A Bumper Year for Whitefly!
I am currently struggling with a whitefly infestation in my Brassica net tunnel!
By netting the Brassicas I have successfully kept the pigeons off but also blocked the smaller birds accessing the Brussels and sprouting broccoli inside; apart from twice when a single sparrow got in somehow and had to be chased out!
I have sprayed with a horticultural soap solution twice to little effect. Neville, my expert neighbour, said he had success using a coarse spray to dislodge them, so I tried that the second time. Still I am surrounded by clouds of little white specks whenever I enter the tunnel!
I have just tried a water jet using my hose. It certainly disturbed the whitefly, clouds of them, so I used a wider spray to wash them onto the ground - with only partial effect. I then found they had merely spread out over the surrounding greenery and flew up and back when they had dried out.
It looks like I shall have to try 'BugClear'! Any suggestions for any other solution?
On the positive side I did pick quite a few French Beans from the half dozen climbing plants I squeezed in at the end of my runner beans. Next year I shall grow a whole row the way I planned this year but failed!
I also found half a dozen cucumbers on the plants I put in after lifting the early potatoes, once I had cleared the weeds that threatened to engulf the plants.
I am struggling to stay on top of the weeds! They grow whatever the weather whereas some of my veg have stopped in their tracks now the nights are getting cooler. They seem to be growing even in the places I know I hoed not long ago.
I finally got fed up with pushing past the raspberries that overhung my pathway. It is a strong growing autumn raspberry that I inherited when took on the plot but despite it being full of fruit, I grubbed it out from the end of the row of Polka raspberries (donated by a departing neighbour) and left it on the table at the shop. There was enough in the one clump to set up a reasonable row, even though it is not quite the best time to transplant!
Now I just need to dig out the compost and leafmould bins and spread the contents where it will do most good. Some compost is already under the newly planted strawberries (again donated to me by a friend!)
I am particularly pleased at the quality of the compost. Black and crumbly with few sticks in, I put it down to transferring it from one bin to another in the spring.
Worth the effort! Just sorry there is not more of it!
By netting the Brassicas I have successfully kept the pigeons off but also blocked the smaller birds accessing the Brussels and sprouting broccoli inside; apart from twice when a single sparrow got in somehow and had to be chased out!
I have sprayed with a horticultural soap solution twice to little effect. Neville, my expert neighbour, said he had success using a coarse spray to dislodge them, so I tried that the second time. Still I am surrounded by clouds of little white specks whenever I enter the tunnel!
I have just tried a water jet using my hose. It certainly disturbed the whitefly, clouds of them, so I used a wider spray to wash them onto the ground - with only partial effect. I then found they had merely spread out over the surrounding greenery and flew up and back when they had dried out.
It looks like I shall have to try 'BugClear'! Any suggestions for any other solution?
On the positive side I did pick quite a few French Beans from the half dozen climbing plants I squeezed in at the end of my runner beans. Next year I shall grow a whole row the way I planned this year but failed!
I also found half a dozen cucumbers on the plants I put in after lifting the early potatoes, once I had cleared the weeds that threatened to engulf the plants.
I am struggling to stay on top of the weeds! They grow whatever the weather whereas some of my veg have stopped in their tracks now the nights are getting cooler. They seem to be growing even in the places I know I hoed not long ago.
I finally got fed up with pushing past the raspberries that overhung my pathway. It is a strong growing autumn raspberry that I inherited when took on the plot but despite it being full of fruit, I grubbed it out from the end of the row of Polka raspberries (donated by a departing neighbour) and left it on the table at the shop. There was enough in the one clump to set up a reasonable row, even though it is not quite the best time to transplant!
Now I just need to dig out the compost and leafmould bins and spread the contents where it will do most good. Some compost is already under the newly planted strawberries (again donated to me by a friend!)
I am particularly pleased at the quality of the compost. Black and crumbly with few sticks in, I put it down to transferring it from one bin to another in the spring.
Worth the effort! Just sorry there is not more of it!
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