[greenfingers]

:shock: We've got tiny white insects on our cabbages,anyone know what they are and how to get rid of them? Help much appreciated  

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[milkman]

If there are clouds of them then it sounds like you have a good dose of whitefly which tend to inhabit every brassica type plant on every allotment across the land, so you are not alone!  I have them on my kale, cabbages, brussels sprouts etc. etc.  

If they are strong plants they will probably withstand the onslaught and as they are cabbages, when they are ready to harvest you should be able to whip off the outer leaves and the heart inside should be fine.  I don't do chemicals so am unable to recommend a spray solution.

Next year I am going to add to my metres of viromesh because it does a darn good job of keeping whitefly, pigeons, cabbage whites and flea beetle at bay.

[greenfingers]

Thanks milkman,
I dont use chemicals either i want everything to be as organic as possible
I'll have to get some of that mesh stuff did you get it from a garden  centre? Also how long does it take for cabbages to be fully grown as mine are still babies aaahhhh

[mellowmick]

If it were my cabbages, I'd be surprised they have any capacity to attract anything after the caterpillars and slugs had finished with them.

[Zak the Rabbit]

'ere 'ere,

the caterpillers have been a swine this year, two of my cabbages look like i missed with the 12bore, hardly any plant just holes.

Three doses of derris, one load of biological control nematodes, and picking the beasts off every day and i still cant control them. The whitefly i havent even bothered about.


Strangely no slugs at all... the local birds must be doing a good job.


Martin

[ytyynycefn]

Wow, Zak, I'm impressed with your birds!  The ones round here just smoke fags and drink White Lightning....  :shock:   Perhaps I could get them to stare menacingly at my pests?

Mel

[Zak the Rabbit]

You have to drag them off the street corners first!




Martin