[razzmick]

just come back from my allotment my cabbage has got whitefly on some of them can someone please tell me how to get rid of these they have  only been planted out about 3 weeks  heared about homemade spray or is a bought pesticside the best way of removing them

[Ice]

I have appalling whitefly on my cabbages.  I'm not organic and have used Provado Ultimate a couple of times.  The whitefly have been reduced but not eradicated.  Next year I am going to use a fine net barrier plus sticky yellow fly traps. 

[razzmick]

I have appalling whitefly on my cabbages.  I'm not organic and have used Provado Ultimate a couple of times.  The whitefly have been reduced but not eradicated.  Next year I am going to use a fine net barrier plus sticky yellow fly traps. 

i have them covered with fine mesh scaffolding debris net

[Nikkithefoot]

I have planted marigolds among my brassicas, and so far (touch wood) have not been troubled by white fly. I am currently harvesting clean cabbages and kale. Last year was the pits regarding whitefly, nearly put me off eating brassicas for life.

[gobs]

just come back from my allotment my cabbage has got whitefly on some of them can someone please tell me how to get rid of these they have  only been planted out about 3 weeks  heared about homemade spray or is a bought pesticside the best way of removing them

No help, Luke. It's the world of the White Force. Does not ruin the crop, it's just pretty disgusting.

Enviromesh and the force shall be with you.

[viettaclark]

Definitely White Force!
Although the crop isn't affected too much it does weaken the plant and it's a damn pain to wash off the sticky lettuce that's seething with them.
Where are the predators?

[sunshineband]

Razzmick those flies can go through debris netting 

Yellow sticky traps work well, like Ice suggested   

[TerryB]

Had it very bad last year on Kale and Sprouts even with marigolds planted amongst them.
This year growing the kale under fine net curtain.
Have found that a spray of washing up liquid does help but has to be repeated about once a week.
Marigolds work great in the greenhouse so may work better under debri netting.

[Aunt Sally]

One of the chaps on our allotments says his friend uses a hand held vacuum cleaner - just sucks them out of the air.

I'd need the battery kind unless I can find a 2 mile extension cable 

[Chrysalis]

At Gardener's world live, the other week there was a plot with old-fashioned remedies for pests and flies:  not sure how effective it is, but it's not on the banned list!
It was to boil up potato plants after harvesting the spuds and use the liquid to drench the infestation when cool.  Apparently it doesn't harm the veg...but the chemicals from the plants do for the little b****s.
Don't know if the RHS endorse this, but I think it was on one of their "Days gone by"-type stands in the marquee.  This remedy was on a huge notice...

Probably best to check with the RHS for anything more lethal!

[DD.]

Just a reminder to check this posting and link from the site owner.

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=65430.0

[Yorkie]

At Gardener's world live, the other week there was a plot with old-fashioned remedies for pests and flies:  not sure how effective it is, but it's not on the banned list!

Probably best to check with the RHS for anything more lethal!

Actually, anything that isn't specifically licensed is on the banned list!

Just cos it's on the BBC doesn't mean they're always right.  A lecturer from the local hortic / agric college does our local BBC phone in programme.  Last week he was suggesting people used Jeyes fluid to sterilise soil.  Can't believe the irresponsibility and ignorance of it 

[Chrysalis]

thanks for the link.  I hope I haven't trodden on too many toes. Sorry. C

[Yorkie]

We have many collective toes 

[Kajazy]

You've gotta love the fact that you can use as many 'home-grown' remedies on yourselves as you like, but none on your plants!!

Ah, the EU-irony of it all...