 plants were part of the experimental group and treated and two were not. Cabbage  is a beautiful crop but it takes a lot of space but it's wonderful to watch to grow.   The lateness of getting the first grant payment delayed the planting of the batch of cabbage. Instead of seeds, seedlings had to be used. Ten seedlings were planted. 8 were  part of the experimental group and two were part of the control group.   Initially the seedlings were covered for six weeks to protect against four legged pests, like groundhogs, etc. They were watered at the base daily or every other day.  After the sixth week, once the seedlings started growing the netting was removed. However, once the netting was removed holes were seen in the experimental and control group of seedlings.  By the 6th week, black spots on the outer leaves showed  along with tiny holes in the experimental and control groups. Once holes were found workers started spraying BT  and hosing the experimental group of 8 plants.  Pests that were noticed were  remnants of the white moth butterfly larvae or caterpillar.  The soft body pests would leave  for a short period after spraying but the leaves never recovered from the holes.   It could be that  the spraying was inconsistent or a  leaf was missed. It could also be workers did not spray or use DE in a consistent manner. The leaves were sprayed in the early am and at dusk.  Shelf  BT was used.  The impact of  the caterpillars was dropping of black spots on leaves, holes and eventually losing the head of the cabbage which impacts the yield.  In the end only 4 plants were left that were sprayed. The plants that were not sprayed with BT or DE applied were lost completely or eaten alive by the caterpillar. Out of ten plants,  8 plants  in the experimental group were sprayed and only four or 50% remained and they were not in good shape and the yield was only  4 from the experimental group. The control group or 20% of the plants were all lost.   Out of the four remaining  plants that I sprayed they barely had leaves.  Yield:   4 cabbage heads 12 lbs. Other factors: Did not do a before and after soil sample, did not release beneficial insects. Didn't cover the entire time.

SARE22Cabbagesfffr

Table 2023

Analysis of Okra Planting - 2023

An experiment for a eleven week period between June 18 and August 25, 2023  was conducted.  A study of 10 okra plants was conducted. 8 plants were part of the experimental group and treated and two were not. Due to low germination of the okra seeds, okra seedlings were purchased and planted. Okra is a farmer's dream due to the beautiful flowers and daily yield once the plants mature.  The lateness of getting the first grant payment delayed the planting of the batch of okra. Instead of seeds, seedlings had to be used. Ten seedlings were planted the week of June 18. The plants were covered the first five weeks. Once the cover was removed,  8 out of ten of the plants were sprayed with neem oil.  8 were sprayed and two were part of the control group.  However, the aphids were persistent. Like the previous years, the control group was lost  and the experimental group diminished which decreased the yield.    The impact of the aphids  was dropping of leaves, holes and eventually losing the hole stock which impacts the yield.  In the end only 4 plants were left that were sprayed. The plants that were not sprayed were lost completely.  Another observation in  the okra beds were ants. Like the research  shown in 2022 when ants are seen in okra beds, that's a sign that aphids are nearby. Research shows ants and aphids  are symbiotic. At the end of the year 2 research out of ten plants,  8 plants  in the experimental group were sprayed and only four or 50% remained and they were not in the best shape but better than 2022; however, the yield was still limited. The okra plants in the control group were totally obliterated.  Yield:   5.5 lbs of  okra. Other factors: Results of the soil before and after are still pending.  Used the same type of neem oil,  did not release beneficial insects,  planted earlier; leaves curled or growth was stunted which may have been a sign of magnesium deficiency.

