[rictic]

Hello All (otmenteers) 

Can anyone reccomend a good all purpose spray for my veg, chemical or organic.  I am thinking of boiling up some rhubarb leaves has anyone tried this method?

Keep the faith.

Rictic.

[Ice]

I make no apology for not being organic and I use Provado Ultimate Bug Killer.  It works a treat, better than some others I have used.

[oldbean]

Hello All (otmenteers) 

Can anyone reccomend a good all purpose spray for my veg, chemical or organic.  I am thinking of boiling up some rhubarb leaves has anyone tried this method?

Keep the faith.

Rictic.

1) Homemade pesticides are no longer permitted
2) What are you spraying against?
3) There are always other ways, as demonstrated by many successful growers who don't use sprays.

[DD.]

I use Provado Ultimate Bug Killer. 

Same here. Ice.

[oldbean]

Spray users will always find a reason for spraying, but it can have undesirable effects.

[Ice]

Spray users will always find a reason for spraying

Yes, I call them bugs.

Don't equate my tiny and very localised spraying with the likes of Monsanto et al.  This is how I grow my crops and I am fully aware of the arguments for and against organic growing.  I don't need a lesson on biological warfare every time I suggest using a proprietary bug spray.

[Aunt Sally]

As oldbean says we are not permitted by the EU to make our own concoctions like rhubarb infusions. 

Some pests I ignore like pea & bean weevel and pea moth.  Others like cabbage white caterpillers and carrot fly I combat with net barriers. 

I use horticultural soft soap for most other bugs like mealy bugs and aphids but if they don't surcumb to that then I zap'em with Ice's Provado Ultimate Bug Killer (promise to Ice - I will buy my own soon ). 

[Ice]

i use it as a weapon of last resort too Aunty.  If they can get through all the nets and soap sprays then they are zapped with something that kills 'em dead.  But only if there is at least two weeks until harvest so it is rained or watered off.

[oldbean]

Spray users will always find a reason for spraying

Yes, I call them bugs.

Don't equate my tiny and very localised spraying with the likes of Monsanto et al. 

Oceans are made up of drops.

I don't need a lesson on biological warfare every time I suggest using a proprietary bug spray. Roll Eyes

No problem. Though in the interests of even handedness, it seems fair to balance the discussion by suggesting the existence of alternatives. 

[MoreWhisky]

What do you suggest against the pea weevil oldbean?

i ended up having to spray against them.

[oldbean]

I would start at the root of the problem, more particularly what the roots are standing in, since this is where the plants get their strength. Then having some weedy places for predators to live, and plenty of small birds around. Once I've done that, I don't worry about weevils, the damage they do is minimal. There's some justification in having a low level of pests, otherwise there's nothing for the predators. You lose a little, but don't have to use chemicals.

(I confess to using ferromol slug pellets on occasions)

I haven't any sign of weevil on the peas, though did have a bit on the broad beans. I started the peas in gutters before putting them in the ground, so they were big enough to look after themselves.

[Aunt Sally]

You'll probably hate me oldbean    I used to work at Shell Research (Sittingbourne) many years ago on residual pesticide analysis.  I can tell you where they all end up 

[oldbean]

You'll probably hate me oldbean 

Why should I do that? I haven't got the time.

I used to work at Shell Research (Sittingbourne) many years ago on residual pesticide analysis.  I can tell you where they all end up 

My understanding is they can all be dealt with in the end, it's what they do on the way, or am I mistaken?

[Aunt Sally]

You'll probably hate me oldbean 

Why should I do that? I haven't got the time.

That's coz you is toooo busy doing physical battle with yer bugs 

[oldbean]

I don't have any bugs to do anything with. They didn't even make an appearance, not that bothered me anyway.