Whitefly on cabbages

[SarzWix]

Went down to the lottie today, and lifted the enviromesh off the brassica bed to do some weeding, only to be greeted by a cloud of whitefly coming up from the savoys. Is this something I need to worry about? Or will the imminent frosts finish them off before damage is done? I can't really leave the cover off yet - still seeing cabbage whites floating around this afternoon - so they have a bit of a protected environment at the mo. I'd rather not spray them unless necessary to keep veg healthy!

[Snadger]

Try hoovering them up!

[pigletwillie]

A bit of frost is required to thin them out a bit. I have just taken out a large overgrown blackberry bush and it was heaving with whitefly. Obviously the choice soft sappy growth they enjoy is thin on the ground now and any bit of green will do.

[moggssue]

I came home yesterday to find half of my baby caulis with very lacy leaves, I thought the b****rs had finished laying and eating by now - another lesson learnt! The remaining half are now protected with makeshift waterbottle cloches - just hope this doesnt make them too weedy to survive the winter.

[wellie]

"Is it Me?" as Wogan would say, or are there zillions more Whitefly this year than any other year that I can remember growing stuff? My Brassicas are absolutely Klarted with the damn things..... Anyone else?

[The Reverend]

Well i have got them all over my Courgette plants in the last few weeks, and that is a first for me, has anyone else got this problem.

[shirlthegirl43]

My Christmas spuds are covered too. Also the houseplants seem a bit bothered which is very unusual.

[HeyWayne]

Was taking out the old dead and dying leaves from the sprouts at the weekend and couldn't believe the amount of whitefly. Having never grown anything before I've never encountered whitefly on this scale. I said some harsh things to them - I don't think they'll be back....

[Two_Sheds]

I haven't got that many this year on my brassicas (yet). I have interplanted them with Mexican Marigold which is meant to repel whitefly (tagetes minuta). Huge plant, 5 foot tall but no flowers on it (yet)

[veg4681]

Went down to the lottie today, and lifted the enviromesh off the brassica bed to do some weeding, only to be greeted by a cloud of whitefly coming up from the savoys.

Is the environmesh not fine enough to keep off the whitefly? I haven't got a huge Brassica crop so have not yet invested in any crop protection accessories. I've omitted netting but not so sure of environmesh either, so does this mean horticultural fleece is still the best option.

My cabbages aren't protected but I did spot a few whitefly, not too worried at the moment.

Moggssue,
If the caterpillars got 'em, I eat the lacy leaves anyway (give them a good cleaning of course) unless somebody can tell me they're poisonous. Done me no harm...so far.

[SarzWix]

Is the environmesh not fine enough to keep off the whitefly?

I thought that it was... I'm guessing I must have left a gap somewhere that they got in. It's kept the cabbage whites off though, which was it's main purpose!

[Dobby]

Woner if rubarb water would work it works for cabbage white all you do is soke a few rubarb leafs in water put a lid on it smells really nice
leave if for 2 weeks and just water on
I need to try this will let you know i got some on the plot

[moggssue]

Wish I'd known about rhubarb leaves sooner Dobby, my late caulis have been decimated. I shall try your tip next year though.