We have had an abundance of rain in western New York and very few hot sunny days. These conditions, combined with the mild winter means insect populations have been high all season. Our biggest vegetable predator this year has been flea beetles. In past years these tiny black beetles have been a mild inconvenience to the appearance to our brassica crops (cabbage, kale, radish, and arugula to name a few). However, this year any brassicas without protect from row cover are nibbled quickly to death by the beetles. One of our garden beds is permanently covered with hoops and spun bonded row cover to keep the flea beetles off our arugula and tender asian greens.
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