Control whitefly with this three-pronged attack | Pest and disease control | Gardening Australia

Josh shows us how to deal with whitefly, a common pest in the vegie patch.

Whitefly are small, sap-sucking insects that hide on the underside of leaves. When disturbed, you’ll see them flying around. As they rob sugars from the plants, they can cause leaf damage and stunt shoots. They are also disease vectors, spreading viruses from plant to plant.

What to do

Reduce the population: Use a vacuum to disturb the whitefly and suck up the adults. Best to do in the early morning while they are feeling sluggish.

Change the conditions: Whitefly like a sheltered and humid home. Thinning out leaves from around the plant increases air flow and removes juveniles and eggs, which should lead to less whitefly. These leaves should go to the chooks or bin rather than the compost where they might mature and head back to your plants.

Apply an organic spray: Josh uses a mix of 100 millilitres pyrethrum to 5 litres of water and applies thoroughly to both sides of the leaves. Having thinned out the plants earlier, there’s also better access for the spray.

Remember this three-pronged attack and you’ll get the job done in no time!




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[brianoliver]

I also use large yellow sticky boards I buy from pest control outlet they work amazing just shake plant and hold boards they can’t resist the bright yellow 🙏😎

[ryanjohn]

“Honey our neighbour is vacuuming his garden again”

[paintwithmyrthle]

Ya huhu eating all my plants my broc and cauliflower didnt produce because of these flies, thank for these tips always helpful and love your show

[j.reneewhite]

I have an intense problem with pest pressure of the entire brassica family (they even attack my horseradish) so I have strategized to grow all brassicas in one 4 x 8 bed (Not the horseradish) and cover with bug netting for the entire growing season. I'll check them regularly and apply your strategies when necessary but over all I hope it'll take care of the issues naturally. I don't spray anything on my foods. I love the vacuum cleaner approach. I'd love to know what my neighbors would be saying if I do that one! ;)

[astyag]

Thank you for this video. Very good information

[De-twby]

Place yellow and blue sticky sheet and also use solar insect trap.

[juliasoulliven]

More companian planting also helps. Marigolds and herbs are a great deterer.

[ladyhawkna]

Will this harm hummingbirds and monarch butterflies

[freedomisdead]

I am curious to know if he really get read of the invasion, my guess base on my experience is "No"

[jJustPlayingNZ]

I have a strange whitefly problem which goes against everything I have read. Each year they are on the same plant (A Blackcurrant bush) and ONLY that plant. I had a tomato plant and a huge grape vine right next to it and even over it and they didn't migrate to those plants not even after I sprayed them away with dish soap solution. I have read that they do not overwinter on a plant but this (in my case) seems hard to believe as NO OTHER plant in my whole garden is affected. Any Comments?

[ReadRomans]

Lookup using worm castings for this issue.

[orionlottering]

Hi. I keep coming back to your vids through youtube and I keep liking every one of them. Good job. I also believe in vacuming pests. I do also the fruitflies in my kitchen. Wish you could come and help in my garden. You seem so organised

[martinbrown]

interesting about the the sugar content of the leaf, my understanding insects don't like lots of sugar, they don't do well at digesting it in larger quantities, higher leaf sugars or a higher plant brix level can also help protect plants against infestation ?

[buzzvideoz]

I just use imidacloprid and cypermethrin.. i also use nembicidine to make my organic fanboys not angry.

[freedomisdead]

That s a pretty bad white flies invasion you got here, my tomato field would have died with a quarter of what you have in your garden.

[fransiedutoit]

Do you think this will work with aphids as well? I really struggle with them, tried so many things...

[christinesandilands]

what about all the white fly in the vaccum cleaner, disgusting to

[aura]

I didn't catch the name of the organic insecticide... Someone please help?

[ngmui]

pyrethrum is toxic to humans and animals

[aaronskuse]

Bad idea insecticide. Nature will do it's work. Another species will come along and see the white fly as a smorgasbord!