Swedes ...

[leicestershirelass]

something is eating the leaves of my swedes ... it's the first time I've grown them .. I've had a look at what's left but can't see anything obvious !!

any ideas please what it's likely to be and how I can eradicate it?

[Nes]

Are they netted? Could be pigeons. Probably not caterpillars as you would see them. Could also be flea beetles, which seem to go for young brassicas, and have completely shredded my oriental mustards I was going to use for OH's sandwiches (really nice with salmon). They've also done a pretty good job on my swedes too, though they are now growing big enough to stand up to the attack. Only option I know of is to grow under VERY fine mesh / net curtain and hope the blighters don't find a way in in the first place.

[leicestershirelass]

Thanks for advice Nes .. no pigeons around here and not seen any caterpillars ...

not under net / mesh either ... would that white fleece stuff do?

[vicky]

Fleece will work. My turnips are a lace patchwork of holes due to fleabeetle.
I'm thinking, if you put the fleece on now you will just trap them underneath - might be worth spraying first?

[Hazel at the Hill]

Betcha a swede that it's pigeons!

Flea beetle damage isn't generally fatal to brassicas, and the leaves should regrow even if it's pigeons. I't stick your fleece over and see how they are doing in a couple of weeks.

Hope they bounce back for you.

[leicestershirelass]

thanks for advice ... I'll give the fleece a try

I've not seen any pigeons around !!!

[gojiberry]

If its little holes all over then its flea beetle. Dust the plants with derris and then cover with fleece. If flea beetle attack small plants they will weaken it to the point of extinction.

Ian

[Snadger]

If it's flea beatle give the plants a shake and run the hoover over them!

[leicestershirelass]

it sounds like it could be flea beetle - are any of my other veg plants likely to be attacked ???