FOOD GARDENING
Sowing Guide Highveld and KwaZulu-Natal Midlands Artichokes (globe), bush beans, beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, parsnips, spinach and Swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips Middleveld (around Tshwane and other less frosty areas) Artichokes (globe), bush and runner beans, beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, spinach and Swiss chard, squashes (bush and trailing), tomatoes, turnips Eastern Cape and Little Karoo Artichokes (globe), bush beans, beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, kohlrabi, lettuce, radishes, Swiss chard, tomatoes
How to control whiteflies on veggies Whiteflies are a pest that every food gardener dreads. They infest the leaves of tomatoes, brinjals, cucumbers and squashes, stunting the plants and deforming new leaves. They also spread viral diseases. Two organic sprays that can be used to eradicate them are Ludwig’s Insect Spray and EcoBuz Pest Pro. Both are contact sprays, which means that the spray must make contact with the whiteflies.
Western Cape (and southern coast) Artichokes (globe), bush and runner beans, beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, kohlrabi, lettuce, bush and trailing squashes, Swiss chard, tomatoes Northern Cape and Great Karoo Artichoke (globe), bush beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, parsnips, spinach, Swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips Lowveld and KwaZulu-Natal coast Artichokes (globe), brinjals, capsicums (sweet peppers and chillies), tomatoes
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Ludwig’s Insect Spray contains natural pyrethrum, which kills on contact, as well as canola oil, which has a smothering action. • Use a good pressurised spray pump or bottle and spray all the leaves, including the lower leaves of tomatoes, cucumbers and brinjals. Drench the underside of the leaves by spraying upwards. Also spray the top of the leaves for any whiteflies that settle there. • At the start of the spraying programme, spray 3 times within 10 days, which means spraying on day 1,
day 5 and day 10. Then spray once a week for at least 21 days, because that is the life cycle of adult whiteflies. EcoBuz Pest Pro is a biological contact insecticide that contains beneficial fungi (Beauvaria bassiana) that occur naturally in soils. The fungi penetrates the pest cuticle, growing and feeding until the pest dies. It also has the ability to reduce any of the stages of the life cycle. • Spray when whiteflies are first noticed and make sure to cover the plant, drenching the underside of the leaves where the pests rest. • Dilute 2g of Pest Pro in 1 litre of water, mix well and spray every seven days for at least 21 days. Good to know: Aphids will also be controlled with these sprays.
