What the cabbage?!?!

A few years back, I was blessed to be chosen to participate in my local production of the national show “Listen to Your Mother,” that happens in cities all over the country around Mother’s Day (so quickly look it up and see if your city has an upcoming show I promise you won’t want to miss it!” Part of my monologue described the roles I play in life, including a real life Doc McStuffins, a Law and Order attorney and a linguist. Little did I know at the time I wrote that piece, that those roles would expand so much from then til now. My Doc McStuffins role has expanded from diagnosing and fixing toys to pretty much everything that could have something broken. Case in point…..

I had noticed a couple morning ago while watering our garden, that there were holes in my Brussel Sprout plants’ leaves. I searched for known culprits, such as caterpillars or aphids and found one, fuzzy, white caterpillar on a leaf. Removed the “Very, Hungry Caterpillar” (see children’s things are relevant everywhere) and went about business assuming that I had solved this problem, took of my doctor hat and all. Next day, watering again, and there are even MORE holes!!! What the cabbage? I put my doctor hat back on and searched to fix the problem again. Nothing. No fuzzy friends. I go inside and begin a search online for what could be happening.

After reading a couple forums, I light bulb momented it with Brussel Sprouts are in fact in the cabbage family (yep I honest to goodness, despite all of my years of growing, did not think about that, of course I should’ve, they of course LOOK like little cabbages.)This is my first year growing Brussel Sprouts so I’ll give myself that. I have never liked them until a year ago or so. Quick funny, I grew up despising these little cabbages. My mom used to make them every Halloween and we had to eat so many before we were allowed to go trick or treating. I used to dissect them, practicing my brain surgery until my mom would give in and plead that I eat just one before I go. As much as I love my mom’s cooking she has a nasty habit of thinking all veggies are best steamed. That said, that year ago or so, my husband had me try this veggie again made a new way. Fireworks!! Food fireworks!! YUM!! I love Brussel Sprouts (made this way that is!) I had to add them to my garden this year!

Best EVER Brussel Sprouts Recipe:

1 bunch of Brussel Sprouts

2 Tbsp minced garlic

1 Tbsp oil (olive, canola, veggie, whatever you’ve got)

salt and pepper to taste (I go heavier on the salt)

Cut the stems off your sprouts, half them (if they are larger than a bouncy ball, quarter them.) Place prepare sprouts in a mixing bowl and add remaining ingredients. Mix well and then spread across a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, turning them every 10 minutes.

So simple and oh so good! The leaf pieces that fall off while they are cooking and get a little bit crispy, I swear are better than any chip! In fact I may have to try to make Brussel Sprout chips from this recipe. You think I’m nuts I know, but try it and then you’ll be heading to your kitchen as you’re writing this to make some too.

Ok, so to continue…..I always looked at them as “brains” not cabbage, so when the forums kept saying look for cabbage worms, it took me reading two or three before I decided I better go check. What I read said to take scissors out to cut the little buggers in half before disposing of them. So my doctor kit of gloves and scissors went out to the garden with me and I was back to my search for these green, little worms. They are hard to see but YES they were there, eating all of my Brussel Sprout plants! These little guys ironically look just like “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” minus the red head; they area lime green, bumpy, small caterpillar looking worm. Depending on their age they will range from an eighth of an inch to at least an inch (the super small ones can even be a light yellow.) They literally blend right in with the veining of your leaves. When you find them, pull them off, cut them in half and throw them away.

I went through all my plants. I was feeling pretty pleased with myself that I had learned something new and saved my plants! But then, just like in all good stories, a twist! There were these dark green, slimy, ooze balls of tiny, little lime green balls, on my leaves. Yep, egg sacks from the hungry, caterpillars. I hadn’t read anything about the sacks, so I washed them off with a paper towel so that I could throw them away as well instead of just washing them off into the dirt at the base of the plant and making my problem start all over again when the little buggers hatch.

I have gone out the couple mornings since and have found a couple remaining cabbage worms. I will keep inspecting every morning as I water, but I will also be adding a new defense. I have said it before and will continue to live by it, that you should never underestimate the power of asking someone who knows more than you! I happened to be at a community meeting yesterday and met an older gentleman who has been gardening here for longer than I’ve been alive. I asked him about my problem. He said I would laugh at his advice but its what has worked for him all these years when he has had to ask “What the cabbage?!” Moth balls…..apparently the caterpillar family hates the smell of them. So sprinkle the moth balls around your plants and they will keep the buggers away for about a month before you need to reapply. I am picking some up and trying it out!! I found another fuzzy, hungry guy on one of our fruit trees and am going to go ahead and try this idea out around the trees as well. (Side note….If you have aphids (the tiny, also lime green. beetle looking bugs, put some tin foil around the base of your plant, they hate the bright light the reflection gives off.)

The hats you wear are always ever changing and on a homestead they change daily. My toy fixing, Doc McStuffin’s hat, also became my gardener, children’s literature, worm hunting, plant fixer hat. “The Very, Hungry Caterpillar,” is going too need to move on to one piece of chocolate cake, one ice cream cone, one slice of Swiss cheese…..”

And for any of you that are curious (cause I sure would be) here is a link to my part in the “Listen to Your Mother” show (all monologues from every show are recorded and put on youtube, indulge and listen to some more after you follow my link.)