Okra SARE23Okrafffr

Analysis of Collards/Kale Planting - 2023

An experiment to identify the effects of aphids and white moth butterfly, and caterpillar  on collards and kales was conducted  for a nineteen week period between April 16 and August 20, 2023.  An experimental group consisted of 16 plants,  12 plants(7 collard and 5 kale) or 75%  were treated and part of the experimental group;  and four plants or 25% were part of the control group and not treated.  Collards and kale are both beautiful brassicas but are sensitive to soft body pests.  Due to shortness of time in the spring, seedlings were planted. Later in the season seeds were planted. The research focuses on the seedlings but includes some of findings of direct sowing seeds.  The collard and kale seedlings that were planted were netted for eleven weeks. Even with the netting, the white moth butterfly laid larvae, on both the experimental and control group.   The experimental and the control group were watered every day or every other day.    By the 5th week, even with the netting, especially the collards showed small tiny holes in the experimental and control groups. Once holes were found workers started spraying Neem oil and hosing the experimental group of 12 plants.  The aphids would leave a gray  coating.   It could be the hosing and spraying was not done consistently. It could also be workers did not spray the front and back of the leaves in a consistent manner. The leaves were sprayed in the early am and at dusk.    In the end only 4 plants were left that were part of the experimental group. At the end of the experiment, within the control group, no plants remained.  In year 2, the aphids totally ravaged the kale and  collards plants. At the end of the experiment no plants remained in the experimental or control group. A total infestation occurred which has been seen before. By mid July,  two collards and two kale remained, However they were not in the best of shape. By mid August both the collards and kale were obliterated.  Within the control group or 25% of the plants were all lost.  The laborers alternatively used a mixture of BT and Neem oil alternate weeks but nothing helped  with infestation.  Yield:   In the early month 4lbs  of collards and 7lbs of kale were harvested. Other factors: Soil test is pending. Did not crop rotate, did release during one week  beneficial insects, early planting was helpful but should have kept the collards and kale covered consistently. The white moth butterfly is most fierce in the summer months. Some weeks and some days could see up to 10-12 white moth butterflies. Yield was most productive in the early months; did not crop rotate in the raised beds so aphids or caterpillars could still be in the soil. A strong hose is needed. Plants need to be spaced appropriately. Did release beneficial insects one week but needed to be more consistent.

Collards/KaleSARE23CollsKalefff

Analysis of Cabbage Planting - 2023

An experiment to identify the effects of aphids and white moth butterfly, and caterpillar  on cabbages was conducted  for a twelve week period between April 16, 2023 and August 6, 2023.   A study of 24 plants was conducted. 20 plants were part of the experimental group and treated and 4 were not. Due to lack of planning, seeds were not planted in time to create transplants, so seedlings were purchased.  Initially the seedlings were covered for 13 weeks to protect against four legged pests, like groundhogs,  but also the cabbage looper, etc. They were watered at the base daily or every other day.  Slowly the netting was released a few hours a day but after seeing spots the nets was put back on. By the fifth week, covers were lifted to check for cabbage worms, then the cabbages were either sprayed with BT or diatomaceous earth.  Both were not applied at the same time. One week BT was used and then the next week diatomaceous earth was used.   It's important to be consistent. If it rains then the application must be reapplied.   In the previous year, the impact of  the caterpillars was dropping of black spots on leaves, holes in head or leaves and eventually losing the head of the cabbage which impacts the yield.  The week of August 13, thirteen cabbages out of 20 were of good size. The control group, the plants that were not sprayed with BT or  administered DE were lost completely or eaten alive by the caterpillar. Out of twenty plants in the experimental group,  13 plants  in the experimental group were edible.  Out of the two years experimenting, this was the best yield, a 65% yield.  The control group or 20% of the plants were all lost.     Yield:   13 cabbage heads  resulted approximately 35 lbs. Other factors: Soil test is still pending. Did not release beneficial insects. Did cover the cabbages a majority of the time. 

CabbagesSARE23Cabbfff

Summary 

The planting of okra, collards/kale, and cabbage to see the impact of aphids and white moth butterfly and caterpillar was a very rewarding and frustrating experiment.  As a farmer, I'm in year 3 of planting okra, cabbages, collards and kale. What I've learned is from successes and mistakes. Lessons learned so far.:

1. Do soil test before and after
2. Crop rotate
3.  Look for eggs and become an expert on how the aphids and caterpillars affect plants
4. Plant early
5. Cover brassicas and cabbages early only
6. Purchase a powerful hose nozzle and blast 
7. Hose front and back of leaves thoroughly
8. Pay attention to plant spacing
9. Purchase beneficial insects, preferably ladybugs, to eat the aphids
10. Purchase cold pressed neem oil, castille soap and peppermint oil and make your own pesticide spray
11. For okra, check to see if magnesium is needed for soil, and cut off bottom leaves
12. Aggressively pick off caterpillars and spray off aphids and white flies.
13. Purchase mesh or garden netting

I will continue to use the information and research I've learned to increase my yield.