Page 22 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2021

pests
and disease control
As it is the start of the main growing season in April I thought I would cover some of the common pests and diseases of fruit and vegetables and do a quick reference guide for their controls. It does not by any means cover all pests and diseases just the more common ones. If other problems occur take a photograph and send it to the address at the bottom of page 3, I am sure one of our experts will be able to help.
I have given a range of controls including
chemical, organic methods and cultural controls so there are methods for all types of growers. It is worth bearing in mind prevention is better than cure and from this point of view many of the cultural controls should be a starting point. Any barrier that stops a pest getting to the crop is going to prevent an attack and therefore problem.
The table below sets out the pest or disease in the left column and the controls in the centre and right.
Cabbage root fly collar
Pests
Chemical control
Cultural/Organic controls
Aphids
Apple sawfly
Cabbage White Caterpillar
Carrot fly
Lambda-Cyhalothrin, Deltamethrin, Cypermethrin
Lambda-Cyhalothrin or Deltamethrin
As above
None available
Remove by hand, knock off with water sprays, soapy water sprays, encourage predators like ladybirds, hoverflies, lacewings and earwigs. Organic sprays of Fatty Acids, Plant oils, Natural Pyrethrum, SB Plant Invigorator.
Hand pick off infected fruit. Encourage ground beetles. Spray with a natural pyrethrins insecticide.
Enviromesh or fleece barriers covering the crop or grow in a net tunnel. Encourage predators, there are many wasps. BT (Baccilus thuringiensis) or Verticillium lecanii biological controls.
Cover with fleece or enviromesh, sow thinly to save thinning, erect a 1metre high barrier around the carrots. Sow resistant cultivars or use nematodes.
Apple and Pear sucker
Deltamethrin
Fatty acids, encourage natural predators.
Capsid bugs
As above
Natural pyrethrum, fatty acids and plant oils.
Cabbage root fly
None available
Felt or plastic collars around each plant or nematode watering the soil. Fleece or mesh barriers.
Codling moth
Lambda-Cyhalothrin, Deltamethrin, Cypermethrin
Pheromone traps set out in May, encourage blue tits and earwigs, clear windfalls. Natural pyrethrins sprays.
Apple Mildew Beetroot rust Black bean aphid and Ladybird
22 Simply Vegetables