whitefly infested brassicas

Quote from: Nikkithefoot on October 29, 2011, 11:16

I planted marigolds with some of my brassicas as an experiment for companion planting. Those brassicas that had the marigold companions were much less affected by whitefly than those planted without. Whitefly was still present, but no sooty stuff on the plants and no clouds of flys either.

Will certainly plant more marigolds next year.

Which type of marigolds, Nikki?

They were Dwarf French Marigolds, Double Mixed. Quite compact plants in between the cabbages, but lost among the sprouts. Might need to try a taller variety in the sprout bed.

We had whitefly in the tunnel which was rather annoying and the little beggars are now making themselves comfy all over my Christmas potatoes!  . Gonna have to find a way to obliterate the blighters as I'm not having them infest my new tunnel.  This is war!    

I've merged you post with this one, some useful advice in the thread

I tried marigolds and it didn't do any good.

I've also read that ladybirds don't attack whitefly because they're not aphids (I'll be interested to know if you have any success).

I reduced whitefly by knocking the plants and catching them with those yellow sticky sheets (you feel a idiot wafting them about,  but - what's new).

There's a parasitic wasp (Encarsia formosa) which is supposed to work in greenhouses (no help on the allotment) and the suggestion is to get rid of all brassicas over the winter - but I've got my spring cabbages in and they've already got whitefly (more yellow flapping)