Use Floating Row Cover to Protect Your Leeks, Onions or Garlic Against Leek Moth

If you grow your own onions, leeks, and garlic, it is very likely that the Leek Moth causes you trouble and headache every year. All the time and effort you invest in your onion and leek seedlings, planting, and watering them seem to be for nothing when you start dealing with the Leek Moth larvae.  

If you live in parts of North America or Europe and you start noticing that your leek and onion seedlings look unhealthy even though you properly take care of them, you’re probably dealing with Leek Moths.

Fist starting in Europe, Leek Moths found their way to Canada in 1993. Nowadays, they can be found in Ontario, Quebec and P.E.I in Canada, as well as, in New York. Hence, if you live in these areas and plant your own garlic, leek, and onions, keep reading. We are about to share the best possible method to protect your garlic, leek, and onions against Leek Moth.

Use Floating Row Cover to Protect Your Leeks, Onions or Garlic Against Leek Moth
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Step by Step Instruction to Protect Against Leek Moth

First and foremost, spray the crops with Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) which will effectively kill moth larvae. This is a natural bacteria found in soil which is safe for humans and insects, except the moth larvae. Bt is especially effective if there are any eggs laid on your crop.

Then, cover your leeks, onions, and garlic with insect netting, or even better with floating row cover. It’s best if you do so before spring and always use a floating row cover which has no thermal value. Remember that heavier floating row comes with a more thermal value and thus, always opt for a low weight one. You can also choose insect netting, but this is a more expensive option. What’s best about these covers is the fact that both rain and sun can get through them. As soon as you place a floating row cover, put rocks on the edges.

Use Pheromone traps to monitor for Leek Moths. Pheromone traps will show you whether Leek Moths are in a cycle. It is quite usual that Leek Moths have 2-3 laying cycles, but it depends on the area. The Pheromone traps will attract the Leek Moths, and as soon as they do so, you’ll have to replace them with a new card filled with Trichogramma.

Use Trichogramma, which are Leek Moth egg eating, parasitic wasps. These parasitic wasps are delivered on a sticky trap and are less than 1mm long. So, as soon as you notice that Leek Moths are laying eggs, you have to place them by your crops.

Give these methods a try and enjoy planting leeks, onions, and garlic without having to worry about Leek Moths.