Kale Trees and White flies..

I know and you know, AND THEY know you THINK TOO MUCH.

Can you keep a secret?

Then we are OKAY.

IT WILL ALL PASS.

Those white flies that multiply by millions on your Kale in Spring, after it rains…

You gotta embrace their love for your work.

Nasty things are attracted to beautiful things. Because strength is a magnet for challenge. ALWAYS.

In nature too.

See, in the beginning of spring, my Kale trees (I will show why “trees” below) are all shiny and strong and preparing for that pear salad center stage moment and they attract a lot of attention.

Have you seen those small white butterflies? They lay eggs in your Kale and that larvae becomes the

White Flies.

Now, I will mention several things you can do. BUT FIRSTLY.

YOU CAN NOT WIN. YOUR PLANTS WILL.

1. OIL. Any oil. It is suggested you use Neem Oil. Not necessary. Neem doesn’t kill white flies. Suffocation does. If you drench the tops of your kale plants in Olive oil it’ll do. You can mix it with water, add Soda and other useless stuff “for easier application with the sprayer.
2. BT. It is called BT (Bacillus Thuringiensis), soil dwelling bacterium, naturally occurring in soil. An alternative to chemical pesticides and it works exceptionally well. The package says it all. Dilute in water, spray it on the tops and where you see the flies.
3. Squash them. Every morning. Make it into a hobby.
4. Hose them off. A strong pressured stream of water will get them off your plants. Repeat every watering session.
5. Take the most affected leaves off your plants. It’ll keep growing. Even if you take the tops off. They are the trees. Remember that.

The Toughest one and the Easiest:

Create a garden space, where the beneficial insects thrive. Where you can have lady bugs (consume the larvae), Green Lacewings (larvae consumes white flies larvae and white flies), Mantises (consume white flies). I don’t touch their food and we have zero arguments. Nature will take care of itself and keep it under control.

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To achieve this add a diverse selection of plants to your space. Do Not use pesticides. If planting in pots DO NOT use any composted soils or any wood chip soils they will rot your plants. Be prepared, USC and Home Depot will argue that. Use pure sand or sandy mixtures only. I recommend Gary’s Top Pot or Acid Mix.

If you are lucky and have space where you can dig and put things in the ground. Do that instead.

AND LEAVE KALE ALONE.

Yes,

I know what I am talking about.

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It will pass. And you will have your rejuvenated Kale TREES produce new fresh leaves every other day during Summer.

Now, KALE TREES BECAUSE,

they will grow tall and branch off if you plant it in the ground or place the pot where it touches the native soil, so the roots can keep on spreading. They will produce seeds now and then.

Keep the plants. They will live through the winter and come back even stronger the next season.