Help my Broccoli is under attack! Damage to underside of leaves!

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Hello! I noticed damage to our small broccoli plants this evening and can't seem to identify what is happening! It looks to be some kind of damage (pest?) from the inside of the leaves. The leaf pictured has open areas but some of the others are still intact (meaning you can see the damage on the underside but there is a thin "veil" over the areas still). It is causing the leaves to curl and deform. Perhaps it is some sort of leaf miner? I couldn't locate any actual bugs/pests on the plants at all.

Or perhaps it isn't bug damage at all and some sort of cell damage?

Does anyone have experience with this? I have an organic Neem Oil spray I might try in the morning. We are in zone 7 - the Asheville, NC area.

Thank you!

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Comments (5)

cindy-6b/7a VA
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
There are a number of pests that will eat broccoli. This site may answer your questions: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/broccoli/common-broccoli-problems.htm
snacktime thanked cindy-6b/7a VA
snacktime
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you cindy_7, I will look into that link!

Here's another look at the damage - on a leaf that shows the areas where the damage isn't broken through, and the top side of the same leaf.
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stevie
6 years ago
neem oil is good for fungus and to prevent insects from breeding, but it usually doesn't directly kill bugs.. i would try spinosad instead. can be found in most of the local chains under the bonide/captain jack brand.
LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
6 years ago
That damage doesn't look like cabbage worms to me. Cabbage worms usually make holes in the leaves. Your damage looks more like slug damage along the edges. If you can check them with a flashlight after dark you may see the culprit. Sluggo usually works well on slugs but you may have to apply it around the plants a few times to thin the herd.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
reminds me of early spring cutworm damage ... to some extent ...

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=cutwormon+broccoli&t=ffcm&iax=images&ia=images&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fi1.wp.com%2Fwww.leereich.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F08%2FCutworm-and-broccoli.jpg%3Fresize%3D286%252C400

and the offenders are often the exact color of what they eat ... so if you look close int he morning.. you might still find them.. before they go hide ...

i would pull back the mulch a few inches .. and gently scratch around the top of the soil.. and see if you can find them ... if it is such.. there might only be one or two ...

watch new growth over time.. to figure out when you have won the battle .. and if its not them.. then any of the others suggested above ..

do note.. many of the early spring munchers .. quickly turn into something else .. and basically do no real damage to the part of the plant thats important ... presuming populations dont get out of control ... if you are just seeing random minor damage.. no need to go ballistic on a cure ...

also keep in mind.. you probably have to hit the bugger with the oil.. so just applying it to the leaf may or may not do anything.. you really are better off finding it.. and IDing it.. BEFORE you start trying eradicate it ...

ken