Damon Mcknight
Broccoli is a tasty treat for humans and insects alike. If you're growing broccoli in Australia, you may encounter a variety of pests and diseases that can damage your crop. Common pests include the white cabbage moth and its larvae, also known as cabbage loopers or loppers, which feed on broccoli leaves and can destroy a plant overnight. Other pests include aphids, thrips, grasshoppers, and the Old World cabbage webworm, which can leave small holes in the foliage and even kill the entire plant. To protect your broccoli, you can try companion planting, physical removal of pests, or using natural deterrents and insecticides.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Insects | Cabbage worms, aphids, flea beetles, thrips, grasshoppers, moths, caterpillars, cabbage loopers, cabbage webworms |
| Bacterial and fungal diseases | Leaf spot diseases, powdery mildew |
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What You'll Learn
Caterpillars, moths, and butterflies
Broccoli plants are susceptible to a variety of pests, including caterpillars, moths, and butterflies. The cabbage white moth, in particular, is a common pest in Australia. The adult moths lay eggs on the broccoli leaves, and the resulting larvae (or caterpillars) feed on the leaves, eating all the chlorophyll and leaving behind a skeletonised appearance often referred to as "windowpanes".
To prevent moth infestations, it is recommended to avoid planting a whole row of brassicas (cabbage family) plants together, as this can attract moths. Instead, broccoli plants should be interspersed with other plants with different foliage and growth habits, such as silver beet or coriander, which can help to confuse and deter moths. Strong-smelling plants can also be used as a companion planting strategy to mask the scent of brassicas.
To control caterpillar infestations, regular inspection of plants is necessary. Handpicking and removing caterpillars and eggs, especially from the undersides of leaves, can help reduce damage. Insecticides containing Bacillus thuringiensis or spinosad are also effective against young larvae. For organic pest control, natural deterrents such as neem oil or a mixture of water, turmeric, garlic, chilli, olive oil, and dishwashing liquid can be sprayed on the plants.
In addition to caterpillars and moths, the adult forms of butterflies can also be a pest of broccoli plants. White or grey butterflies fluttering around the plant are a sign of impending problems with their offspring, which are the aforementioned cabbage worms. Thus, it is important to be vigilant and proactive in managing these pests to protect broccoli crops.
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Thrips, aphids, and other insects
Thrips are tiny, winged insects that are usually about a third of an inch long and can be light yellow to dark brown in colour. They can produce up to eight generations per year, and while their feeding can cause unwelcome symptoms such as stippling and stunting, they are also known to spread diseases like the mosaic virus. Thrips are often left alone by gardeners since they usually do not cause enough damage to prevent the growth of broccoli heads.
Aphids are another common broccoli pest. They are tiny, soft-bodied insects that feed on the undersides of broccoli leaves, causing them to become discoloured and wrinkled. A strong spray of water from a hose can be used to knock them off the plant, and serious infestations can be treated with insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Other insects that may be eating your broccoli leaves include cabbage worms, the larvae of moths and butterflies. You may notice white or grey moths fluttering around the plant, which is a sign that you will soon have problems with their offspring. These pests cause serious damage by feeding on broccoli leaves and can be controlled by handpicking them or using insecticides containing Bacillus thuringiensis or spinosad.
To prevent insect infestations, it is recommended to practice crop rotation, regular weeding, and encourage beneficial insects and birds to visit your garden.
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Bacterial and fungal diseases
Broccoli is susceptible to several bacterial and fungal diseases. One of the most common is black rot disease, caused by the bacteria Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. This disease usually starts as light brown to yellow 'V'-shaped lesions on the leaf margins, eventually turning the veins and stems brown or black. Black rot thrives in warm and humid conditions and spreads via tools, hands, insects, and water. While there is no cure, its spread can be slowed with a copper fungicide.
Another bacterial disease that affects broccoli is soft rot, which causes a soft, mushy breakdown of leaf stalks, heads, and storage roots. This disease is not unique to brassicas and can affect many types of vegetables.
In terms of fungal diseases, fusarium yellows can infect any member of the brassica genus, although it is more commonly found in cabbage than broccoli. This disease is favoured by warm temperatures of 75 to 85°F (23.8 to 29.4°C). Fusarium yellows causes one half of the broccoli plant, including the leaves and head, to turn yellow or pale green. If the infection is not stopped by changing temperatures, the plant's growth will be stunted, and the head may not form properly.
Powdery mildew is another fungal disease that affects broccoli. It leaves the plant looking as though it has been dusted with flour, starting with the leaves and potentially spreading to the stems and head if not controlled. Sunlight, good air circulation, and dry plants are essential to controlling this fungus.
