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white flies
derbyduck
Posts: 137
in Fruit & veg
hi guys
picked some kale today and it's covered in white flies that seem to play dead until i sake the leaves then they jump off all over the place !there is also a white fluff on the underside of the leaves, it brushes off but it's a bit off putting thinking somat's eat it aswell , these flies look a bit like tiny moths and they'r in my compost heaps also ,any thoughts as to get rid !nuke ,fire and brimstone,acid rain,soapy water ?,
waiting in antipitaion , Derby Duck
Last edited: 19 November 2016 21:08:19
0
Posts
A few good sharp frosts should do the job.
In the meantime, as you've probably found, they'll wash off in the kitchen sink.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
If you put the leaves in your sink filled with water, add 2-3 drops of washing up liquid and give it all a good jiggle, they'll come off, then just rinse and go
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I don't use washing up liquid - just a sprinkle of salt in the water will kill them if you want to add something.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
The idea of a few drops of washing up liquid is that it decreases the surface tension of water, so rather than kill them, they just float off and down the plug hole..
I always treat broccoli in this way to remove the waxy/dusty stuff that builds up over the growing season, only a couple of drops are needed then washed off
Each to their own
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I always have terrible whitefly problems on all my brassicas but, as has been said already, they wash off with no problem. I think they do affect the growth of the plant though. I've always thought that the problem is that I grow all my brassicas under netting to keep out the butterflies so nothing can get in to eat the whitefly.
wev'e had a few hard frost and saturday was frosty before i picked the kale ! i also covered my brassicas with nets and only took them off when the butterflies diserpeared so they have managed to dig themselfs in pretty well ,how about if i make a soapy spray up and give them a dose of that ? I can but up with brushing them off but I fear that if my wife sees them it may but her off the kale and all the other stuff I produce on the allotment
atb D.D.
Last edited: 21 November 2016 19:24:42
I think if you've had a hard frost, most of the beasties on the leaves will be dead now anyway.
If you had a bucket with some water and just a few drops of washing up liquid, give the leaves a wiggle in that for a few seconds then rinse in another bucket of fresh water. I doubt there would be much left to upset your Mrs.
My view is if there are creatures out there who want to eat my veg, it must be good healthy stuff
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
thanks Pete I will give that a try ,D.D.