Stop bugging me!

The Green Vegetable Bug

The younger black nymph (left) and the green nymph (right)

mature vegetable bug laying eggs (my friend found presents like this on her salad last year and we had to use an expert to identify what it was)

The vegetable bug will suck your beans, tomatoes and corn dry so you have to keep on top of them. Hallelujah there is a simple and effective way to do this, just squish them. By squishing them they release a horrid smell that acts like a warning signal for all other vege bugs which will deter them from your plot. Even better collect a few, mash them up, mix them in with water and a smidgeon of detergent then spray them back onto your plants basically labelling you vege plot with DANGER -  DO NOT ENTER TAPE.

Aphids

You could call me an expert on aphids. I spent my honours year at uni studying them, in particular their ovaries. One of the main reasons Aphids are so successful is due to their asexual mode of reproduction. An adult female aphid can produce hundreds of clones of herself and they are born as mini aphids not eggs so it is a relatively quick way to reproduce. Hence your roses, beans or peas can become covered in aphids in a few days. They tend to hang out on the new growth of plants sucking the sap out of tender stems. If there is only a few on your plants just squash them or take to them with a hose otherwise soapy water is good for getting rid of them because it blocks their trachea on their bodies which is what they use to breathe.

Cabbage Butterfly - Brassicas Beware

The cabbage butterfly loves to lay it's eggs on brocolli, cauliflower, cabbage and swedes and these wee nasties hatch into caterpillars which will devour your crop. Best way to get rid of the grubs is to keep a careful watch over your plants and pick off any caterpillars that you can see, then feed put them on your bird table to feed the birds. Best tip: don't grow brassicas through the height of summer when the white butterfly will do it's worse instead sow greens like lettuces and rocket for some yummy summer salads.