There are primarily two pests that can really ruin our appetite for freshly harvested leeks. You can find out what these are and how they don't even come into play here.
What pests affect leeks and how can you prevent them?
The two pests that most commonly attack leeks are the leek moth and the onion thrips. Preventive measures such as airy locations, mixed culture, regular spraying with horsetail broth and insect nets help protect the leek plants.
Consistently combat leek moths
The light gray to brownish butterflies are up to mischief from May to October. At night they swarm out to eat their way through the leaves and stems of your leeks. Nobody wants to eat an infected plant anymore, so clearing is unavoidable.
To prevent this from happening in the first place, you have a whole arsenal of preventive control methods at your disposal:
- Always plant leeks in airy locations
- Mixed culture with carrots, celery and parsley repels the leek moth
- Spray plants regularly with horsetail broth plus 1 percent soft soap
- Protect the leek culture right from the start with insect nets (€17.00 at Amazon)
Effectively ward off onion thrips
The females of the yellow-brown ringed fringed winged winged beetles lay their eggs directly on the leek leaves. As a result, the maggots eat their way through the entire plant. Anyone who takes the following prophylactic measures will stop the onion thrips from their nefarious activities in good time:
- cut off the shaft in the early infestation stage so that it grows back
- Always sow leeks under glass and only then plant them out
- mulching with peppermint, tansy and sage leaves keeps the onion fly away
- Put a close-meshed vegetable fly net over the bed
Tips & Tricks
The natural predators of leek moths and onion flies prefer to settle in a naturally designed garden. Parasitic wasps, ground beetles, frogs, hedgehogs and birds are always looking for places to retreat. Leave old tree stumps lying around or stack brushwood and leaves into small piles. A dry stone wall attracts beneficial insects just as irresistibly as a dense hedge.