Both flea beetles and white flies can be bothersome pests in your vegetable garden. Both insects have the ability to overwinter. To help make sure they do reappear next year, remove all plant debris, and control weeds in and around your crops. Debris and weeds are sources of food and provide a protective place for them to hide during the winter months.

Plant your vegetables as late as possible. Damage is greatest on seedlings. Waiting to plant and/or using transplants as the temperatures grow warmer will make them grow faster and make them more likely to outgrow the damage caused by these insects. If you buy your vegetable plants, inspect them to make sure there is no sign of any type of insect or insect frass (the excrement of insect or insect larvae), particularly on the back of the leaves for white flies.

Yellow sticky traps and tapes can be used around your plants. It will let you know that flea beetles and white flies are present, and will you give some degree of pest control, particularly if the numbers are large.

Keep your plants healthy and well-watered. They are less likely to have insect and disease problems.

Using a plant vacuum is another recommendation. Both of these insects are quite mobile which may make this approach difficult.

Young white flies are found on the undersides of the leaves of plants. Using a gentle stream of water will wash them away. Be sure to use a slow-release fertilizer, high nitrogen can cause white flies to increase in numbers.

When using physical barriers or row covers be sure they are added to your garden beds as you are planting your vegetables. This will make sure that flea beetles and white flies are kept out. Adding them later will only trap the insects inside. Be sure to remove row covers when your plants begin to flower, allowing for pollination.

For more information on flea beetles: Organic Management of Flea Beetles

For more information on whiteflies: Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbooks: Landscape Pests - Whitefly