I noticed these orangish, slimy, lumpy "blobs" all over my broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprout plants this morning. We have had a lot of rainy, cool weather (Zone 9) lately, which is what made me think it could be a fungus. I don't believe it is bird droppings because it is only located in one raised garden bed and then bed next to it is clear and it has been raining, so that would have washed droppings away. Any ideas? Thank you!
What you are describing to me is Egg's from one of the Flying Butterflies / Moths that lay eggs on the plants in the Cabbage / Broccoli Family, we call that family Brassica, it also includes Brussels Sprouts, Kale, Spinach, Cauliflower and all that type of greens.
The butterfly / Moth lays it's eggs on the leaves of the nice green leaves, when the Eggs hatch, tiny little Caterpillars immerge and eat there way through a huge amount of leaf, sometimes causing the death of the plant and deffenately rendering the veg un-edible.
The best way I know to rid the plants of this in a safe, NON Chemical way is to ware rubber cloves, take a bucket of water, hold the underside of the leaf in one hand and use other hand to gently but firmly crush the eggs, use a soaking wet cloth to wash the gunge off the leaf.
At this time of year, you will have to go out every day and check the leaves, underside of leaf also. Here I can stand in the garden and watch the cabbage White Butterfly hovering over the Brassica's searching out the best, safest and more out of the way places to hide the cluster of eggs, they are a pest for only a few weeks as the egg laying season takes place,
Other way to go is scrape off the cluster of Egg's, lay them on a tray, allow the birds to feed on them, until the eggs hatch, they cant move or crawl, only when hatched and have legs do the ravish as they are ferocious feeders as they only have a window a several weeks to feed and turn into the lave of the next stage/ Butterfly, the cycle continues every year.
To prevent this problem find the time these insects are arriving, then a week before hand, throw a fleece (Horticultural Fleece) over the crop, this prevents the insects laying on the crop. The fleece allows light, rain, watering and easy to lift when weeding.
Hope this helps you out, I don't know the type of Brassica feeding Butterfly / Moth you have in your area but from one country to another, they will be different BUT do the same damage.
best Regards.
WeeNel.
Thank you!
