With our late cool spring, i thought the pests and diseases would be a bit late this year as well. Unfortunately it seems to be the opposite. I've been asked by several people here in CT, as well as in New York, New Jersey and even in NC about what is attacking their brassica crops. It's the cabbage worm. Usually about an inch or so long and green in color, you can sometimes miss it because it's almost the same color as the leaves. It attacks mostly brassica plants, kale, collards, cabbage, broccoli.. The adult is a pretty little white butterfly with 2 black dots on either side of it's wings. One very good method of control is to use a floating row cover on your brassica plants. All brassica (with the exception of broccoli) are biennial, which means they go to seed the second year. With broccoli we are actually eating the undeveloped flower head of the plant. If you want to save seed of broccoli, or second year cabbage or kale, don't use the row cover; but if you're looking to harvest food for yourself and not feed this insect, the row cover will prevent it from attacking your crops. Cabbage, kale, broccoli, don't need to be pollinated so there's no harm in leaving the row cover on until you're ready to harvest. If you already have this pest, then the row cover won't do you much good. The best organic method is to look on the underside of leaves for eggs. Most insect lay their eggs on the undersides of leaves (with a few exceptions). Pick off any cabbage worms you see, and kill them, either by stepping on them, or you can put them in a bucket of soapy water and dispose of them later.