Grow Your Own Magazine

Hello. I'm a newbie gardener so I don't know how to identify pests, much less how to deal with them.

On my cabbages theres tiny white things (eggs maybe?). I removed some yesterday, but today there were more!

On my tomatillos, some leaves started to develop little bumps, like a rash, that in time turned white and some with tiny holes. In one that was very badly affected I saw a tiny tiny white thing moving around (eek!) so i put the whole plant in several bags of plastic and on to the bin! Same with the worst leaves of other affected plants.

Now I'm paranoid about every single plant I have. Especially as many are indoors (this weather!). I don't like the idea of bugs prancing all over my flat (and bedroom!).

I sprinkled everything with soapy water (not sure if that'd help). And in the garden I have marigolds an nasturtiums because I read they were good to keep nasties away, suppose they're not working?

I've read about organic insecticides like Pest Off and Virax Organic 2 in 1, would those help?

Thanks a lot!!!

White things on cabbages - butterfly eggs at a guess. Squish or remove - no harm to the plant but if you leave them you get caterpillers and no cabbage!

Little bumps with white things in - some variety of leaf miner grub? Squish or remove leaf if badly infected - not generally a big problem.

I tend for the organic approach and don't spray - too many pets and kids! So no advice for you there.

Welcome to the 'vine by the way!

Terry

If you're against using chemicals, then hand removal at an early stage is the best approach. As TPeers says butterfly eggs scrape off easily at the early stage, far easier than trying to catch the caterpillars. Similarly with leaf miners, remove the affected leaf and it won't destroy the whole plant. Regular inspection and early action are essential.

Thanks so much to you both. Do I have to destroy the eggs? While scraping them yesterday, some fell in the soil, they're so tiny I lost them. What should I do? Will they hatch there or do they need to be on the leaf?

My concern is that somedays I'm so busy and come home so late I don't have the chace to check on my crops outside. I don't want anything hatching or growing while I'm not watching, that's why I thought an insecticide made of 'plant oils' could do the job if it ain't harmful. :-S

Off to remove eggs then! ;-)

Thanks!!

If you can't check every day then cover the crop.

Any small mesh net that the butterflies can't get through is fine. Make sure you support it above the crop as if it is touching the butterflies will lay through it!

You will still need to uncover and check every so often to catch anything missed earlier, but it will reduce the problem.

Wondered what that was on my tomatillos. Only affected one plant though, and didn't seem to affect fruiting, so left them to it and plant seemed to recover fairly well. I didn't see any insects or eggs, just bumpy leaves.

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Thanks again for your advice.

I removed loads of eggs again this morning, gosh they're quick, aren't they? Or maybe im the only gyo gardener in the area -they've a taste for brassicas, don't they?-

Muckdiva, so you've managed to get tomatillos? Well done! Mine are doing badly. Especially the ones outdoors. I've kept several in the windowsills to save them from the weather, and today I found the first flower. But now I'm fearing about how to pollinate it :-S