"Martin Brown" wrote in message
...
On 16/03/2011 11:05, Baz wrote:
Over the last year or two I have been pleased to take advice from users
of
this group, but I still need help and advice with two niggling problems
which if solved would be very nice, to say the least.

1 Whitefly on brassicas. THE problem.

Never found anything effective against whitefly apart from encouraging
birds like bluetits and ladybirds/lacewings into the vicinity. My hedge is
afflicted some years. My brassicas suffer more from caterpillars appearing
overnight and eating every leaf leaving just the ribs.

2 Soil. (light)Mine does not retain moisture despite adding lots of
organic
material and have to water every day in summer with a hosepipe when
permitted. This is mainly potatoes which need the water I have found.

All advice is most welcome,

You might find it useful to put a mulch of bark chips on top of the soil
so that the water applied is not subject to direct sunlight and airflow.
That way the soil stays moist for much longer.

Regards,
Martin Brown


but don't put the bark too close to the plants because of the wonderful
environment for Woodlice etc :-((

Mike


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Don't take life too seriously, you'll never get out alive
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