The allotmenteer's friends and foes
Here is s quick checklist of some of the more debatable candidates. Are they on your side or not? Still being added to
CATERPILLARS: Some well-known caterpillars are an obvious menace. Cabbage white butterflies, and silver-Y moths, are definitely foes. So is the 'cutworm' - a fat brownish caterpillar which lives in the soil and comes out at night to eat both leaves and roots. If you see a plant suddenly collapse, suspect this one! Dig around in the soil and if you can find it, destroy it. There is a similar bright green caterpillar, also nocturnal, which usually attacks leaves - also one to get rid of. Other caterpillars may be totally harmless though; do an internet ID before spraying!!!
CENTIPEDES: There are two kinds! Some eat plants and some don't. As a general rule, the slow-moving, dull greyish ones which curl up when you disturb them are eating your plants and are your enemy. The fast-moving gingery ones which run away when you're digging are predators and are your friends.
PIGEONS AND DOVES. Wood pigeons are a menace, especially to young peas, young cabbages, and brassicas during the winter. They will also eat green currants as soon as they start to develop. You will need to net some crops against them. Collared doves seem to take a little nibble here and there, and are less of a problem.
SPARROWS You might not think of sparrows as a garden pest, but they have become one recently. They will eat lettuce, peas, and especially beetroot - a whole row of seedlings can vanish overnight. Net your plants carefully, they will creep through gaps to get what they like!.
WASPS: A helping hand early in the season, when they eat grubs, caterpillars and aphids. A nuisance in late summer when they slow down, become grumpy and also eat any fruit which is lying around, On balance, they do more good than harm.
WOODLICE: most of the time woodlice just eat decaying wood and old leaves. However, they are also partial to young seedlings and can be a menace in the greenhouse or polytunnel! Control them with antkiller dust or, if you have chickens, they love them!
CATERPILLARS: Some well-known caterpillars are an obvious menace. Cabbage white butterflies, and silver-Y moths, are definitely foes. So is the 'cutworm' - a fat brownish caterpillar which lives in the soil and comes out at night to eat both leaves and roots. If you see a plant suddenly collapse, suspect this one! Dig around in the soil and if you can find it, destroy it. There is a similar bright green caterpillar, also nocturnal, which usually attacks leaves - also one to get rid of. Other caterpillars may be totally harmless though; do an internet ID before spraying!!!
CENTIPEDES: There are two kinds! Some eat plants and some don't. As a general rule, the slow-moving, dull greyish ones which curl up when you disturb them are eating your plants and are your enemy. The fast-moving gingery ones which run away when you're digging are predators and are your friends.
PIGEONS AND DOVES. Wood pigeons are a menace, especially to young peas, young cabbages, and brassicas during the winter. They will also eat green currants as soon as they start to develop. You will need to net some crops against them. Collared doves seem to take a little nibble here and there, and are less of a problem.
SPARROWS You might not think of sparrows as a garden pest, but they have become one recently. They will eat lettuce, peas, and especially beetroot - a whole row of seedlings can vanish overnight. Net your plants carefully, they will creep through gaps to get what they like!.
WASPS: A helping hand early in the season, when they eat grubs, caterpillars and aphids. A nuisance in late summer when they slow down, become grumpy and also eat any fruit which is lying around, On balance, they do more good than harm.
WOODLICE: most of the time woodlice just eat decaying wood and old leaves. However, they are also partial to young seedlings and can be a menace in the greenhouse or polytunnel! Control them with antkiller dust or, if you have chickens, they love them!
