Hi was just wondering if anyone could help.
Ive been unable to grow Pak Choi, or other oriental leaves, without them being completely riddled with tiny holes....i cant actually see anything on the leaves but im assuming these are from flea beetles?
If so how d i control them? It would be.lovely to get some in before the end of the season!
There are powders that you can use to get rid of them but I would not be happy to eat anything that has been treated with a pesticide. You could try covering the plants with a very fine mesh or fleece having removed the beetles by hand. Good luck!
The accepted theory is that they dont like wet conditions but after this year we can say that theory is truly debunked ;)
Another poster who's veteran allotment neighbour swears by using garden lime on small brassica seedlings to keep flea beetle off. I've been meaning to try it but haven't got round to it yet.
Usually vegies grow out of flea beetle damage so when you harvest you simply remove the older outside "shot" leaves. Something you would probably do even if they wern't affected.
I have found that even completely covering with fleece doesn't stop all flea beetle damage, they are so very tiny they get in through any tiny space. Also one year the fleece actually trapped them inside so I had the worst damage ever ::)
So if I use fleece now I take it off quite often & give it a good shake ;)
xjane