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Allium Leaf Miner - Leeks and Micromesh

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Bryan and carol:
Last year our leek crop was wiped out by ALM, so we bought some micromesh to try to stop the blighters.

I've raised the seedlings in the greenhouse and the first batch are ready to plant out. Our mesh is in place.

Question is, should I wait until later in the season to avoid the first flight of the flies ? I have read different times for the 1st  attack period, some say March and April, others into May.

Alternatively, a bloke on our site only raises his mesh to plant or weed when it is raining, to hopefully avoid attack.  Is there any merit in this?

Hampshire Hog:
Unfortunately given the weather this year I think you would have to assume that May is the same as March or April. I’m thinking that the bugs will follow the weather not the calendar. If it was me I would plant with mesh in place now. Good luck

Potty Plotty Lotty:
I would cover them and keep them covered.

No rush to plant them out-mine don't got out until early July!

Can't comment on when to raise the mesh-I just lift it when needed, I don't have the time/flexibility to base it around when it's raining!! I suffered a bit this year but that was my fault for being lax over pegging down the mesh.

Bryan and carol:
Thanks for the responses !

I took the plunge and planted out half the crop this morning, dibbling all of the holes before fetching the leeks, so minimising their exposure. All now covered in mesh, time will tell !

Leeks on a neighbouring plot have been fine, while elsewhere on the site, catastrophic attack. It all seems very random.

A benefit of purchasing the micromesh is that we now a a bit left over, enough to protect a small carrot bed This could be the first successful set of carrots since taking a garden here about 15 years ago.

vikingraider:
Hate to be a harbinger of doom but dont forget the larvae can live in the soil for quite a while

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