Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: azk404 on June 15, 2020, 19:05
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Hello,
I went away for a few days for work and came back to find some issues with my plants.
Whiteflies on my pepper plants. Whats the best way to get rid of them without to many or any pesticides? Would buying ladybugs help at all?
And discolouration of my tomatoes leaves. The toms and peppers are outside not in a green house because I don't have space but I have done this before with no issues, although each summer is different I suppose.
Any help would be great !
A
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I suspect the tomatoes may benefit from a feed - one with magnesium in it such as Epsom salts.
Others may be able to suggest a non-chemical spray for the whiteflies.
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Hi Azk404
First, try spraying those whiteflies with a strong stream of water. Top and bottom of the leaves. That should dislodge most of them.
Second, as long as the temperatures are mild (27 C or lower), you can try an insecticidal soap, or neem, thoroughly coating the leaves. At higher temperatures, the treatment could damage the leaves.
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I suspect the tomatoes may benefit from a feed - one with magnesium in it such as Epsom salts.
Others may be able to suggest a non-chemical spray for the whiteflies.
I agree. Purple color, especially temperatures are cool, often indicates Mg deficiency. Epsom salts are an inexpensive source.
With tomatoes, extra calcium never hurts either. Lawn lime mixed in the soil, especially if it is dolomitic.
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We are using neem on cacti at the mo. I have had lots of ladybirds and teenage ones on strawberries due to white flies.
Teenage ones are long in body, look nobbly, wear gloves as they bite