Knowledgebase
Cut worm #850460
Asked September 18, 2023, 11:05 PM EDT
Deschutes County Oregon
Expert Response
Thank you for your question about organically managing cutworms in your vegetable beds.
For cutworm control in small areas, hand-pick climbing cutworms from plants during the evening or scratch the soil to uncover them during the day. For additional control, place a 3-inch-high cardboard collar around the stems of young plants and push it 1 inch into the soil.
Source: Growing Your Own | OSU Extension Service (oregonstate.edu)
The following links provide additional recommendations, including nonchemical, for cutworm prevention and control:
Cutworm - Vegetables | University of Maryland Extension (umd.edu)
Home Lawn & Garden: What’s Eating My Vegetables? | Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment at UMass Amherst
Landscape pests-Cutworm, fruitworm and armyworm | Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbooks (pnwhandbooks.org)
Growing Vegetables in Central Oregon (Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties) | OSU Extension Service (oregonstate.edu)
If you need more information, I recommend you call the Deschutes County OSU Extension office in Redmond at<personal data hidden>. Ask to speak with Amy Jo Detweiler (oregonstate.edu), a member of the Horticulture Staff. Amy Jo welcomes your home garden questions and is a great resource.