Recognize the whitefly
Whiteflies are usually only a few millimeters in size, but are still easily recognizable with the naked eye. Since they are usually very numerous, whole clouds of white-winged insects fly up when the infected leaves are touched. The much smaller, greenish larvae, which resemble scale insects and - as the name suggests - belong to the genus of plant lice, are difficult to recognize.
The whiteflies secrete a sticky substance that is very characteristic of this type of pest.
also read
- Kale: Keep the correct planting distance
- When is the kale harvest time?
- Is Kale Perennial?
Fight the whitefly
White flies can be controlled with the usual biological insect repellants:
- Soft soap solution with alcohol: Mix 1 tablespoon of soft soap (59.99 € at Amazon *) to one liter of water with 100ml of alcohol
- Neem oil
- Rapeseed oil: 1 part rapeseed oil to 2 parts water, possibly a few drops of washing-up liquid
Pour the home remedy you have chosen into a spray bottle and thoroughly spray your kale, which is infested with whiteflies. Remove severely affected leaves.
Repeat the spraying process every 5 to 7 days, including some time after the flies have disappeared, to destroy the newly hatched.
Can whitefly infested kale still be eaten?
Generally, yes. Whiteflies are neither poisonous nor inedible, but they are a bit gross. You can let the kale sit in water for some time after harvesting and this will eliminate the vast majority of flies. However, you will not get rid of the larvae this way. However, larvae are only proteins that do not harm you in any way. If you boil or fry your kale afterward, the sticky secretion will also go away. But hardly anyone likes the thought that she is currently a lice, even if in principle there is nothing to it.
