Discussions

This is my first time growing cauliflower. I started the seeds inside and put the seedlings (about 4-5 inches tall) out in the garden last weekend.  
I was told that I’d need to put netting over the plants to protect them from beetles.  
I’m looking for suggestions on what type of mesh netting and where to buy it. Any other suggestions would be welcome too.  
Thanks

Flea beetles can potentially damage any brassica in a short period of time at any time but particularly young plants and in cauliflowers into the developing head. You would have to use a very fine mesh netting to stop them but if they were coming out of the ground mesh wouldn’t work. Options are limited for garden flea beetle control now, sevin used to be good and careful application of malathion if you can get it but I’ve had good luck with PTV powder or garden doctor powder which you dust the plants with. I think the powders are safer but need more applications. I get this from our co-op hardware store. There are time periods after application to wait before harvest. When the cauliflower head develops you have to be particularly vigilant. In my garden that coincides with the time that field crops of canola are swathed or combined. I find that this is when flea beetle lose their feed source and invade my garden. When I harvest brassicas I soak the heads in the sink full of water with table salt added. That helps to get any little nasty beetles or caterpillars out before processing but earlier prevention is most important or they will decimate your crop. Using crop rotation in your garden each year will help some and later planting allows the plants to develop more quickly and get ahead of the insect threat. A struggling plant under stress is like a feast for hungry flea beetles. This is why I sow canola later than my neighbours as it will develop faster. I prefer to use insecticides carefully and only when absolutely needed because they will also kill friendly insects. If you can encourage ladybugs into your garden they will prey on flea beetle maybe the eggs rather than the beetles.Good luck. You will likely be busy but the reward is worth the work.  
 
Edited by Farmergeorge, 2023-05-31 22:08:26

I live rurally, surrounded by crops. I gave up on growing things like cauliflower, kale, broccoli, radishes, and turnips because the flea beatles eat them all. I don't use any chemicals in my garden, and couldn't find a way to keep the bugs away.

I know people who used a nylon stocking to keep bugs off the cauliflower and cabbage heads. I don't remember those people using anything over the plant itself prior to the heads forming.