I am getting my peas eaten this year, the leaves are being eaten in little U shaped bites all around the edges. Small plants are being killed by it, the bigger ones seem to survive but not many getting that big! I think it is Bean/Pea weevil, does anyone know a non chemical way of dealing with them? Derris apparently does the trick but I don't want to use it if it can be avoided. Any help gratefully received! Thanks :(
Same thing happens to my peas and broad beans too.
I just have to hope the plants can out grow it. Got a good crop of peas last year - Hurst Greenshaft, so the plants can survive it but it does look worrying on seedlings.
But some people on my site are unaffected which seems a bit odd.
Give em a good watering and hope for the best. Or a dusting of derris like you say, if you have got any.
I've got the same problem. I read on Allotments website that if you boil rhubarb leaves & use the juice it gets rid of them. Failing that use a plastic bag ove the crop and tap off the offending insects.
Best not to use Derris as it has been banned in the UK since 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derris.
You could try fleecing young plants until they are large enough to manage :-\
PY Insect Killer RTU maybe some help http://www.vitax.co.uk/index.php/area/home-garden/organic-pest-and-disease-control/py-insect-killer-rtu/
Thanks for all the ideas guys. I had not thought of the rhubarb leaf extract 'foliar feed' for this (apparently it is officially not allowed as an insecticide!), I have used it in the past to 'encourage plant growth' when attacked by aphids and it worked there so I will try that. I like to keep as close to the organic as I can. Thanks again. ;D
My broadies have been getitng hell this year. I planted seven varieties; the tougher ones are growing slowly, but are fine. The more tender have really suffered and there are a lot of gaps.