[zestymordant]

Hi,

Got some brassicas (don't know any more than that about what they are), planted in plot that previously had carrots in and a lot of honeydew, ants and aphids.

Now there's honeydew all over the brassicas. I was told this was no problem with carrots what with them being in the ground but is it a problem on brassicas?

thank you...

[crh75]

Use an insecticidal soap to wash off/kill the aphides. The brassicas will recover if the damage is not too severe yet.

[starry]

what does honeydew look like ?? is it as the name suggests orange ? as I think I have this on my brussels they look as if they have a smear of golden syrup on them, dont want to lose them  have promised them for Christmas !!

[zestymordant]

As far as I know honeydew looks pretty much clear, I may be wrong though...

Thanks for the insecticidal soap idea, I'll give a try...

[zestymordant]

Another question though... if I use this insecticidal soap will I keep hav ing to apply it? How can I ward off the aphids?

[crh75]

It is not a systemic pesticide so it will only kill what is there on application.  The aphids will take time to build up again, longer as the weather cools. 

Systemic pesticides work for longer but the pesticide is in the plant and therefore you when you eat it.  So best to use soap as this can be repeated more often.

You can try using companion plants to attact the aphids (systemic pesticides can then be used on those as you will not eat them).  A physical barrier like enviromesh or fleace in theory will keep them off.  But it might just keep off the preditors and one or two can quickly become millions. 

Also if you find any ant nest kill them.  The 'farm' the aphids and protect them from preditors such as ladybirds.

[zestymordant]

Thanks. Strangely enough all the honeydew disappeared, seemingly overnight. Maybe it was heavy rain that did it?