Kale is a cold - hardy , leafy green well - suited to life in cool climates . Whilekaleis a relatively depressed - maintenance harvest that draw few serious pestilence , from time to metre insect may obtrude upon a particularly exuberant plot . luckily , there are several easy abode remedies that efficaciously take away insect pests while posing no threat to child , ducky or flora .

Plant Features

A coolheaded - season vegetable , lolly does best when plant in the former spring or late fall as it tends to bolt in live atmospheric condition . This tasty salad green can even exist calorie-free snows , allowing gardener as far northward as USDA Hardiness Zone 5 to harvest fresh vegetables all wintertime long . This preference for cold weather condition facilitate keep kale plague to a minimum , although insects such as aphids , cabbage loopers , leafhoppers and flea mallet can occasionally become a problem .

Insecticidal Sprays

Homemade louse nebuliser keep pests under mastery by coating visible bugs and vulnerable kale foliage with tricky Georgia home boy and pungent spice . To make a basic glitch spray , simply stir 2 tbsp . of liquid detergent into 1 gallon of water and employ the solution to any affected plant . The wetter in the detergent geta the insects ' respiration apparatus and strangle them . Create a longer - lasting repellent by bestow a few tablespoons of garlic , Allium cepa pulverisation , red pepper or red-hot sauce to the soapy body of water before spraying it on the works . The spicy nip and strong scent will keep many unwanted pests at Laurus nobilis .

Companion Planting

While sprays are convenient , inexpensive and simple to make , they must be reapplied regularly to be full effective . Well - pick out companion plant can guard off undesirable pests all time of year long . Highly redolent herbs such as lavender or basil grow well when planted next to kale . Not only does their color and texture demarcation nicely with the leafy greens , their fragrant foliation is by nature repellent to many pests . instead , flower such as marigolds can tempt beneficial insects into the garden to feed on harmful bugs , abridge the need for chemical pesticides .

Barriers

saucy , untested colewort leave of absence can also be protect from pests with physical barriers such as be adrift row cover or mesh gauze . When these lightweight , translucent textile are draped over the plants , they screen the foliage from the extraneous universe . The material give up the kale to obtain both sunlight and piddle , but the fabric blocks access to the leave .

References

…