Almost every leek on our site was smitten last year. Seems the next onslaught will be August to October, does anyone have a method of control. Does covering with fleece work?
I have put mine in an enviromesh cage and always weed through a little opening. Yes I think it will help, they didn`t get in last year but they were all smitten by rust. This year I have given them more space. Fingers crossed though and if this fails this year then that will be it for me and leeks. In the old days I just popped them in a hole and watered them in. No cover, nothing and they were perfect. Times have changed
I grew them for the first time three years ago and did very well, the following year was poor but last year was a write off.
How big are the moths, what size mesh do you need. I am currently using Ikea nets, is that small enough. Should I use fleece instead.
I do hope I've got mine covered in the right size of netting. I'm growing them in my back garden for the first time this year. I usually grow them at my allotment where they always got a bit of rust but not moth problems. I have no idea if my back garden will have moth issues but as I am growing lots of different veg close together in a very small space in raised beds I am wondering if it will result in pests being able to do a lot more damage a lot more quickly ???
moths are 5-6mm long so very fine mesh or fleece needed. I too am hoping I got a fine enough mesh
Oh dear I've just checked & my net covers would probably let the moths through....May be I can attach fleece to the sides of the net covers for added protection....I'm off to google the leek moth to see what it looks like etc. xjane
We have always used enviromesh. Used ikea net last year and they were ok. Problem was the ikea net rotted after one season. Suppose its cheap enough to replace every year though
My ikea nets are doing ok year 2. I washed them and put them into garage for the winter. They have done the raspberries/redcurrants already this year, better than the bigger gauge nets because it was pushed up by next years growth rather than growing through it.
I have put hawthorn twigs to hold it away from the leeks so they cannot put eggs through. I am hoping the smell of the hawthorn will confuse them as well.
There are a lot of very sick looking onions on site so I am worried the moths will hatch out of those and attack my leeks.
Last year my leeks had rust and a tiny black ?slug in them, so I haven't grown them this year.