Seeding kale and bugs

I have kale seeding heavily, that I want the seeds to ripen. Starting down near the ground, something is eating them. Leaves are perforated, but not skeletonized. I see nothing this morning that looks like an eater.

If I pick off all the leaves I can save for us eat, will the remaining leaves, which have bug holes, and probably bugs, be enough to ripen the seeds?

I don't have to pick them off, if I have to choose between ripe seeds or the leaves, I'll take the seeds. This area isn't covered against cabbage moths, and won't last long, cold spell kept the cabbage moth butterflies from showing up, but the heat has hit, they'll be here soon. I haven't checked the more covered bed yet.

:D

Edit, just checked the other area, it's getting it from the ground too, all the high leaves that the cabbage moths usually damage are fine so far. That area has a lot more leaves I'd prefer to harvest a bunch of, as well as a LOT of seeds, that I REALLY want.

Howdy!
I'm still getting the hang of the message system, so I may mess up quotes and suchlike.

I did a quick check to see if what I remembered from botany (and all y'all Master Gardeners and Botany profs, please be nice!) still counted.
It seems to.

From website :  https://gardenerspath.com/plants/vegetables/save-kale-seeds/

And as they fade from green to beige, you need to act quickly to preserve the ripe fruit. Waiting too long can result in dry pods bursting open and dispersing their cache. as they fade from green to beige, you need to act quickly to preserve the ripe fruit. Waiting too long can result in dry pods bursting open and dispersing their cache.

So, depending on where your kale's seedpods are on the green to brown continuum, I don't think your kale needs it's leaves anymore. Have at and have fun!

As to what is eating it?
A quick "5 click search" turns up sowbugs/pillbugs; snails; slugs; millipedes; spider mites; and Japanese beetles. As the damage started low, I'd probably start with the slugs, snails, and sowbugs/pillbugs or just write the leaves off.
Good luck!

Kristine Keeney wrote:

So, depending on where your kale's seedpods are on the green to brown continuum,

Still solid green, plumping up nicely.

As to what is eating it?
A quick "5 click search" turns up sowbugs/pillbugs; snails; slugs; millipedes; spider mites; and Japanese beetles. As the damage started low, I'd probably start with the slugs, snails, and sowbugs/pillbugs or just write the leaves off.
Good luck!

Well, since we are almost at double the average annual rainfall for this area already, and it's soggy as met mittens out there, my money is on the slugs.

Thank you! :D

Did you know that you can eat the seed pods before they get mature? They taste like kale flavored green beans.

Jenny Wright wrote:Did you know that you can eat the seed pods before they get mature? They taste like kale flavored green beans.

Interesting! I'll taste one today!
Thank you :D