Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Gleavo on April 21, 2012, 18:09
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Cutting a swathe through my pak choi! Prob move into something else when that's gone. Any solutions to ridding myself of flea beetle? Not wanting to try chemicals but may as a lat resort. Does soap water work effectively? If so how much washing liquid in ratio to water?
Thanks
G
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GardenersWorld.com says:
"Overview
The culprit is the flea beetle, which, like its namesake, jumps away when disturbed. The small, shiny, black, brown or blue beetles emerge in April and May, after winter hibernation, ready to start feeding. Eggs laid near host plants hatch in late-summer. The beetles feed for a few weeks before overwintering.
Solution
The upper leaves of brassicas and various ornamentals are riddled with holes. Seedlings may be wiped out. Swarms of tiny beetles, often shiny and black, hop away when disturbed.
Organic
Seedlings are especially vulnerable to attack, so protect them by waiting until they're a good size before planting out. Exploit the beetles' habit of jumping and catch them with a sticky trap. Coat a piece of card with grease, such as insect barrier glue, leaving a clean strip along one edge. Brush the clean edge of the card over the top of your plants - when the beetles hop into the air they'll stick to the grease. Repeat as necessary.
Chemical
Use pyrethrum chemical controls, or spray seedling brassicas with a thiacloprid insecticide. Take care not to disturb the beetles before an application, or they'll jump out of harm's way."
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Other than chemicals there's not a lot you can do other than net them (the crops that is)
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Last year I read on this forum that enviromesh should work-see the link below too.
http://www.agralan-growers.co.uk/Enviromesh_and_Crop_Protection/Enviromesh_Ultrafine_Rolls
I'm currently trying it but unfortunately the slugs got the the Pak Choi first. :tongue2: :tongue2: :tongue2: