Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have recently been trialing coco coir beds similar to murray and gary. I have planted a series of green leafy veges including pak choi, lettuce and cos lettuce. THey ahave all germinated and popped up seeds.

The problem I have now is that something in all three beds has eaten all of the pak choi and so far left the rest alone.
does anyone have any idea what it could be?
Why it is just attacking the pak choi?
How to stop it physically or chemically?

Any way all help is appreciated and no I have no photos of the suspect or the plants, but the leaves are completely gone to the stalk.

just a thought you dont have chinese living next door

Hi Nick, might be the cabbage moth (caterpillar stage) - we all seem to be suffering from that at present, others have a preventative medicine and should help here.

I have been using the squish and fish food technique to keep the damage minimal

Pak choi is a brassica and hence a likely target for cabbage white butterfly.

That system hase woorked well for me too as I will not put anysort of chemicals on my plants...

I am with you on that AM, I have noticed that the wom bok planted next to basil has not been affected by the caterpillars - must do further tests on this.

Nick - you have a GB full of basil (from memory), if you are able, give the basil/pak choi mix a trial

just dont use vinegar to try deter the bugs....i found out the hard way thats a natural weed killer

Go the BT Nick.

companion planting is always a good idea, even if its not a 100% fix

I agree on the bt/dipel. Since spraying my stuff, no more probs with caterpillars

We've just started with our aquaponics setup and we're having similar problems. Could you help me understand what this technique is?

Thank you!

LD- squish and fish technique is as it sounds.
first you squish(pick off) then you feed to the fish!

Nick,
We have had success using 1 teaspoonful of molasses to 1 gallon of water sprayed on our brassicas in the hydroponic systems- since we have used it we have not had any infestation of cabbage white caterpillars even though the butterflies are in and out of the polytunnels all the time.
Whether the molasses would affect the fish in AP we are not sure - but it would make them quite tasty!
WD

Interesting....