Bugs

I was checking a stunted strawberry plant this morning, I have 50 ever bearers in tiered self-watering troughs. They were plugs last year

I found 7 plants infected by spittle bugs. Spittle cleared and sprayed with bug-clear for edibles. All plants now marked. I did a bit of housekeeping and cleared any weak leaves, weak flower stemsa nd any remaining dead leaves etc

I have re-filled the grazers spray, will start that tonight, once a week if I remember

My gooseberries are looking so good but remembering how quickly sawfly strikes, I will be getting bug clear ready to give them a good spraying this evening. They will be ready to pick within the month and I need to wait 10 days

Other than that, nothing much. Not many aphids as plant leaves are so strong due to damp ground and healthy plants. I have seen a couple of hover flies and ladybirds, preditors are moving in

I deliberately don`t grow brassicas any more, I need to be selective and cannot keep them protected enough. I could grow tight cabbages like red cabbage but value for space it is not worth it

I would definitely look out for this if you are growing strawberries. First time for me and I have been growing them for a long time. There were 2 more affected plants this morning, one a young one with a bit of spittle and another with a lot of spittle. The bugs are easy to see under the spit, which is sticky. I got rid of those with a water spray and picked them off

No wonder strawberries are the most sprayed commercial crop

I don’t grow strawberries karmalady we live in an area with PYO for a reasonable price and I don’t have the space. The rest of the garden is pretty bug free so far this year, but it’s early days.

It’s not the bugs that the problem. It’s the rabbits, they are everywhere. When first moved in eight years ago only the odd hare. They don’t seem to even blink when dogs about

Slugs. Scum of the Earth!

Aphids have attacked elderberry tree so far I haven’t noticed anything else yet. I don’t grow strawberries as they have been hit and miss my pride and joy are black currants they do so well. I don’t spray anything I follow my dads approach it’s sharing with nature.

keepcalmandcavachon

Slugs. Scum of the Earth!

Nematodes are the answer. You must spray it in early March, though. I’ve used it for years, it works 😄

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