whitefly???

[marathon]

My cabbages,kale,sprouts and PSB etc are doing really well this year (possibly due to chicken manure brew) but on lifting the debris netting there appeared to be white dust. I realise it wasn't dust rather whitefly so my 2 questions are -

1) should I be concerned?

2) what can I do?

[allaboutliverpool]

Whitefly is always a problem under cover, usually in frames or greenhouses.

Bad attacks can reduce yield, distort the leaves and make the produce unattractive.

If you do not want to spray with insecticide, then spray with a jet of plain water from hose or sprayer which will wash a lot off and if done daily for a week will work wonders.

[Jeanied]

I seem to have whitefly all over mine too - have had for a few years. It depends on if you want to spray or not - one year I used the 'organic' bug spray on mine (blue spray bottle) and it seemed to clear it up but this year I have ladybirds everywhere so I haven't sprayed and it does not seem to make much difference. I don't think whitefly do that much damage.

[marathon]

Whitefly is always a problem under cover, usually in frames or greenhouses.

Bad attacks can reduce yield, distort the leaves and make the produce unattractive.

If you do not want to spray with insecticide, then spray with a jet of plain water from hose or sprayer which will wash a lot off and if done daily for a week will work wonders.

Well thanks I think I'll spray with water daily. As said the veg is looking fantastic but maybe the whitefly has only just arrived. I have given the crops two feeds of a homemade chicken manure liquid feed but apart from that have done nothing other than hoeing the beds every week.

The beds are covered with debris netting bar one which normal netting but I have replaced it with debri netting, it had the most whitefly so maybe covering the beds gave a bit of protection.

[jackie j]

A fellow allomenteer here told me to throw lime around and dont worry if it goes on the cabbages as it will wash off with the rain and when you wash before eating. Apperently they dont like it ( cabbage whites ) I havent tried it so dont know if it works but his cabbages are ok.

[Snadger]

Only if it gets to epidemic proportions do you need to worry I would say. If you've got one of those small battery powered hoovers for cleaning cars you could always shake the plants........... hoovering as you go!

[zazen999]

I find that the garlic and chili spray with a dash of washing up liquid helps.....plus i've now added a new ingredient - eucalyptus oil - it seems to be helping!!!!

[cathd66]

I made aerated vermicompost tea for the first time this year - (it's a form of high tech compost tea - google it for recipes) and couldn't quite believe the effect it had on whitefly and greenfly (although I had read up a fair bit about it).
First time (May), I only sprayed it in the back garden, and thought it was just a bad (good?) year for white fly/ greenfly because I didn't see any at all. Then I noticed the roses in the front covered in greenfly. Next time I watered it on front and back and I haven't seen a whitefly or greenfly since. I bought in some small broad bean plants which became infested with black fly between applications of compost tea, but next spraying took care of them.
I was away all of July, and got lazy in August, and haven't brewed up any 'tea' since June, but there are still no whitefly or greenfly around. Apparently the tea helps the plants to create a substance called chitinase which breaks down insect exoskeleton and makes the plants unnatractive for them. I also have healthy dressings of vermicompost on all my vulnerable plants which may help too.

[Two_Sheds]

I seem to have whitefly all over mine too - ... I have ladybirds everywhere ...and it does not seem to make much difference.

Unfortunately ladybirds don't eat whitefly.
Growing French or Mexican Marigolds in between your brassicas does deter them a bit, reducing their numbers a lot, but it doesn't get rid of them completely.

Cleaning away yellow and rotting leaves helps as well.

[marcofez]

I made aerated vermicompost tea for the first time this year - (it's a form of high tech compost tea - google it for recipes) and couldn't quite believe the effect it had on whitefly and greenfly (although I had read up a fair bit about it).
First time (May), I only sprayed it in the back garden, and thought it was just a bad (good?) year for white fly/ greenfly because I didn't see any at all. Then I noticed the roses in the front covered in greenfly. Next time I watered it on front and back and I haven't seen a whitefly or greenfly since. I bought in some small broad bean plants which became infested with black fly between applications of compost tea, but next spraying took care of them.
I was away all of July, and got lazy in August, and haven't brewed up any 'tea' since June, but there are still no whitefly or greenfly around. Apparently the tea helps the plants to create a substance called chitinase which breaks down insect exoskeleton and makes the plants unnatractive for them. I also have healthy dressings of vermicompost on all my vulnerable plants which may help too.

Looks like I may try to find out a bit more about this.

[marcofez]

I've tried the marigolds in my polytunnel to good effect! Will also use them next year for my brassica's, if I remember!!!

[lizzyf]

Hi Cathd66

So do I need to start a wormery or just put worms in the compost heap and use the compost.

Regards

Lizzy

[WendyC]

Cathd66 hasn't visited the forum for nearly a year so might not see your question on this old thread. What is it you are trying to do and need help with?