The Top 5 Kale Pests—and How to Keep Them Out Naturally

I nearly swore off kale the year something chewed it down to lace before I ever got a harvest. Every morning, I’d walk out hopeful. And every morning, I’d find holes, slime trails, and frustration. I was doing the work. Watering, mulching, weeding. But I hadn’t yet learned what I’m about to teach you:

If pests are winning in your garden, it doesn’t mean you failed. It means you haven’t met your enemy yet. And once you do, you can fight back—with simple, natural methods that work.

This guide will show you the five most common kale pests, how to spot them early, and how to stop them without chemicals. Plus, I’ve got two printable tools to make your battle easier: a pest ID chart and a weekly pest tracker.

1. The Top 5 Kale Pests (and What They’re Doing to Your Crop)

These five critters are responsible for 90% of kale troubles I’ve seen (and fought myself). Learn to recognize them now, and you’ll be halfway to prevention.

🐛 Cabbage Worms

Green, velvety, and camouflaged to a tee. These are the larvae of the small white moths you see fluttering around brassicas.

• Damage: Big, irregular holes and piles of frass (caterpillar poop)

• Peak season: Late spring through summer

• Watch for: White butterflies dancing around your garden — they’re laying eggs

🦠 Aphids

Tiny, soft-bodied insects that gather under leaves and suck out plant sap. Green or gray, often clustered together.

• Damage: Curling, yellowing leaves and sticky “honeydew” residue

• Peak season: Midsummer, especially during dry stretches

• Watch for: Ants — they farm aphids like livestock

🪲 Flea Beetles

Small black beetles that jump like fleas when disturbed. They leave a “shotgun” pattern of pinholes in your kale leaves.

• Damage: Speckled holes, especially on young seedlings

• Peak season: Early spring warm-ups

• Watch for: Sudden leaf damage overnight

🦟 Whiteflies

Tiny, moth-like bugs that take flight in a white puff when you brush the leaves. Especially common in covered tunnels or greenhouse setups.

• Damage: Yellowing leaves, sticky sap, black sooty mold

• Peak season: Mid to late summer

• Watch for: A white cloud lifting off when you touch the plant

🐌 Slugs

These slimy crawlers are stealthy nighttime feeders that love damp soil and tender kale.

• Damage: Ragged holes, shredded edges, and shiny trails

• Peak season: Spring and fall, or any consistently damp period

• Watch for: Slime lines and chewed seedlings in the morning

📌 Bonus: [Download the Kale Pest ID Chart] — A printable sheet with photos and damage clues for quick in-garden reference.

2. Spot Trouble Early: Warning Signs You Should Never Ignore

Here’s what I look for during morning walk-throughs:

• Tiny holes in baby leaves = flea beetles or early worms

• Egg clusters under leaves = cabbage worms or whiteflies

• Curled, sticky leaves = aphids or whiteflies

• Shiny trails = slugs were out last night

• White moths hovering = time to cover those plants

Grandma always said: “It’s easier to stop a problem when it’s small. Just like a splinter—pull it early, and you won’t have a sore.”

This is also a great job for the kids. Hand them a garden magnifying glass and a pest ID chart, and they’ll think they’re solving garden mysteries.

3. Grandma’s Fixes: Natural Kale Pest Control Methods That Work

No chemicals. No sprays with warning labels. Just what’s worked for generations.

🛡️ Row Covers

Floating row covers are one of the best defenses you can use—especially early in the season before moths arrive. Install at planting time and seal edges with bricks or soil.

🌿 Neem Oil Spray

A natural oil that interrupts insect life cycles. Mix 1–2 teaspoons of neem oil with water and a squirt of mild soap. Spray leaves in the early morning or evening. Reapply after rain.

✋ Hand-Picking

Yes, it takes effort. But hand-picking worms, beetles, or slugs is simple, satisfying, and effective. Use a bucket of soapy water to toss them into as you go.

🌀 Diatomaceous Earth

This fine powder cuts soft-bodied insects like slugs and worms. Sprinkle it around kale stems and on leaves—reapply after rain.

🌸 Companion Planting

Pests don’t like strong smells. Surround kale with mint, dill, or nasturtiums. These confuse scent-driven bugs and attract helpful insects.

🖨️ Bonus: [Printable Weekly Pest Tracker] — Log sightings, treatments, and outcomes to know what’s working.

4. When to Remove Kale Plants After Pest Damage

You gave it a fair shot. But if you’re still seeing damage after two solid weeks of natural controls, it’s time to cut your losses.

Pull the worst plants. Bag them—don’t compost them—and discard them away from your garden.

If the season allows, start a fresh round of kale in a new spot. If not, prep that bed with a cover crop like oats or buckwheat and rotate out of brassicas for next season.

Garden tip: Let one sacrificial plant stay as a decoy—it can pull pests away from your healthy starts.

5. Build a Resilient Kale Patch (So You Don’t Fight This Battle Again)

Prevention isn’t glamorous, but it’s powerful. Here’s how I prep my kale beds to make them less welcoming to pests year after year:

• Feed your soil. Healthy plants resist damage better. Use compost or worm castings.

• Rotate crops. Never plant kale in the same bed two seasons in a row.

• Use trap crops. A row of mustard can draw bugs away from kale.

• Clear debris. Slugs and beetles love cluttered soil and shady spots.

• Invite the good guys. Ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps eat the bad bugs. Let wildflowers bloom nearby, and don’t spray away their food source.

It’s not just pest control—it’s stewardship. Every plant you protect is another meal you don’t have to buy from a broken system.

Final Word

Pests will always show up. But once you recognize them and respond with simple, natural tools, you stop reacting—and start managing. Kale doesn’t have to be a battleground.

Protect it. Harvest it. And serve it up knowing what went into it… and what didn’t.

—The Grounded Homestead