Cavalo Nero

[mikeclough]

Hello Folks,
This is my first ever post on this forum, though I've been a subscriber for a while.
Last year I tried to grow some vegetables for the first time. I have a tiny greenhouse and a small shady plot. I grew dwarf french beans, spinach, cherry tomatoes and cavalo nero. The cavalo nero was wonderful for a short while last summer but very quickly was attacked by something which caused big holes in the leaves. I thought at first it was slugs and applied pellets but the problem continued. I was unable to find out what the pest was even after closely examining the affected leaves. There were no signs of caterpillars and I never saw any pigeons about. I assume it was a bug too small for me to see.

This year I would like to grow cavalo nero again as we all in my family really enjoyed it. How can I avoid the same pest problem again?

[piskieinboots]

I've never grown cavolo nero, so not sure. Could you see small white/grey specs by the holes? I'm thinking maybe wholly aphids - but just guessing.

This might help
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=656

Welcome to the club - most people are friendly, some are a bit nuts - that'll be me

[johnjohn]

Another alternative could be flea beetles, have a look at this:

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=510

[johnjohn]

Oh yes, sorry, forgot to say, welcome!

[Nicos]

Hi there, and welcome to the Vine
Glad to see you're posting!...hope you can get it sorted cos it's a great veg!
We get caterpillars on ours...

[veggiechicken]

Hi Mike and welcome The first post is always the hardest but there'll be no stopping you now
You could try covering the plants with a fine net/mesh to keep any airborne beasties at bay. Brassicas benefit from netting.

[Mr Bones]

Hello Mike and welcome to the vine.
Could be caterpillars, we always grow Cavolo Nero and the camouflaged blighters can persist unseen right through winter. The wrinkly leaves are a tailor made hiding place for them. A fine mesh to keep the butterflies/moths off does the trick but it mustn't touch the plants or they'll lay their eggs through it.
Hope you fare better this year.

[Bren In Pots]

Hello and welcome to the vine Mike
I have to net my kale otherwise there'd be nothing left after the caterpillars had been around. it only takes one of them to make a mess of the leaves.

[bario1]

Holes sounds like slugs and snails to me, rather than caterpillars which tend to strip the leaves bare. You may not see them, but they are there, believe me, and no amount of slug pellets will stop them all. I often find small snails living under the curled over leaves on cavolo nero. I usually leave the bottom few leaves on as sacrificial offerings, and just pick the cleaner ones further up.

[Snoop Puss]

Shield bugs do quite a lot of damage to our brassicas. I only see them on the plants in the morning when the sun first hits the leaves and late afternoon. Goodness only knows where they go the rest of the day. I use a pyrethrum-based powder to deter them, but they're difficult to get rid of and nasty to squash...

[mikeclough]

Wow, so many replies! Thanks to all for the advice. I'm definitely going to put fine netting over the plants this year.

Several of my cavalo nero plants are still growing and the leaves that have appeared since the autumn are free from signs of attack. In fact I have just been out and cut a bagful to go with tonight's supper. What do I do with these plants? Do I get rid of them and start again?

[happyhumph]

If you're still getting an edible crop & you don't need the space I'd leave them until they start bolting and start the next lot in spring. Also, if you've got a greenhouse you can sow some in Autumn for baby leaves for salads over the winter.

[Mr Bones]

Leave them in as long as you can Mike and if they flower eat the flower shoots, they're lovely.