broccoli insect munching

Well, that answers my question too. I've loads of tiny holes in some of my collards - and did see some little black beetles lurking about. I thought I'd leave the plants in to see if they recovered. Or should I pull them out and re plant with spares?

... loads of tiny holes in some of my collards - and did see some little black beetles lurking about. I thought I'd leave the plants in to see if they recovered. Or should I pull them out and re plant with spares?

what are collards - this southerner don't know what they are!
If, however, they are brassicas, then the answer is:
flea beetles hop and usually clear off as you approach.

• Cabbages, sprouts, all the big stuff - do nothing. They will recover
• Rocket and mustard related leaves where you eat the leaves - If they are not to holey, eat them, If they are, ditch them and start again, covering with fleece from the off - from the day you sow them. its no use covering them once they appear aboe ground as the fleabeetle is aread there and will be as happy under the fleece as larry.
black beetles? what were they on, and how big are they?

... They grow like big leafy cabbages. They're what were cooked up to make a 'mess o greens'   .... spring greens

Thanks for that.
We are now at a loss - you eat the leaves of your collards (her borecole - yes, she is growing this stuff - variety 'Redbor') and if they get attacked by flea beetle (which eat the leaves), then it won't look so good. But I think curly kale is the same sort of stuff, and we had loads and loads earlier this year - it got plenty of whitefly which were washed off before we ate it, but no flea beetle - so perhaps flea beetles are not active in the winter? So perhaps just leave the collards to develop and the flea beetle will eat the younger leaves, but as the plant grows the new leaves will be OK?

What does your allotment neighbour do about them beetles?
 :shock: O

He uses fly spray !!!     ....  Good luck with your kale, I need to get mine planted.

Gosh! Fly spray! Never heard of that :shock:

We potted up our kale today - 5 plants. Well, that should be enough, what with all the other stuff ...
 :?
O

Well the washing up liquid didn't work, even though I did tops and undersides of the leaves.

Oh dear. well, never mind, don't think your plants will suffer much unless the infestation is very heavy. As soon as the plants get bigger the fleabeetles will be off to look for something tenderer.

Ours are still whole (still in the nursery), but maybe all that will change when they get planted out in their final positions.
Night night
O

Thanks, Oliver - will just have to wait and see. Have been down and festooned the bed with string and carrier bag 'prayer flags' so at least the pigeons will be scared off - and maybe it'll frighten those flea beetles too  !!   :?

She has been trying to cultivate a taste in pigeons in me but, shudder, I am pleased to say without any luck! So it's a wise move festooning with bags (and CD's also appear to work - although they were NICKED (!!!) from the plot last year. Why, I ask myself) - those pesky birds will eat nice tender green leaves, even with fleabeetle holes. but NOTHING scares a fleabeetle - they just jump off and  come back when you have gone past!
Good luck with your collards.

She is off to plant her sweet peas (before it rains, again) - a bit late, but perhaps they will flower later. She usually sows them in September and plants them out in March but this year things have rather got the better of her ... Olly

SHE being 'her outdoors' as opposed to 'her indoors, I presume  ...

I am The Cat who keeps an eye on things from the shed roof ...