[banf77]

Hi,
My Pak Choi ileaves are full of little holes, which I understand is down to the flea beetle.
Has anyone got any fairly easy ways of getting rid of them?
Cheers
Steve

[bravemurphy]

Different plant but I put ant powder on my broad bean seedlings and that sorted them out.

[JaniceB]

They are called flea beetles because they jump and when they affected my swedes a couple of years ago, I heard that running your hand over the leaves and holding a bit of sticky card closeby would trap the critters.

I did not pursue this as holey swede leaves would not matter long-term I discovered, but those beetles certainly had legs.

PS - first ever post, I hope this pops up in the right place!

[Kleftiwallah]

Nail a square piece of ply to a handle (just like a ping pong bat) and now get the stickiest grease you can find, open gear grease is ideal but a begger to find.  Pass this over your plants and the flea beetles jump and stick to the grease.

Cheers,   Tony.

[ConfusedGardener]

Cold pressed Neam oil (mixed with a suffacant eg horticultural soap) sprayed on them should do the trick, but you wouldn't want to spray closer than 2 weeks to harvest since it would probably affect the taste.

[Yorkie]

Cold pressed Neam oil (mixed with a suffacant eg horticultural soap) sprayed on them should do the trick, but you wouldn't want to spray closer than 2 weeks to harvest since it would probably affect the taste.

I believe this is not licensed for use as a pesticide and therefore cannot be endorsed or condoned by the forum.

[sunshineband]

Best thing is to prevent them altogether next time by covering your plants with enviromesh, that keep them out.

[Salmo]

Ordinary enviromesh holes are not small enough, you will need the finer stuff or fleece. Even then they walk as well as jump and will get underneath.

Worst damage is when it is very dry. Keep the soil moist and you will have less of a problem.

Regarding sticky boards, why not use something like golden syrup.

[banf77]

Thanks all. Has anyone tried spraying with some kind of a garlic solution or a washing up liquid solution?
Steve

[savbo]

Thanks all. Has anyone tried spraying with some kind of a garlic solution or a washing up liquid solution?
Steve

they count as unlicenced pesticides too I think

[shedmeister]

Ordinary enviromesh holes are not small enough, you will need the finer stuff or fleece. Even then they walk as well as jump and will get underneath.

Worst damage is when it is very dry. Keep the soil moist and you will have less of a problem.

Regarding sticky boards, why not use something like golden syrup.

[/color]
Tried that. I caught a shed load of ants

[MrsPea]

Is that what's been eating my radish seedlings ?? one minute they were there then today the leaves have all been nibbled