Allotments 4 All

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.