Mouches blanches à l'ail et au poivre

Whitefly are infesting my cavolo nero; a cloud of tiny white moth-like beasts rises up every time I pass by.  So today I spent some time ripping off all the affected leaves - white, mottled patches on the underside are the sign of infestation - and then spraying with an internet-derived mixture of chilli and garlic infused in water, with a drop of washing-up liquid.  It's probably the latter that gets rid of the beasties but since I often cook the cavolo nero with chilli and garlic it seemed appropriate to try the recipe.  What had been a bed of luscious green plants now looks very sorry for itself; stripped stems with a few tiny leaves at the top.  I took the opportunity to grub up the last of the spring-sown endive, and space out the plants a bit more, as I suspect proximity also helps the whitefly to thrive. 

The other brassicas got a dose of the spray as well, just in case, although the problem doesn't seem to be as severe.  I also dug up the remaining potatoes - we won't need to buy any for the rest of this winter, especially as my partner is following the Atkins diet - and weeded the asparagus bed.  The asparagus has been putting out feathery shoots all summer, which I take to be a good sign.  The raspberries have surprised me by producing some fruit; the apple tree, about which I have been quietly worrying, has some new flower buds.  So it is not dead, although it is definitely confused.  The Harlequin squashes are now about six inches long and looking very appetising.  Courgettes are nearly over now, although I'm still picking small ones; I need that bed for winter sowings of beetroot and turnip anyway, so will probably evict them next week.