[lanky lurcher]

hi,I've had my broccoli seedlings in the ground+covered by fleece for a couple of weeks,however today when I checked them they are covered by tiny holes and there were tiny black flies hanging around  :evil:  .what is the best way to treat the problem preferably without chemicals? I have lifted the fleece and covered the plants with netting after a good watering.

[Aunt Sally]

Could it be slugs  :?:  I don't think flea beetle attack brassicas.

[lanky lurcher]

thanx for reply, not sure about the slugs as i had pellets springled,plus the holes are tiny on the leaves!

[WG.]

It sounds like flea beetle to me.  Did they jump away when disturbed?

[lanky lurcher]

yes they do jump ! how can i get rid of them as they'v munched  my rocket too ?

[WG.]

Please try the Search button at the top of this page since I recall seeing earlier postings on this subject.  Fill in the search fields as described but do post again if you can't find the answers you need (or even if you just feel like posting again   )

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And don't think that this reply kills the thread, there are always new Q&A plus hands-on experiences to relate.

[lanky lurcher]

thanx

[milkman]

flea beatle is my diagnosis - if the plants are big enough they may withstand the attack.  

If not you may wish to think about re-sowing in a different area, construct a proper fleece tent over them, weighing all the edges down (with wood or bricks) to keep them out.

Or you could try catching them on a strip of parcel tape to teach them all a valuable lesson!

[Aunt Sally]

Could it be slugs  :?:  I don't think flee beetle attack brassicas.

Ignore that - they do  :evil:

[Oliver]

flea beatle is my diagnosis - if the plants are big enough they may withstand the attack.  

If not you may wish to think about re-sowing in a different area, construct a proper fleece tent over them, weighing all the edges down (with wood or bricks) to keep them out.

Or you could try catching them on a strip of parcel tape to teach them all a valuable lesson!

There was once a machine with tape that you could push down a row catching 'em as they hopped away! No, really

Flea beetles LOVE brassicas - and rocket is one too.
Flea beetles on cabbages, purple sprouting seedlings, etc etc is not a problem - it looks nasty, but when the seedlings get bigger the flea beetles hop off and go elsewhere (where? dunno).

But rocket is a different story - you want to eat the stuff, so it needs to look nice. Holey stuff tastes OK, but look horrible. So, she finds the only way is to cover (the nice and spicy mixture of cut and come again leaves, which include Indian Wave mustard and rocket)  with fleece from the sowing stage. (see the picture)

Check it from time to time because slugs and snails and ants love to live under the nice warm fleece too! Otherwise, cover it, weigh the fleece down with pipes and as they seedlings grow they push the fleece up, sliding it out from under the pipes. Works a treat.Go to 'growing' on olly's page  

[WG.]

There was once a machine with tape that you could push down a row catching 'em as they hopped away! No, really

Try the search I specified above.  Aunt Sally posted a link to the flea beetle trolley

[lanky lurcher]

 cheers everyone,what'll do is lift the old fleece,shake it,then see if i can catch the blighters on sticky tape  :twisted:  then try again and lay the fleece securely. just one more question, do i keep the fleece on the plants right through til harvest time? cheers deb

[Aunt Sally]

Try the search I specified above.  Aunt Sally posted a link to the flee beetle trolley

It's my horticultural ambition to own and use one WG  

[WG.]

Surely it would be within Wurzel's mechanical abilities to make one up for you?  Okay - sorry I mentioned it.

[Aunt Sally]

I'm sure it would be WG.  But he thinks I'm batty enough without giving him the plans for a flee beetle trolley