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In order to rear the parasites, you must first
rear DBM. In order to rear DBM, you must provide it with a host
plant, in this case, cabbage. |
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Prepare soil or a suitable soil and compost
mixture normally used for growing plants inside a greenhouse.
If possible, use well-dried autoclaved soil. |
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Sow cabbage seeds in seedling flats, placing
two to three seeds per spot to assure adequate germination. You
should see germination within one week. After plant establishment,
thin out and maintain one plant per spot. Water plants regularly. |
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Allow the plants to grow for four to five
weeks (they should have six to eight leaves). Start applying
dilute ammonium nitrate solution (3 g/liter) once a week soon
after transplanting. |
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Transplant 4 to 5-week-old seedlings, one
seedling per 15 cm diameter clay or plastic pot. Water plants
daily and apply 1-3 g of ammonium nitrate, depending on the amount
of foliage, once a week after transplanting. |
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Six weeks after transplanting, plants should
have 10 to 12 leaves. These are ideal for rearing DBM larvae. Healthy
eggs, larvae or pupae are essential for trouble-free rearing
of all parasites. |
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