Using pesticides.

[kentishgal]

Just wondering how many of you use pesticides and what for??
I try and be as organic as possible and use nematodes, companion planting, netting, etc as much as possible but this year I have caved in and bought a spray to use on my gooseberry and currant bushes. I just couldnt control those fudgin' sawflies last year and didnt want to have to look at poor naked fruit bushes again!!

[rustylady]

Slug pellets is my only concession to chemical warfare.

[Veggielot]

I try to be organic when ever possible, but this is largely due to not wanting to spend a fortune on various sprays etc. I do on occassion use slug pellets but on the whole they are left to their own devices.

Would I use pesticides if all else has failed, then I probably would fortunately never been in that situation.

[Feral007]

No, we try and find ways to deal with it in the future ie making conditions as good as possible. If it doesn't work then we look at naked stalks, or buggy leaves.
Then again when there's no water from the sky we deal with that too, we do water a very litte bit, but otherwise just have to live with it, or without it.

[WendyC]

I do use slug pellets when I've just planted out something juicy. I also have some derris dust stowed away for occasional emergency use on caterpillars or leek moth larvae. I use sparingly as it's not available now.

[PyreneesPlot]

I spray brassica flea beetles only. I can find no other way of controlling them and can lose rows of radishes within an hour of germination.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I use slug pellets but because I grow in containers they never touch the growing medium, they are scattered round the base of the container.

I have also been known to use a spray when all else fails.

Potty

[PAULW]

put rhubarb leaves under your goosegogs the nasty bit in the leaves kills the larva when the drop off and burrow in the ground

[Snadger]

put rhubarb leaves under your goosegogs the nasty bit in the leaves kills the larva when the drop off and burrow in the ground

I didn't know that!

I do know the nasty bit is oxalic acid which is why a bit of rhubarb stem or leaves can help to ward off clubroot if buried below brassicas.

[VirginVegGrower]

I didn't know that!

I do know the nasty bit is oxalic acid which is why a bit of rhubarb stem or leaves can help to ward off clubroot if buried below brassicas.

I put an inch of rhubarb stem under all my brassicas when planting. They also get a dusting of lime in the planting hole too.

[AmyHenry]

I know a bit about these pesticides I didn't like this anymore I think fruits and vegetables should grow naturally using these kinds of chemicals are not good for the taste or our health.

[sammy_roser]

Organic slug pellets and a couple of times I have used a spray when all else has failed. I try to be as organic as possible but not to the extent of losing the entire crop.

[AkionTotocha]

put rhubarb leaves under your goosegogs the nasty bit in the leaves kills the larva when the drop off and burrow in the ground

I didn't know that!

I do know the nasty bit is oxalic acid which is why a bit of rhubarb stem or leaves can help to ward off clubroot if buried below brassicas.

So if you could extract the Oxylic Acid from the leaves, you could make an organic/cheep sawfly spray?

Would slicing the leaves and leaving them to rot extract enough acid? Or would it be better to boil them?

And I guess if you blended Rhubarb leaves into a paste and mixed it with olive oil or something, it could make an anti-acne face mask? Since Oxalic acid is great against acne..

Here I was, thinking the best use for Rhubarb leaves was on the compost heap.

[Two_Sheds]

put rhubarb leaves under your goosegogs the nasty bit in the leaves kills the larva when the drop off and burrow in the ground

Even if that does work, it doesn't stop the sawfly from eating all the leaves off the plant.

[Two_Sheds]

I have caved in and bought a spray to use on my gooseberry and currant bushes. I just couldnt control those fudgin' sawflies

They are evil, aren't they?

Try and attract birds to the bushes, so they eat the caterpillars. You could hang nut feeders in the area to bring them in, and scatter food on the ground too.