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Catterpillars seem to love my wombok and kale.
1. What can I use that is natural to stop them?
2 can I put the infested plants in my compost bin?
Hello @jandonohue
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about stopping caterpillars from eating your vegetables.
To stop caterpillars from eating your wombok and kale, try a few effective methods. Start by hand-picking caterpillars off the plants daily, dropping them into soapy water to dispose of them. Another option is to use Yates 500g Tomato And Vegetable Dust, It is a dual-action insecticide and fungicide. Plus, it's effective against caterpillars, cabbage white butterfly, aphids and other pests. Companion planting is another effective strategy; plant dill, parsley, or marigolds nearby to repel caterpillars and attract helpful predators.
The use of Yates 40g Natures Way Caterpillar Killer Dipel Insecticide is another way to control the caterpillars in your garden. Please make sure to wear personal protection such as gloves, goggles and a mask when using the insecticide. I also suggest having a look at this discussion - Caterpillars on our edible plant leaves by @chengjianer.
As for composting infested plants, it’s best to avoid adding them to the compost to prevent caterpillars from spreading. If you’re sure the caterpillars are gone or the plants are shredded into smaller pieces, composting is safer, but otherwise, it’s best to discard the infested leaves.
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Eric
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