Aphids on my cauliflower

Bar B 5/16/2011, 2:45 pm

I have been spraying my cauliflower plants for aphids with Garden Safe brand, Pyrethrin. (Lowes) This morning I harvested 2 heads. The underside of each head was covered with aphids! Not very appetizing. Mad

Guess they all moved indoors when I started spraying. What do I do for my other caul plants? Afraid they will be infested also. Impossible to get to the underside of the head until it's harvested.

Also, has anyone had any experience with this product? The label says it can be used up to the day of harvest. Found it in the organic section at Lowes.

Barb sunny

BackyardBirdGardner 5/16/2011, 5:25 pm

I can tell you that I won't be using that product anytime soon. I appreciate the report. As for your cauliflower, aphids reportedly fall off under a steady stream of water. I would wash them right down the drain if it were me.

Bar B 5/16/2011, 10:15 pm

BackyardBirdGardner,
Thanks for the info on both the product and the aphids. So am I understanding that the caul heads I harvested today with all the aphids on the underside, I could wash off the aphids and use the heads in my favorite veggie recipe?
Barb

BackyardBirdGardner 5/17/2011, 12:32 am

The way I understand it. But, I'm no expert. I'd wait for further confirmation before doing so.

I just know that I would simply wash them off. My grandfather taught me a lot about spoiled/poisened foods and the paranoia my grandmother instilled in all of us "youngens." He would eat the green part of a potato right in front of her. She would lean over and tell me, "It's supposed to kill him.......I'm waiting for the day I finally celebrate that I was right." LOL. Old couples crack me up with the way they are so used to each other!

He just kept saying that it may make him sick for awhile, but no food should go to waste. (They were Depression Era people...he was poor....she wasn't.)

I learned to meet them in the middle somewhere. I don't waste most things, and I don't get sick. However, I don't eat the green part of a potato. And, if I don't see the bugs anymore, I assume they are gone.

**walshevak** 5/17/2011, 8:37 am

When I was living overseas in certain areas, we soaked ALL vegetables that were not being peeled in a solution of weak bleach and cooled, boiled or distilled water. Night soil was used on the fields. Break the head apart somewhat and put some bleach in water and soak for 5 min. Then cook as normal.

Kay

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