[MickyB]

I did spray mine with 'Provado Ultimate' but I must of been too late with the spray or did not spray them enough 

I picked the first ones a few days ago and they were OK, just picked some more today and they are full of maggots (yuk!)

I am going to plant early (March) and late (June) next year - will this be enough to avoid to avoid the pea moth or would it still be advisable to spray or cover them, I would sooner take extra precautions to prevent it happening again.

I suppose it's too late to sow more peas now?

[DD.]

You've just about got time, but peas own now are very prone to mildew.

I've tried late sowings three times and had one success.

[Salmo]

I must admit to giving mine a dose of Provado Ultimate Bug Killer if I deem it necessary. (It probably will, this year).

What is this! A moderator encouraging us to use a chemical on a crop for which it has no recommendation.

Unless they have altered the label on the bottle there is no recommendation for Provado UBK to be used on peas, so it should not be used. It is a systemic insectacide and penetrates into the plant tissues and hangs around to kill any bug that chews it. Potatoes require 15 days between spraying and harvest and beet require 35days so I would guess it might stay in the peas a while.

Pyrethroids are recommended, e.g. Bug Clear, but it is a bit hit-and-miss as you need to kill the maggots between hatching and burrowing into the embryo pods. Once inside they are not affected. The recommendation is to spray at the onset of flowering and again 2 weeks later.

I cover my peas with enviromesh at the onset of flowering. It can come off once all the pods are set but I leave it on to keep pigeons off.

Did you not read this post DD?

[mumofstig]

Did you not read this post DD?

Provado Ultimate fruit and vegetable bug killer can be used on peas according to Bayer!


http://www.bayergarden.co.uk/en/data/Products/u/Provado-Ultimate-Fruit-,-a-,-Vegetable-Bug-Killer-Ready-to-Use.aspx

[allotmentor]

Insect netting can be expensive, agreed, but it becomes significantly cheaper if you buy a long length from a roll (from eg GardeningNaturally) either with friends or through an allotment association. It should last 10+ yrs if you look after it and you won't have to worry about killing beneficial insects, or having to wait until the active ingredient is at 'safe' levels for harvesting - I have flowers (which would need spraying) and pods ready to pick on the same plant.

[Salmo]

Did you not read this post DD?

Provado Ultimate fruit and vegetable bug killer can be used on peas according to Bayer!


http://www.bayergarden.co.uk/en/data/Products/u/Provado-Ultimate-Fruit-,-a-,-Vegetable-Bug-Killer-Ready-to-Use.aspx

Provado Ultimate fruit and vegetable bug killer only has a recommendation for pea and bean weevil, not for pea moth. It contains Deltamethrin as the active ingredient. It would be applied when the peas were very small and a long time before pods.
"Peas and Beans:
For the control of Pea & Bean Weevil, apply at first signs of adult damage (leaf notching). Repeat after 2-3 weeks if prolonged and heavy attack."

It is not the same product as Provado Ultimate Bug Killer which contains Thiacloprid.

[mumofstig]

Deltamethrin is what the RHS tell you to use

If the level of infestation in previous years has been sufficient to cause real problems, the plants can be sprayed with an insecticide, such as deltamethrin

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=660

[Salmo]

If RHS say so then they are probably right.

Lets not lose the important point

Bayer Ultimate Bug Killer, containing Thiacloprid, has no recommendation for pea moth should not be used.

[Aunt Sally]

You are quite right Salmo.

I'm not sure what the difference in spray date for pea moth and pea weevil is but peas should be sprayed (with the appropriate insecticide) when in flower.  They are self fertile so no bees are harmed.  If the insecticide zaps anything else that munches my peas that's ok by me.

[crh75]

They are self fertile so no bees are harmed.

I'm pretty sure this is not quite correct.  Peas can be self-fertile and will be bee pollinated, so bees will still visit them and so may get poisoned. 

Forgive me and correct me if I am wrong here.

[mumofstig]

This is how it works........

Pea flowers are perfect and self-pollinating. The flowers open early in the morning and do not shut. The anthers shed pollen the night before the flower opens, but this does not reach the stigma until the flower is tripped, usually by the wind.

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/members/seed_saving/ssg6_peas.php

[crh75]

Thanks MoS.
The point I was trying to make about insects still visiting peas is also mentioned:

Peas are generally self-pollinating and the likelihood of cross pollination is low. However, insects do visit pea flowers and can cause crossing.

So beneficial insects do visit peas and using an insecticide may harm them, contrary to what Aunt Sally said.

[AnneB]

Thanks MoS.
The point I was trying to make about insects still visiting peas is also mentioned:

Peas are generally self-pollinating and the likelihood of cross pollination is low. However, insects do visit pea flowers and can cause crossing.

So beneficial insects do visit peas and using an insecticide may harm them, contrary to what Aunt Sally said.

Bees do visit pea flowers.  There were loads buzzing round my CofE and Sutton's Purple Podded yesterday, going right into the flowers.  How widespread is pea moth?   I have never sprayed or netted mine and have never had any affected.   Am I just lucky?  I am not intending to spray or net, plenty of other things on the list to do.

[mumofstig]

When I sow in Mid March, usually direct into the soil, I very rarely get any damage, probably because they flower before the pea moth is about. This year because of the cold spring they were about a month later - and I have much more caterpillar damage 

[Beetroot queen]

When I sow in Mid March, usually direct into the soil, I very rarely get any damage, probably because they flower before the pea moth is about. This year because of the cold spring they were about a month later - and I have much more caterpillar damage 

We have the same, enviromesh is great but so expensive too.