[Treehugger]

Hello everyone,

I remember reading somewhere that you can spray brassicas with a dilute solution of salt to deter pests (I tried to grow calabrese last year but the few bits that the pigeons didn't shred were turned to lace by flea beetles - so not a huge success!!)

Has anyone heard of this?  I'd be interested to know if it works, and how much salt/water you have to use.

Chris in Ludlow

[ladybird]

Disolve 2oz. of common salt in 1 gallon of cold water, I read this recently in a book called Organic gardening by Lawrence D. Hills, not tried it yet, but hope give it a go this season.

[GrannieAnnie]

I thought salt for was bad for them, because we were talking the other week about using sea water amongst other things because they say we are short of water.

[Treehugger]

Thanks Ladybird, I think I'll try it too as my plot is completely organic (it's a rule of the site).

Sorry I haven't seen the sea water argument - maybe salt wouldn't suit everything, I don't know. I think the idea is that it's disappeared from the food by the time you eat it. Hope so anyway! I must say it appeals to me more than squirting the crops with dilute oxalic acid from boiled-down rhubarb leaves, another organic remedy recommended by a fellow plot-holder. Eek...

 :shock:

[ladybird]

Yes Treehugger, you are absoutely right, the salt has gone from plants by the time we eat them, as for the salt being harmful, I can't how. after all seaweed makes a wondweful soil conditioner.! Good luck with the spraying, hope it does the trick.

[John]

All a matter of quantity - a salt spray is one thing but watering with seawater would add loads of salt to the soil.
I'm sure I read somewhere that brassicas were a seaside plant (seakale?)
One thing I do know is that L D Hills was a brilliant gardener.

[supersprout]

... for treehugger, keeping pests away from brassica is another job the mesh does well :roll:

[Treehugger]

Thanks for the mesh tip Supersprout, just read it in the Pea Disaster thread. I think I'll invest in some as the plastic netting stuff drives me mad. Can you recommend a particular type/brand?

The belt-and-braces approach should beat the blighters eventually

[supersprout]

Here's another fine mesh you've got me into treehugger

Horticultural mesh (Enviromesh is one brand) comes in a variety of widths and lengths, so you should be able to get something that's pretty much tailor-made.

Suppliers of bulk rolls of mesh:
http://www.lbsgardendirect.co.uk
http://www.kayshorticulture.com/
http://www.harrodhorticultural.com

other contributors may have more

This year I got some hoops:
http://www.lbsgardendirect.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=R-VCCLOCHE&name=cloche+hoop&sfile=1&jump=0

Good luck!

[twysted1]

don't forget ebay as a great resource  for garden stuff cheap.

[GrannieAnnie]

I got my mesh, with holes about 10mm maybe bit smaller from Wilkinsons. £3.50 bag and 2 bags covered my brassica area which is 8 foot by about 15 foot.  It more that touched the ground each side, but not at the ends, so I filled that in by stitching some old bits of bean netting over the ends.  Must say, not seen my brassicas look this good in the 4 years I've been growing.

Mind you, something is nibbling the cabbages in the polytunnel, don't know if its flea beetle as I can't see anything around the plants.  Its only touched 3 plants so far, so I'm leaving them there, hoping whatever it is will stick to those 3 plants and leave the others alone!!!

[Treehugger]

Thanks for all the help everyone, that's brilliant  

[stompy]

Good old Wilkinsons to the rescue again.    

[GrannieAnnie]

Where would we be without Wilkinsons and a pound shop? lol

[Treehugger]

Absolutely!

Just one more question - how often should I spray the plants with the salt solution? More than just once presumably.

I really appreciate all this help. Lotty folk are very friendly!