Key pests of Asian vegetables:
| Crop | Insect pests |
|---|---|
| Bok choy/Buk choy and Pak choy | Diamondback moth; Aphids; Caterpillars; Onion thrips; Rutherglen bug; Brassica flea beetle; Silverleaf whitefly. |
| Chi qua – Hairy melon | Onion thrips; Cocksfoot thrips. |
What is eating holes in bok choy?
Holes in bok choi indicated a chewing pest. Close examination of the bok choi plants revealed small beetle larvae hiding down at the base of the leaves in the crown of the plant. These are the larvae of the vegetable weevil, a beetle that feeds on numerous vegetable crops as well as weeds.
How do you protect bok choy?
Plant bok choy in a spot that gets 6 hours of sun but also gets partial shade in the afternoon. Protect the bok choy with a tarp to create shade as the spring warms into summer. If you’re transplanting bok choy, do so when the seedlings are still young and as soon as the soil temperature rises above 50 degrees F.
Is it OK to eat bok choy with holes?
Sometimes you’ll find bok choy leaves with tiny holes, which is just minimal bug damage, and the bok choy is still perfectly good to eat.
Is it OK to eat greens with bug holes?
Fortunately, there’s good news! Greens with holes in them that were created by feeding insects or slugs should be fine to eat, if you cut away the damaged parts. However, there are times when you do want to avoid produce that has been damaged by the local wildlife.
Does bok choy grow back after cutting?
You can cut about one-third to one half of the plant at a time, harvesting the outermost leaves. New leaves will begin growing right away! Bok choy’s readiness to regrow and provide more leaves to eat is one of my favorite things about it.
How do I get rid of aphids on bok choy?
As a reminder, there are 16 Proven & Effective Ways to Get Rid of Aphids on Bok Choy. They are:
- Manually Remove Aphids.
- Spray Leaves or the Bok Choy that have Aphids.
- Use Insecticidal Soap.
- Use Commercial Pesticide.
- Apply an Organic Pesticide.
- Use Essential Oils.
- Dust Your Bok Choy & its leaves.
- Cut Back Your Bok Choy.
How do you get rid of aphids on bok choy?
Spray Soapy Water
Add a couple of drops of dish soap to a spray bottle, top up with water and shake to dissolve. Spray the solution liberally over the plant, remembering to reach all parts of the plant, including the undersides of leaves. The soapy water traps and suffocates the aphids.
How do you get rid of doodle bugs?
You’ll trick them into thinking it’s night and when you whip off the cover and find them congregating, pour boiling water over the creatures and they’ll literally curl up and die. If you find that method too cruel, try scattering crushed eggshells over the infested areas to see if that solves your problem.
How do you get rid of Rolly Pollies?
Place cornmeal in a small sealable plastic container and cut a small hole into the bottom edge. Place the cornmeal trap next to young plants, and the pill bugs will be attracted to the cornmeal and eat it. The bugs will not be able to digest the cornmeal, and they’ll die.
What to spray on plant leaves to keep bugs away?
Vinegar is a really effective natural bug killer for plants. Dilute it 1:1 with water in a spray bottle and spray it over and under the leaves of affected plants. You can also use it around the house to deter bugs inside; the vinegary smell will quickly dissipate.
What can I spray on my vegetable plants to keep bugs off?
Oil Spray: Mix 1 cup of vegetable oil with 1 tablespoon of mild liquid soap. Add 2-8 teaspoons of this mixture to 1 quart of water and spray your plants as above. The oil in this spray smothers the insects so it is effective on aphids, thrips, mites, and scale.
How do you protect greens from insects?
One of the most useful methods of preventing pests in your garden is to put a physical barrier between the plant and the insect. Cover pest-susceptible plants with floating row cover, a lightweight, spun-bound fabric that rests on top of the plants or on wire hoops.
Is it OK to eat bok choy with black spots?
Occasionally, bok choy and other Chinese cabbages will have black flecks on the ribs, known as “pepper spot.” This is a harmless cosmetic condition that doesn’t impact taste or texture.
How do you treat holes in leaves?
Leaf miners burrow twisting tunnels across leaves. For both, treat with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. Sucking insects poke tiny holes in leaves and draw the juices out of them. Common sucking insects include aphids, squash bugs, and spider mites.
Why is my bok choy stringy?
Baby bok choy can be fibrous, which makes biting into a whole leaf a stringy chore and an affront to etiquette. Remember, unless you are a non-Asian, there is no silverware brought to the table. The only tools you have to break down this unwittingly challenging vegetable are chopsticks and your teeth.
What is eating my leafy greens?
If small insects have been eating holes in your collard greens (Brassica oleracea var. acephala), they’re most likely flea beetles, cabbageworms or cabbage loopers. Flea beetles only reach 1/16-inch long, and they vary in color from tan to black, reports the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
How do you control vegetable weevils?
Several insecticides are registered for control of vegetable weevils in broadacre crops, including alpha-cypermethrin, bifenthrin, chlorpyrifos and esfenvalerate. Effective control can often be achieved with a border spray at crop emergence. Blanket sprays are often unnecessary for effective vegetable weevil control.
Should I cut off leaves with holes?
If the leaf is more than half damaged by the bug, then you should cut it off the tree or plant. The same is true if the leaves have become yellowed or brown because of damage from bugs. Cutting the affected leaves off will direct needed nutrients to the other healthier leaves and allow them to thrive.
How often do you water bok choy?
Your plants will need consistent watering, especially in the drier fall months. The best rule of thumb is to give bok choy 1 inch of water a week so the soil remains moist between waterings.
Will bok choy reseed itself?
Bok Choy (Brassica rapa)
These greens will continue growing if you use them as cut-and-come-again crops, meaning you only harvest what you need in that moment. But they will eventually go to seed. Let them. This will provide you with fresh, better-tasting plants.
Gerardo Gonzalez loves cooking. He became interested in it at a young age, and has been honing his skills ever since. He enjoys experimenting with new recipes, and is always looking for ways to improve his technique.
Gerardo’s friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of his delicious cooking. They always enjoy trying out his latest creations, and often give him feedback on how he can make them even better. Gerardo takes their input to heart, and uses it to continue refining his culinary skills.