[Anton]

Help please.  After a saunter in the allotment I noticed one or two winter cauliflower plants looked a bit sickly. On closer observation I noticed some purplish looking insects. Any idea what these are and possible remedies please?

Anton

[mumofstig]

They're horrible - Mealy aphids, they tend to take on the colour of whichever brassica they are feeding on.

RHS advice here https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=656

[Anton]

Thanks very much for your prompt reply.

Anton

[Plot 1 Problems]

Another thanks too, I was going to ask the same question as somethings been getting at one of my polytunnel caulis too.

[chillimummy]

Had them all over my broccoli, wondered what they were.
Threw away what I had picked   

[Anton]

Back to my winter cauliflowers. I haven't been down to the allotment for a bit but when I did go recently , I saw the plants I had treated a few times were no better than before and in fact a lot worse. I fear the beasts have also started on some neighbouring plant.

Is is best to dig up the sickly ones and throw them away and maybe cut any dubious-looking leaves off the other plants?

Anton

[Yorkie]

Difficult to tell - have you got another piccie?

[Anton]

No, I can take a picture tomorrow, if you like.

But basically, the ones that were looking poorly, look really poorly now.
And some neighbouring plants have dubious-looking leaves.

Anton