GeorgeK
Member
- Location
- Leicestershire
OSR in my bird cover been in 3 weeks and taking a hammering. Also dispels the myth planting it with a companion crop confuses the beetles, they seem to find it just fine
Ecover washing up liquid is possibly the most widely used 'insecticide' by home gardeners! It is pretty good as materials with a physical mode of action go - i.e. 50% kill at the very best. in fact I know of some commercial greenhouse growers who naughtily use it on their cucs and peppers. However there is a commercial approved soap product called 'FLiPPER' made from waste olive oil, registered under an EAMU for some vegetable brassicas, but not alas, OSR: https://www.fargro.co.uk/sites/admin/plugins/elfinder/files/fargro/Fargro Flipper Brochure.pdf
I’ve tried Buckwheat, Barley and Mustard in Clearfield as companionsOSR in my bird cover been in 3 weeks and taking a hammering. Also dispels the myth planting it with a companion crop confuses the beetles, they seem to find it just fineView attachment 967945
For some reason healthier plants are less susceptible or attractive to beetles, perhaps they have tougher skin but for whatever reason beetles flock to the weak plants. Where our plants sat waterlogged over winter they were full of larvae, the best soil with the strongest plants had hardly any.Out judging OSR crops yesterday, the winning crops would be exceptional in any year imo but after last year’s disasters it’s amazing how they have survived the dreaded beetle.
Just what has made the difference as there are plenty of beetle stories on this thread?
Beetles prefer young tender plants and move away if plants get too big. That's thought to be the reason the 'volunteer trap' approach doesn't often work.For some reason healthier plants are less susceptible or attractive to beetles, perhaps they have tougher skin but for whatever reason beetles flock to the weak plants. Where our plants sat waterlogged over winter they were full of larvae, the best soil with the strongest plants had hardly any.
I put some winter OSR in bird cover drilled April/May that got hit by beetles and didn't flower that year. They over wintered and next year started flowering at over 12 months old and had zero larvae in them. I can only assume the plants were too old and tough for the beetles.
I see you are having some trees planted for you at cirencester, are they going to provide a deck chair for you to watch all your successors carrying on the good work. Enjoy your retirement , hopefully one of your replacements can carry on with your sense of humour,Beetles prefer young tender plants and move away if plants get too big. That's thought to be the reason the 'volunteer trap' approach doesn't often work.
I’ve tried Buckwheat, Barley and Mustard in Clearfield as companions
Zero success with any of them !!
Long stubble and DD is the best approach I’ve had
Why wouldn't the soap hurt beneficials?If you search flea beetle on the internet it generally comes up with gardeners issues. Explains organic liquid soap or talcum powder. I’ve seen a product called Castile soap. Organic liquid soap made from olive oil. Not sure if it’s worth a try if the beetle battle begins. Insecticides don’t seem to work and clearly the case is they remove the beneficial insects.
When mixing in a conventional crop sprayer how do you stop it foaming up????? Is it the age old method adopted for glyphosate and out a cup full of diesel in the tank first??????
Why wouldn't the soap hurt beneficials?
They're a gift from Somerset members, cider apple trees. Hmm, let me think, cider or deckchair? Cider or deckchair?.........I see you are having some trees planted for you at cirencester, are they going to provide a deck chair for you to watch all your successors carrying on the good work. Enjoy your retirement , hopefully one of your replacements can carry on with your sense of humour,
After the cider you wont need the deckchairs you will be on the floor .They're a gift from Somerset members, cider apple trees. Hmm, let me think, cider or deckchair? Cider or deckchair?.........
Turn off the agitation while filling the sprayer, then turn it on at no more than 50%, turn it off again when you get to 500 litres left in the tank.When mixing in a conventional crop sprayer how do you stop it foaming up????? Is it the age old method adopted for glyphosate and out a cup full of diesel in the tank first??????
Slugs seem to be less of an issue, I normally spread Ferric mini pellets as we roll, very rare to follow up nowWhat's your slug control strategy at planting? I get a lot of small slugs on them straight away and looking to improve
Sown one field of ours 28th july and never sprayed an insecticide on it, a bit of feeding in autumn but no apparent damage in spring. Worse was the crops sown end of august for larve. Sown a field in early sept and not effected. It never got too forward, didnt put any autumn N on.I think larvae are more the enemy now. If conditions are favourable at establishment you could get away with broadcasting on and get a good population. I think you want to aim for a good rain after drilling as a must and then hope for the best. Home saved seed. July drilling, you will likely be caught out by larvae.