Harrod Horticultural have plenty of safe and natural solutions to the problem, detailed in the ‘Little Book of Pests’
June and July in the greenhouse:
Aphid - The growing conditions in a greenhouse provide an ideal environment for plants and rapidly multiplying pest populations. Protect cucumber, pepper and aubergine with APHID PREVENT – a biological control which contains tiny parasitic wasps called Aphidius colemani that attack aphids. APHID PREVENT 3 x 250 bottles GPC-133 £29.95.
Whitefly – Protect tomato, cucumber and ornamental plants with biological control using Encarsia formosa. For the best results choose a programme of introductions, as single introductions are rarely successful. Try ENCARSIA FORMOSA x 3 GPC -515 £35.85
Red spider mite – For low numbers or early detection of spider mite early, try the new indoor sachets of predators. Indoor sachets are available as units of 15 or 25 bags. GPC-144 £9.95 and GPC-146 £14.95.
If you have webbing from the spider mite or see high numbers; opt for the spider mite control using the traditional predator; Phytoseiulus persimilis. GPC-540 2000 predator bottle £19.95 or GPC-535 Predator bottle 500 £13.95 or 2 x 500 predator bottle GPC-534 £25.90
June and July in the garden:
Vegetables, fruit and ornamental plants in the garden are also vulnerable to a variety of insect pest attacks at this time of year.
Caterpillars – Moths and Butterflies will have been busy laying eggs on plants that quickly develop into damaging, hungry caterpillars! Watch out for early signs of caterpillars, especially those of the Cabbage white butterfly.
There are two safe treatments that can be used against these pests on edible plants. Nemasys Caterpillar Killer, which contains nematodes.
The nematode mixture is sprayed directly onto the caterpillars and is repeated 3 x to ensure that the nematodes kill as many caterpillars as possible.
Nemasys Caterpillar Killer 3 packs GPC-261 £22.95. The other option is to use Insect Killer spray, which contains pyrethrum derived from chrysanthemum flowers. This contact insecticide breaks down quickly after use and is used by organic growers. It will also control a variety of other pests including aphids. Protector Insect Killer spray 1 litre R.T.U GPC-027 £5.95
Carrot fly – The first generation of carrot root fly larvae could now be in the soil, especially if carrots have not been covered in fleece or protected by a barrier. Exclusive to Harrod Horticultural, Carrot root fly killer contains a nematode that can be watered into the soil around your carrots. These tiny microscopic worms kill the carrot root fly larvae and provide a safe, non chemical solution for treating this pest and one pack will treat an area up to 12 square metres in size. Carrot Root fly killer GPC-136 £9.95
Source: Harrod Horticultural
