Since sowing you have been looking forward to delicious cabbage from your own garden and then this: you discover white flies when harvesting. Although the parasites don't cause massive damage, you'll lose your appetite in an instant. After all, it is never quite certain whether there are not numerous larvae cavorting on the underside of the leaf. So that such a misfortune does not happen to you next year, read on this page how to protect your cabbage.
Cabbage tastes particularly good to whiteflies
symptoms of an infestation
- spots on the leaves
- Whiteflies on the undersides of the leaves
- When you touch the plant, a whole swarm flies up.
- Yellowish-green larvae on the plant
- honeydew on the leaves
- Symptoms appear mainly in late summer.
- Greenhouse plants are particularly at risk.
Attention: If you do not counteract an infestation of the whitefly in time, the honeydew promotes the development of the sooty mold fungus.
protective measures
Adapt to climatic conditions
Above all, the humid climate in the greenhouse offers the whitefly optimal conditions. You can counteract this by airing the room frequently to ensure good air circulation. Sufficient planting distance between the individual plants also prevents rapid spread.
Proper care of the substrate
To prevent adult whiteflies from finding food, you should thoroughly remove any leftover crops from the previous year. A layer of mulch also protects the roots. Regular watering drives away the pests as well.
Targeted cultivation
By varying your planting sequence, the whitefly cannot take up residence. A break in cultivation of four years is recommended. It also makes sense to cover the cabbage with a crop protection net. The mesh size should not exceed 0.8 mm.
Note: When fighting the whitefly, it is important to destroy the larvae in particular. Because only these feed on your cabbage. Adult whiteflies are satisfied with plant remains.