When the temperatures rise in spring, many a gardener looks at the strawberry patch with anticipation. Just a few more months and the sweet berries will be ripe. It's all the more annoying when he discovers whiteflies. Pests also love the fruit plant. However, they value the fruits less than the stems of the plant. However, this can significantly reduce the harvest profit and, in the worst case, leads to the plant dying. These home remedies drive the whitefly away.
How to effectively combat whiteflies on strawberries?
To combat whiteflies on strawberries, you can gently rinse, hang yellow boards, attract predators, reduce the humidity and use biological sprays such as basil, garlic, soft soap, rapeseed oil or nettle decoction.
Organic home remedies
- Yellow boards
- Predators
- Reduce humidity
- herbal sprays
With a light infestation, it is often enough to rinse the leaves with a gentle shower. Aim the jet primarily at the undersides of the leaves. This is where the whiteflies gather on the surface.
Yellow boards
Yellow objects attract whiteflies more. Take advantage of this by hanging yellow boards (€5.00 on Amazon) in the garden. These are covered with a sticky film to which the whiteflies adhere upon contact. Change the banners regularly.
Predators
If you want to fight whiteflies in a completely natural way, the best thing to do is to lure predators into the garden. These include:
- Parasitic wasps
- Ladybug
- or spiders
Offer the animals food sources in the form of wild herbs and nesting aids.
Reduce humidity
If your strawberries are in the greenhouse, a planting error may be the cause of the infestation. Check whether you maintained sufficient planting distance when planting the strawberries. High humidity and warm temperatures promote the reproduction of whiteflies. Occasional ventilation helps to contain the population.
Biological sprays
While chemicals are definitely out of the question, you should only use ready-made commercial preparations in an emergency. A homemade plant decoction, on the other hand, is harmless and inexpensive. The following ingredients are suitable for this:
- Basil
- garlic
- soft soap
- Rapeseed oil
- Stinging nettles
Mix the substances with water and spray the solution on the affected plant.