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Grasshoppers and other larger pests
Grasshoppers and locusts can occasionally cause severe damage to gardens. They are closely related members of the family Acrididae within the order Orthoptera. They both have chewing mouthparts that leave distinctive ragged holes and chewed edges on leaves. In Australia, there are over 700 species of grasshoppers and locusts, but only a few are considered pests. The most common grasshopper and locust species that cause problems in gardens include the Wingless Grasshopper of south-eastern Australia and south-west Western Australia, the Plague Locust and Spur-Throated Locust of inland Australia, and the Giant Grasshopper of northern Australia. The Giant Grasshopper (Valanga irregularis) is endemic to tropical northern Australia and is the biggest grasshopper in the country. It feeds on the leaves of trees and shrubs, including roses, and can cause serious damage if many of them attack. Locusts are a type of grasshopper that form swarms, and while major locust attacks in gardens and parks are not common, they eat everything in their path.
Grasshoppers and locusts are not picky eaters and will feed on a wide range of plants, including grassy and broadleaf weeds, and vegetables like beans, brassicas, peas, and potatoes. They are particularly fond of lawns, but if locusts are swarming, they will eat anything in their path. They are capable of causing significant damage if large populations develop. Most damage is caused during the summer months, and they can leave your plants with chewed leaves and flowers, stripped of their foliage, and seedlings chewed off.
To prevent grasshoppers and locusts from damaging your plants, you can try the following methods:
- Plant flowers like marigolds, calendula, sunflowers, aster, alyssum, or dill to attract beneficial insects like robber flies, spiders, and toads, which will help keep grasshopper populations under control.
- Encourage birds like kestrels and larks, which eat large quantities of grasshoppers, to take up residence in your yard by providing a water source and nesting habitat.
- Use insecticides containing carbaryl or permethrin. However, keep in mind that insecticides are not a completely controllable method as grasshoppers travel frequently, and they may not be effective until after the grasshoppers have already caused damage. Insecticides can also kill beneficial insects, so use them with caution. Apply them when the eggs begin to hatch in May or June when the young grasshoppers are less mobile.
- A grasshopper disease called Nosema locustae slowly kills them and is available as a dry, flaky product called Nolo Bait, which you can apply to areas where grasshoppers lay their eggs.
- Remove weeds to reduce the amount of food available for grasshoppers.
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Preventative measures and treatments
To prevent broccoli leaves from being eaten by pests, it is important to first identify the culprits. The most common nocturnal offenders are caterpillars and other larvae, such as cabbage loopers, diamondback worms, and the grubs of white cabbage moths. Slugs, snails, and earwigs can also be the cause. During the day, pests such as flea beetles, thrips, mites, and cutworms may be responsible.
To prevent and treat broccoli leaves from being eaten, the following measures can be taken:
- Regularly inspect your broccoli plants, especially at dusk or dawn, to catch pests in action and identify the type of pest.
- Install physical barriers such as floating row covers to prevent pests from accessing the plants while still allowing light and water through.
- Bury a fence with wire mesh at least six feet tall and partially underground to deter larger creatures such as rabbits and mice.
- Use natural predators such as lacewings, midges, ladybugs, hoverflies, and blister beetles to feast on the eggs and larvae of pests without harming the broccoli leaves or crop heads.
- Dust the broccoli plant with regular flour or diatomaceous earth, a powder made from fossilized aquatic animals, to prevent insects from getting a hold of the leaves.
- Sprinkle wood ash around the plant and on the soil to dehydrate and kill insects instantly.
- Plant companion plants such as marigolds in close proximity to deter pests naturally.
- Rotate crops yearly and avoid planting broccoli in the same spot more than once every three years to break the life cycle of pests.
- Space plants appropriately to allow good air circulation and keep them dry to prevent most broccoli-growing problems.
- Remove debris from the garden in the fall and control weeds to reduce flea beetle numbers.
- Separate broccoli plants from each other with non-cruciferous plants.
- Treat plants with B. thuringiensis or spinosad sprays to protect them from cutworms.
- For persistent pest problems, use insecticides such as neem oil and insecticidal soap, which are less harmful to beneficial insects and the environment.
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Frequently asked questions
Insects and pests commonly found on broccoli plants include the white cabbage moth, aphids, cabbage worms, flea beetles, thrips, grasshoppers, and cabbage loopers.
Check your plants for eggs and larvae, paying close attention to the undersides of the leaves. You can also create a trap with a yellow lid, an old stick, and some Vaseline to attract and identify the insects.
Natural deterrents include planting coriander or other strong-smelling plants near your broccoli to mask the scent. You can also handpick insects, use insecticides, or try a natural spray made with water, turmeric, garlic, chilli, olive oil, and dishwashing liquid.
Avoid planting a whole row of Brassicaceae plants (cabbage family). Instead, plant your broccoli among other plants with different foliage and growth habits to confuse adult moths. Remove older leaves and those in contact with the ground to limit access for insects.
Broccoli plants can also be affected by bacterial and fungal diseases, such as leaf spot diseases and powdery mildew. Ensure proper spacing between plants, good air circulation, and dry conditions to help prevent and control these issues.
