[ptarmigan]

I've not had a problem with white fly and Kale (touch wood), only ever grown Cavolo Nero but am going to add some Sutherland Kale this year.

I do surround them with nasturtiums though, I don't know if that helps to distract?

[Headgardener22]

We just cook it, eat it and ignore the whitefly.....

That is what I do, it is extra protein, isn't it.

Its the scum on the water in the cooking pot I don't like.

[Beetroot Queen]

We just cook it, eat it and ignore the whitefly.....

That is what I do, it is extra protein, isn't it.

Its the scum on the water in the cooking pot I don't like.

Ewwww what about when they fly off in the kitchen, yuck sends me bonkers

[lettice]

It seems it must be something to do with the differing varieties that suffer from pests.
Grew kale for the first time last year, Westland Autumn Curly Kale.
I provided no protection and I spread the plants all around my garden plot and nothing touched them.

[Headgardener22]

I get whitefly on all my brassicas later on in the season.

Only the kale get them on the bits one eats so I've given up with it.

[AnneB]

My daughter's plot gets whitefly on veg, including kale.  My plot, on the same site, a couple of hundred yards away, never has whitefly.   No idea why.

[Potty Plotty Lotty]

I've nearly given up with cavolo nero due to the (cabbage) whitefly. Last year I didn't grow it under debris netting to see whether this helped but it didn't (it survived the pigeon attack).

However, I stripped it in the winter and the new growth in spring was free from infestation so for a few pickings in the spring when everything is in short supply it's currently got a reprieve...

Interesting tips about enviromesh and comments on curly kale-I've got some purple curly kale on the go so I'll see how that compares initially.

[Anton]

Couldn't you try spraying soapy water for the white flies. I spray my runner beans when I get those kind of black flies and it works a treat. My wife also uses soapy water (vegetable soap of which she takes shavings and dissolves in water) to spray the rose bushes. Seems to get rid of the flies.

Anton

[lettice]

Noticed last night that Monty Don had plenty of Cavalo Nero out in the open that looked pest free.
Must be another variety that the pests avoid.

My Westland Autumn Curly Kale has started off well this year too, picked loads already all around the garden and not a pest nibble anywhere.

[pigguns]

Calvo that was left uncovered by mistake got stripped on the plot, but uncovered at home all year was fine.   I think it's the tastes of your local flock! 

No problem with white fly on anything brassica-y but the mealy bugs were awful on the brocolli until the butterflies were gone and I swopped the debris netting out for larger mesh.
Will slip some ladybirds under the debris netting this year.

[snowdrops]

I found soaking it in a bowl of very salted water outside or inadvertently a few drops of oil added to unsalted water got rid of the whitefly before cooking. Outside so the fly don't come in the house, with the oil & water I rub my hands up & down the leaves

[Headgardener22]

The problem I've had is not only the whitefly themselves but also the gunk they leave behind on the leaves. Hadn't thought of dunking then with oil and water. Might try kale again next year.

[LandShark]

I've had Curly Kale in all winter and next doors pigeons didn't bother with it till last week. Then they decided to strip it, so I've had to cover it. While I was doing that they brazenly started on my other bed of Kale!
The next morning I looked out and they were at my Pak choi so it's covered as well!
So far no caterpillars or whitefly so that's one bonus!