I’m losing my mind this year. Between the grasshoppers and the cabbage loopers, many of my vegetables look like someone peppered them with buckshot, at best, and completely skeletonized them at worst.

I don’t expect perfection and I can definitely live with a few bites taken out of my veggies. I’m totally okay with that, but the protein to veg ratio is completely out of whack. When I blanched broccoli last week to freeze it, I had to pick off dozens of cabbage worms before cutting it into pieces. Even then, a few hidden ones floated to the top in the water.

It’s gross.

Grasshoppers and Cabbage Loopers

The grasshoppers are probably the most maddening pest I’ve ever battled. They’re even worse than Japanese beetles if you can believe it. Friends who have lived in this area for decades tell me they’ve never seen grasshoppers this bad. I was disappointed the Semaspore I sprinkled this spring didn’t seem to even make a dent in the grasshoppers. But, I am going to give them another dose because I’m seeing new, tiny hoppers appear. I figure it’s going to take more than one try to gain a handle on them. I am up for a fight. One thing I have noticed is they are worse at our place than at any of the other gardens around town, which very well might be because we’re surrounded by the ideal habitat of alfalfa and weed fields.

The wet spring followed by hot weather gives good reason for the grasshopper bonanza, but I’m baffled by the cabbage loopers. I suppose I didn’t cover as well as I should this spring, and Im paying the price. But theyre everywhere and its more than Ive ever seen. I do everything to avoid using insecticides so when a friend told me she heard pouring boiling water over them kills the larvae without killing the plant, I figured it was worth a try. I can honestly tell you it does kill the worms in short order. But it also basically blanches the leaves of the plant so I dont recommend it.

The Big Guns: Arsenal Insecticidal Soap

Since I really hate to use any sprays or dusts (even organic) Ive been dragging my heels on doing something about it, but it’s to the point where I have to step it up or I’ll lose too much.

So I went to Level 3 in my pest management arsenal insecticidal soap. I grabbed the bottle of Safer we used to eliminate the aphids on the little cherry tree this spring, and went to spritzing.

At first it didnt look like it even fazed them, but then they started curling and dying! I’m very happy. The bonus is it seemed to knock back the grasshoppers, too, so you can bet I’m going to start hitting the plants on a more regular basis. I’ll be the woman wearing bottles like pistols on a holster. Heck, if I could fill the backpack sprayer I think I’d go that direction!

The one thing you really need to do when you bring out the big guns of any sort of pesticide is to spray the plants thoroughly. This means at the top and bottom of the leaves. Particularly inspect the underside of the leaves to eliminate the eggs and potential second generations of some species. If you’re going to use the stuff you have to do it right.

The good news about the cabbage loopers is they dont overwinter in northern climates. The bad news is theyre more than happy to head north from the southern regions. So for next spring I have to be way more diligent about keeping my Brassicas covered and to hit them early with the insecticidal soap if any of them reach the plants to lay eggs. I will not have another season like this one.