A "pest" making my greens holey!!! - need some adv

[Trinity]

It's been a while since I have had a full-on vegetable garden! I am overjoyed at all the veggies I have coming to life!

BUT! this little bug has gotten a hold of my rocket and red cabbage! It has tiny holes all over it!!! I see the odd little tiny black insect that springs up every time I get near it.

Please help me fill in the gaps??? What is it??? How can I deal with it (in the nicest possible way )? And is it going to work through my entire crop of greens (I have spinach, chard, cabbages, cauliflower, brussels, lettuce etc....).

Heartfelt thanks!
Trin

[Wombat]

Dunno mate! Seems fairly early in your season.........

My problem is caterpillars, I don't recognise the little black bug, I suppose you couldn't get a photo?

Nev

[Millymollymandy]

Commiserations Trinity, you have the dreaded Flea Beetle.

It will attack all your brassicas.

I have it and can't grow anything from that family.

However the vaguely good news is that from late summer they disappear so I can grow radishes in August/Sept and plant out my curly kale then.

I've forgotten how lovely rocket tastes.

[Trinity]

Ahhhha!!! It is the flea beetle indeed.
Thank-you!

I have been looking on the internet, and it seems that a sacrificial row of mustard may actually help, because it is their favourite (so they just go for that!). It does appear that they have had a really aggressive go at my mustard and rocket.... everything else seems untouched so far (I do hope this is due to the mustard and rocket - perhaps they'll save the day????!!!).

[Millymollymandy]

It's worth a go! Your lettuce, spinach and chard will be OK as they are not brassicas. Can you grow rocket in a pot somewhere else for eating?

[Trinity]

It's worth a go! Your lettuce, spinach and chard will be OK as they are not brassicas. Can you grow rocket in a pot somewhere else for eating?

Will see how it goes...
I think'll I'll plant a load more spinach and chard to make up for it all. We're so big on greens in this house!

Thank-you
xxx

[Cheezy]

They also don't like it wet, and it's been a particually dry spell so that could be your problem. Keep things well watered.

They over winter in leaves so leaf clearence can help.See here:


http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles04 ... beetle.asp

[Trinity]

Thank-you for that
I notice from the link (and other links from google) that one of the main tips is also to make sure that the plants get past the baby stage unscathed... Then atleast the leaves will still be useable (but I guess they won't win any prizes at the beauty contest!).

[Millymollymandy]

My edible bit of my radishes were munched too, not just the greens. We couldn't eat them as there wasn't much left!

[TheLancsLass]

Hope you get the little watsits soon Trinity!

[Trinity]

Thanks Sal!

[Trinity]

The fleabeetle damage appears to have been seriously reduced by the rain. What seemed to be a major devastation when the crops were small seems irrelevant now!
So, big thumbs up for the rain
Now I am left with the fact that the slugs have eaten the entire crop of lettuce! If it's not one thing !!! Just can't seem to catch them!

[Millymollymandy]

Oh bum, with this wet weather I could have sown some radishes then!

I'm getting tiny slugs on my strawberries, I've never had this problem before.

Is there ever a happy medium?

[Trinity]

Hmmmm. Yes, April was looking like a drought here, and it hasn't stopped raining since! It would be fine if the slugs and beetles took their fair share instead of ravishing the whole lot whenever they fancy! Hey, I am even happy to grow extra to accomodate the univited diners (but you give 'em an inch and they take a mile !!!)