There is a small risk that aphids and cabbageworms may have overwintered in the bed, but generally these two insects do not inhabit the soil, and cabbageworm pupae are attached to plant foliage (in-season) or debris (in winter) and are not buried in soil. Monitor plants closely after covering them with a row cover for signs of insect activity. Covers can remain over cabbage family plants from planting through harvesting since you don't need pollinators to visit the flowers for fruiting.

UMD Extension accepts Ask Extension submissions from Maryland, so we encourage you to find an Extension service in Delaware (if available) for future inquiries. If they don't use the Ask Extension platform, a local county Extension office can likely field home gardening questions.

Miri