Whats eating my Cauliflower

[Shelley Lou]

After my first posting yesterday and all the helpful advice I got for ant control, I got home after work last night and first thing I did was inspect my veg and some little blighter has eaten the leaves on one of my cauliflowers. I have also notices a few tiny holes in the leaves of another cauliflower and some black dots on the leaves as well. Any clues as to who might be having a free feed at my expense and what pests I should be looking out for. Have gathered that Cauliflowers are hard to grow so am probably aiming a bit too high in my small garden. Please help!!!!!

[berksmike]

Sounds like flea beetles... I've got them in my brassica bed too... They love rape fields and migrate from them... I know derris works on them and they like dry weather.
Theres a thread on them I started myself

Mike

[PAULW]

SHELL
In gardening there is no such thing as aiming to high, after all they are only plants and plants have been growing for millions of years without mans help.
I have never had a problem growing cauli's sown straight in the ground or grown in pots and transplanted, I dont know what I do right but then again I think if you try to analyse to much you can start to baffle yourself with science.
My tip for growing cauli's, make sure you firm the plant in well, feed , water lots and lots of water never let them dry out, then get the cheese sauce ready.

[Alice]

I hope they'll be easy for me too PaulW. I'm growing a mini variety - Idol. So far so good. Looking good in their posts. As soon as they're a little bigger I'll get them planted out in a raised bed. I'll remember what you said about lots and lots of water.

[Alice]

Thanks L J. Hopefully this will be my first time succesful with cauliflower and looking for every tip I can get.

[PAULW]

ALICE
Make sure the ground is really firm, I know that people with a bed system dont like to tread on them but brassica's need it as hard as possible so roll it, tramp it, stamp it and good luck.

[Dobby]

thanks LJ I have been haveing trubble with cauliflower as well they start of ok then get leggy and go brown thought we might have waterd them too much cos we was both watering them.
going to plant somemore tomora

[Shelley Lou]

Didn't get chance to log on last night so have only just picked up all the tips. I've been worried I've been watering too much, before I go to work then when the sun goes down. I've now put a plastic pop bottle over the damaged cauliflower and hopefully it will start to get better. Not a problem as yet on any of the others apart from one leave with tiny holes in it. The damaged cauli looks like caterpillar damage as they have eaten all the way to the stalks. What does flea beetle look like and where do I buy this derris the grapes mention a lot?

[big digger]

You can buy Derris from any nursery / garden centre or organic catalogue/or online in Uk unlike in France where you cant get it anywhere - it works a treat but isnt cheap - any suggestions for alternatives. I have tried companion planting with marigolds to some effect. This is the second batch of flea beetles this summer and they are playing havoc with my good growing cabbages, and caulis. if anyone knows a supplier in France please pass on any info you have.