Lil Urban Farm

Day: April 6, 2025

  • How to Deter Cabbage Butterflies

    How to Deter Cabbage Butterflies

    How to deter cabbage butterflies and/or cabbage moths from laying eggs and destroying your Cole crops (cabbages, kale, collards, etc).

    1. You can try making decoys. I’m not sure this actually works though. I need to find a better way to test it. I’ve posted the products and instructions below.
    2. Creating a hoop structure with bug netting is probably your best option. I put a video on YT showing a build yesterday.
    3. You could also use Bt Spray which is an organic bacterial option that only targets and kills caterpillars.
    Lil Urban Farm Makes Cabbage Moth Decoys and Add Shade Netting to Gardens to Protect Cabbage

    CABBAGE DECOY BUTTERFLY PROJECT LIST:

    TOOLS:

    • Pencil or Sharpie marker
    • Cardboard box
    • Tape

    PROJECT ITEMS:

      1. Take each butterfly pick and pull apart the plastic body portion holding the wings. Set these aside for later reassembly.
      2. Take your tape and make a loop so the two ends stick together, sticky side facing outward.
      3. Place the tape on the back of the wing parts and stick to the bottom of a cardboard box for spray painting.
      4. Lightly and evenly spray each wing set white. This may take a few passes with drying in between to hide the original design.
      5. Once the butterfly wings dry completely, flip them over and spray paint the other side as well. Allow to dry completely.
      6. Place the wings back in between the body clasp, forming the butterfly back into its original form.
      7. Take a pencil and create markings similar to the cabbage butterfly (see photo above for reference).

      PRODUCTS FEATURED IN THIS VIDEO:

      Lil Urban Farm Recommends Butterfly Stakes

      Butterfly Picks

      Garden Mesh Netting