BTK (Bacillus thuringiensis) is the easiest, organic way to kill cabbage loopers on your cabbage plants. This natural soil bacteria disrupt the digestive system of caterpillars causing them to die. For best results start spraying your cabbage plants every 1-2 weeks after transplanting into your garden.

Diatomaceous earth is another easy way to get rid of cabbage loopers. For DE to work, they have to crawl through it so it’s only effective when the caterpillars are on the outsides of your plants. Lightly dust the plants with food-grade DE and remember to reapply it after it rains.

Hand-picking is another good option if you have a small garden. Every few days check the top and bottom of the cabbage leaves for eggs and caterpillars. Remove and dispose of any you find.

How To Prevent Cabbage Loopers

The easiest way to prevent cabbage loopers from damaging your plants is to use row covers as soon as you transplant them into your garden. Use a lightweight row cover or fine bug netting suspended over the plants by hoops.

Planting many herbs and flowers throughout your garden will also help to encourage natural predators to stay. Spiders, ladybugs, and predatory beetles are a big help in keeping an organic garden pest-free.