Salt solution for brassicas?

  • 17 Replies
  • 7953 Views
*

Treehugger

  • New Member
  • *
  • Location: Ludlow, Shropshire
  • 17
    • http://www.rspbsouthshropshire.co.uk
Salt solution for brassicas?
« on: June 16, 2006, 10:26 »
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

  • New Member
  • *
  • Location: RAINHAM, KENT
  • 18
Salt Solution
« Reply #1 on: June 16, 2006, 21:39 »
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.
I took over an allotment  approx 2 1/2 years ago on my retirement. Although I find that time is at a premium,  I realy enjoy spending as much time as I can at the allotment..--JUDY

*

GrannieAnnie

  • Grandmother of the Forums
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Kent
  • 21104
Salt solution for brassicas?
« Reply #2 on: June 16, 2006, 23:35 »
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

  • New Member
  • *
  • Location: Ludlow, Shropshire
  • 17
    • http://www.rspbsouthshropshire.co.uk
Salt solution for brassicas?
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2006, 00:03 »
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

  • New Member
  • *
  • Location: RAINHAM, KENT
  • 18
Salt Solution
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2006, 06:37 »
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

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Clogwyn Melyn, Gwynedd
  • 17113
    • Low Cost Living
Salt solution for brassicas?
« Reply #5 on: June 17, 2006, 09:26 »
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.
Check out our books - ideal presents

John and Val Harrison's Books
 

*

supersprout

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Peterborough
  • 115
for treehugger
« Reply #6 on: June 18, 2006, 14:08 »
... for treehugger, keeping pests away from brassica is another job the mesh does well :roll:

*

Treehugger

  • New Member
  • *
  • Location: Ludlow, Shropshire
  • 17
    • http://www.rspbsouthshropshire.co.uk
Salt solution for brassicas?
« Reply #7 on: June 18, 2006, 17:32 »
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 :tongue2:

*

supersprout

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Peterborough
  • 115
Salt solution for brassicas?
« Reply #8 on: June 18, 2006, 17:51 »
Here's another fine mesh you've got me into treehugger :wink:

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! :D

*

twysted1

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: bedford
  • 134
    • http://www.bodymod.org/profiles/v2/profile.asp?Main=1&PF=7907
Salt solution for brassicas?
« Reply #9 on: June 18, 2006, 17:58 »
don't forget ebay as a great resource  for garden stuff cheap.

*

GrannieAnnie

  • Grandmother of the Forums
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Kent
  • 21104
Salt solution for brassicas?
« Reply #10 on: June 18, 2006, 21:57 »
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

  • New Member
  • *
  • Location: Ludlow, Shropshire
  • 17
    • http://www.rspbsouthshropshire.co.uk
Salt solution for brassicas?
« Reply #11 on: June 19, 2006, 08:38 »
Thanks for all the help everyone, that's brilliant  :D

*

stompy

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Kingston upon Hull, City of culture 2017
  • 2177
Salt solution for brassicas?
« Reply #12 on: June 19, 2006, 09:08 »
Good old Wilkinsons to the rescue again. :D  :lol:  :wink:

*

GrannieAnnie

  • Grandmother of the Forums
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Kent
  • 21104
Salt solution for brassicas?
« Reply #13 on: June 19, 2006, 16:53 »
Where would we be without Wilkinsons and a pound shop???? lol

*

Treehugger

  • New Member
  • *
  • Location: Ludlow, Shropshire
  • 17
    • http://www.rspbsouthshropshire.co.uk
Salt solution for brassicas?
« Reply #14 on: June 19, 2006, 20:43 »
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!



xx
Salt Is not only bad for us!

Started by bobbeorn on Grow Your Own

13 Replies
5845 Views
Last post September 02, 2013, 10:38
by Salmo
xx
salt

Started by m1ckz on Grow Your Own

8 Replies
2759 Views
Last post May 06, 2016, 14:03
by pigguns
xx
Rock salt

Started by Jamie Butterworth on Grow Your Own

14 Replies
4594 Views
Last post January 16, 2010, 23:39
by goose
xx
Salt on Asparagus

Started by Plot25 on Grow Your Own

1 Replies
1986 Views
Last post September 21, 2006, 20:27
by James
 

Page created in 0.303 seconds with 40 queries.

Powered by SMFPacks Social Login Mod
Powered by SMFPacks SEO Pro Mod |