[JoshP]

Cabbage stem flea beetle are causing havoc on my young cauliflowers and kale. Has anyone had any success controlling them?

[JoshP]

Pictures of damage

[Aunt Sally]

They should out grow the problem.

[Salmo]

In the mean time keep them damp, flea beetles do not like damp.

[rosiecider]

Is that the beetles on the leaf ? think I may have them but never actually seen them seem to love the turnips

[BabbyAnn]

Is that the beetles on the leaf ? think I may have them but never actually seen them seem to love the turnips

oh yes - my turnip leaves always look decimated.  Radish too get just as bad

[JoshP]

Yes that's them on the leaf, causing a worrying amount of damage

[ghost61]

If they damage the heart of the plant, they won't recover.  I lost my first lot of plants to flea beetle last year.  Covered everything at the outset this year and sprayed as I still had the little b's feasting on the brassicas. 

[JoshP]

What did you spray with?

[ghost61]

We have tried soapy water in the past and that is a waste of time.  I have to admit to using chemicals to stop the b's in their tracks.  Unfortunately the product I use will only be available under licence from later this year, so I guess I shouldn't mention it by name.  If you're into cryptic clues, it is called,after someone who helped Hillary climb Everest!

[Ema]

The flea beetles are a really problem for me, I grew rocket under debris netting this year but they got in and ruined that crop.
I'll be planting out some kale later this week and I'm sure they'll enjoy that.