Allotments 4 All

Hi to all our clever members of A4A. What do you use to deter the cabbage root fly? Any homemade options?

Green scouring pads cut into a circle with a small hole cut in the centre, then a slit from the outside to inside to affix. 

Water in and around the planting hole with a solution of weak diluted Jeyes fluid.  

Apparently if you put a piece of rough felt such as roofing felt around the stem rough side up,  the cabbage white lay the eggs on there from which they die off, or they cant lay them because the surface is too rough.  (not sure which).    I bought 60 brassica collars to try last year; but couldn't find them where they were needed...... ::) ::)  Brassicas still did ok though.

I bought rug underlay from ikea.  Then cut it into squares and cut a slit from edge to middle.
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/10132260
I got about 50 out of this size.

I agree with KT although I use Armillatox in lieu of Jeyes which has a similar smell!

Thanks for your replies. What strength do you mix the Jeyes fluid/Armillatox?

Max of half to one cap per 5l watering can, 

Hi guys

Not having a problem with my Brassica's but they are making a mess of my turnips....

I have used collars for my Brassica's but struggling to prevent them from eating into my turnips..

I'm tempted to use enviromesh which I use to protect my carrots.

Has anyone else had the same problem.

I can deal with flea beetles but slicing into turnips and finding maggots is not very pleasant...

i tried the collars one year but found slugs living under them all the time?

I used carpet underlay for a few years, until I decided I'd had enough of all the bugs that eat cabbages and bought ultrafine enviromesh. That keeps out the root flies, the flea beetles and the cabbage whites.

Pity it doesn't keep out slugs...

moonbells

I splashed out on some enviromesh this year as I got fed up of practically everything wanting a nibble! Seems to be working very well so far as everything is looking nice and healthy (she say's with fingers firmly corssed!)

I grow under cloches now and the cabbages with intercropped lettuces are lovely.