Nasturtiums

We had lots of nasturtiums at home and I can remember mum putting them in salads and fruit dishes even in the late 50's . I often ate the flowers just by picking the odd one off when I went past them-----didn't think about any crawlies.
They look lovely when there's a good show of them.

Definitely not earwigs ( do you know I haven’t seen an earwig for years) rosieleah it’s the cabbage white caterpillar I ve taken dozens off
Too late for this year but yes garlic spray is the way to go for next year I think

I made some garlic pest spray and it works! Smells a bit but the blackfly on the runner beans didn't hang around long! The instructions are easy to find on the internet, it doesn't take long to make and it's organic too!

Nasturtiums attract earwigs...perhaps they are what is eating them? That's why you often see bamboo sticks with up-ended yogurt pots at the top, next to nasturtiums. The earwigs go inside and can then be disposed of.

My 16 week old pup has care of demolishing mine

They are very tasty just like a watercress sort of taste I like them a lot

Even more tasty when they're garlic and chilli infused.

Nasturtiums are very tasty in salads. It's very trendy at the moment,
Eat them before the insects do.

You can have mine anytime vonners

You could send the crawlies to me!
Am trying to grow stuff that attracts all insects to help the environment in my own small way.
Spent some time this morning transferring 3 different types of caterpillar from some now leafless nasturtiums to some with beautiful leaves for them to feast on .

You can always add chilli powder to garlic spray for some extra ooooomph!!!

They re not letting my leaves live, it’s war I m afraid ?

I have bought a good selection for next year half price. But I have to say that this years have been well and truly nibbled. Oh well live and let live!

Its b....y snail eating my nasturtiums. They bury themselves in the soil and hide. Grrr

Merlot I didn't know that - thanks .

Well it’s not the butterflies that eat then it’s the blooming cabbage white caterpillars They re chomping through the leaves faster than the rate of knots I have a whole lot of skeletons ?
I like the garlic spray I have garlic but must get some soap and a spray bottle and get going
You can eat the leaves flowers etc very tasty too bit like watercress to taste

Nasturtiums are members of the brassica family.

Bluebelle moth or butterfly . I didn't realise those bonny white butterflies attacked nasturtiums. Which aren't brassicas as far as I know. They must be hungry.
The biggest caterpillar I've ever seen was on a young potato plant. It was about 8cms long, green with variageted spots.
owlcation.com/stem/caterpillar-identification-2

The beauty of the garlic spray is that you can spray as often as you need. It doesn't harm the plants or the soil, just deters the pests.

Yep!

I use garlic spray as well but caterpillars can survive all manner of organic pest control.

There's nothing more organic than a finger and thumb,

You squidge fat caterpillars between your thumb and forefinger merlotgran oh yuk yuk

My damson tree has leaf curl, but this sounds like an excellent solution –and I bet it keeps the vampires away, too.

Squidge with what ?

Finger and thumb works nicely for me.

They go a bit green though.

Here's the recipe my husband uses on our peach trees which suffer from leaf curl caused by insects. He also sprayed it on the tomato p!ants that had white fly. It is effective, and entirely natural.

Organic gardening is about using natural products to produce food that is chemical free. Using garlic water is a great way to maximize crop production without relying on chemicals.

Standard garlic water recipe:
6-cloves of garlic peeled and sliced fine.

2-quarts of tap water or purified water.

1 TBLS natural soap (castile is a good brand)

1 Spritzer bottle.

1 Mason Jar with lid ( recycled jar works fine too)

In a sauce pot, warm water until it begins to steam. Add sliced garlic and maintain temperature for 20 minutes. Allow water to cool, Remove garlic from water and discard (compost.) Add soap to spritzer bottle. Using a funnel add enough water to fill the spritzer bottle almost full but leave at least 1/2 inch of room. Put the lid on the spritzer bottle and shake slightly when ready to use. Spray plants early in the morning or in the evening time after the hottest part of the day has past. Several applications may be needed. Avoid using the spray on hot days as the liquid and sunlight may burn the plants. Extra liquid can be stored in the jar in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Cabbage white is a butterfly fennel and I do try to encourage wildlife in my garden but this is beyond a joke am I imaging that marigolds keep them away or have I dreamt that one up
Squidge with what ?