What is eating holes in my collard greens?

If small insects have been eating holes in your collard greens (Brassica oleracea var. acephala), they're most likely flea beetles, cabbageworms or cabbage loopers. All of these insects feed on the leaves of collards, but you can control them without the need for harmful pesticides.

Subsequently, one may also ask, how do I keep bugs from eating my collard greens?

Combine five parts water, two parts isopropyl alcohol and 1 teaspoon of dish liquid in a spray bottle. Spray the collard greens thoroughly, contacting all parts of the leaves once a week, to control flea beetles.

Also, is it OK to eat greens with bug holes? Insect damage, healed cuts, small holes or scars: For the most part, insect damage does not render fruits and vegetables inedible. If slugs take a little chew out of your lettuce or a weevil leaves a small hole in your pepper, cut away the damage and thoroughly inspect what is left.

Simply so, what is eating my collard greens?

A few bugs enjoy eating their way through the leaves of collards. The National Gardening Association notes that collard greens seem to be less susceptible to pests than other members of the cabbage family. But an invasion of insects can decimate the crop. Pests include aphids, cabbage worms and the harlequin bug.

Is it OK to eat kale with holes?

According to Joshua Melanson, an organic farmer at Pumpkin Pond Farm, “there is absolutely nothing wrong with the kale. The flea beetle creates small holes but doesn't transmit any disease. There is simply less kale.” Apparently, it isn't just kale that flea beetles like to feast on.

39 Related Question Answers Found

What is the best fertilizer for collard greens?

Use a high-nitrogen fertilizer, such as nitrate of soda (15-0-0) or calcium nitrate (16-0-0), or a garden fertilizer with high concentrations of nitrogen and less phosphorus, such as 27-3-3, 24-0-15 or similar formulation.

Will dish soap kill cabbage worms?

For a more thorough elimination, mix 1 tablespoon dish soap with 1 cup vegetable oil, and 1 cup water. Spray the entire cabbage plant, including the underside of leaves. The mixture will repel the worms from the plant. Self- rising flour is also said to kill worms on cabbage plants.

Can you eat collards after they flower?

The more a collard green plant develops its flower stalk, the less edible the greens will be, so it's beneficial to harvest as quick as possible to retain as much flavor and nutrition as possible.

How do you get rid of bugs on turnip greens?

A homemade horticultural oil can be made from soybean oil mixed with liquid dish-washing soap to suffocate the bugs. Some people simply spray them off with a hose. But if you do this, make sure to also remove them from the ground beneath the plant.

Do collard greens come back every year?

One of our readers pointed out that collard greens are not perennial, although we included them in a list of vegetables that will regrow from year to year. However, in certain areas, they act like perennials.

How do you get rid of green worms on collard greens?

This natural bacterium will infect and kill the worms in two to three days. Simply mix 2 to 4 teaspoons of the Bt concentrate with 1 gallon of water to manage cabbage loopers, or 1 to 3 teaspoons with 1 gallon of water for imported cabbageworms. Spray the tops and bottoms of the leaves thoroughly with the solution.

Should you blanch collard greens?

greens requires a brief heat treatment, called blanching, in boiling water or steam , to destroy the enzymes before freezing. Blanching times for collards is 3 minutes and all other greens 2 minutes.. Begin counting the blanching time as soon as you place the greens in the boiling water.

Will collards grow in the winter?

Collard greens are a cool season vegetable and are often planted in late summer to early autumn for winter harvest in the south. Collards are frost tolerant, so growing collard greens in USDA growing zones 6 and below is an ideal late season crop. Frost actually improves the flavor of collard greens.

How long will collards produce?

Collards take 60 to 85 days from germination to harvest. Starts are four to six weeks old at planting time; so, when planting collars from starts, you can start harvesting within four weeks of planting.

How deep do you plant collard greens?

Collards prefer rich, well-drained soil in full sun. In spring sow seed directly in the garden 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep after danger of heavy frost. Space the rows 30 inches apart. Thin seedlings to 6 to 8 inches apart.

How do you get seeds from collard greens?

If you leave the pods on the plant too long, on the other hand, birds may swoop down and steal them or they make crack open, dropping the seeds to the soil. Collard seeds should be black when removed from the pod. Store them in a brown paper bag in a cool, dry place until you're ready to plant them.

How do you harvest collard greens?

Harvest leaves when they are up to 10 inches long, dark green, and still young. Old leaves may be tough or stringy. Pick the lower leaves first, working your way up the plant. You can even harvest leaves when frozen in the garden, but be careful because the frozen plant is brittle.

What is BT concentrate?

Description. OMRI Listed Monterey Bt Liquid Concentrate is a biological insecticide that can be used on fruit trees, vegetables, ornamentals and many other plants. The active ingredient is Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies kurstaki strain SA-12 (Btk).

Why do my lettuce leaves have holes in them?

These small holes are telltale signs of the cabbage worm. Actually, the are several insects that cause this type of damage and are generally referred to as 'cabbage worms'. The adults come and lay their eggs on the leaves of cabbage, leaf lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower and kale and other leafy greens.

How do you know if collard greens are bad?

How to tell if raw collard greens are bad or spoiled? The best way is to smell and look at the raw collard greens: discard any raw collard greens that have an off smell or appearance; if mold appears, discard the raw collard greens.

What makes collard greens turn yellow?

Nutrient Deficiency

Collards are primarily grown for their large, edible leaves, and require a steady supply of nitrogen to produce a continuous flush of growth. Without sufficient nutrient availability, growth will be stunted or result in pale green or yellow foliage.

Can I eat kale with aphids?

2 Answers. The best way to remove the aphids is to submerge the vegetables in cold water for at least 10 minutes. Once the aphids have been drowned and rinsed off, the greens are perfectly safe to eat. Actually, it should be safe to eat the aphids as well, it's just unappetizing.