iGrowVeg

Week 27 Beanpole mountain becomes beanpole heap

Posted on 14. Oct, 2007 by Tracey.

Sunday 14th October 2007
Today I was mostly cutting down my runner bean mountain.
It has come to the end of the runner bean producing cycle. The beans left on the plant are stunted, yellow and are showing no signs of fattening up anytime soon so this has forced me into cutting down the structure to [...]

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Holey Cabbage

Posted on 07. Oct, 2007 by Tracey.

This week I have mostly been squishing green caterpillars and whitefly from my cabbage leaves.
I have to say it isn’t a pleasant or enjoyable job, but if I want winter cabbage leaves I have to do it before the pests obliterate all of my seedlings.
Tiny Green Caterpillars
I have a holey cabbage problem in plot [...]

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Peas RIP to a severe case of powdery mildew

Posted on 05. Aug, 2007 by Tracey.

I had to take all my peas out, they were lovely whilst they lasted. I had been eating the pods when there were a few white patches on the leaves, however this week the powdery mildew turned all the green leaves white and the pea pods were turning grey. So unfortunately they all had to [...]

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Pests & Diseases – Slugs

Posted on 29. Jul, 2007 by Tracey.

What is Slug Damage? Slug damage can be identified by slime trails or leaves being munched or plants completely being destroyed.

Vegetables destroyed: Lettuces, cabbage leaves, potato plants, spinach, leaf beat, carrots runner beans.

Vegetables slugs left alone: Onions, kale, peas, broad beans, parsnip.

Month Occurred: May, June, July.

Solution: Firstly check your plants closely to find slugs and [...]

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Pest & Diseases – Cabbage White Rust or Blister

Posted on 29. Jul, 2007 by Tracey.

What is it? – White powdery patches on cabbage leaves usually on the edges. This can be spread by overcrowding and damp periods.

Month Occurred: June/July.

Solution: According to RHS remove and dispose of infected material in my case the leaves, do not compost. My cabbages only have the heads left on them now, I have had [...]

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Pests & Diseases – Powdery Mildew on Peas

Posted on 29. Jul, 2007 by Tracey.

What is it? – A blotching of white patches on leaves.

Month Occurred: July.

Solution: According to the RHS make sure you apply mulch and water the roots to prevent drying out. Prune out infected areas.

Are the Peas alright to eat? Yes.
Other posts you may find interesting are:

Peas RIP to a sever case of Powdery Mildew.

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Pests and Diseases – Whitefly

Posted on 29. Jul, 2007 by Tracey.

What are they? Very tiny white flies (look like tiny moths) that flly about and live on your crops. They lay their eggs on the underside of the leaf and bury into the leaf making it mishapen and distorted.

Vegetables destroyed: Only leaves – Cabbages, Chicory, Carrots, Pak Choi, winter lettuce.

Month Occurred: October.

Solution: A mixture of [...]

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Pests & Diseases – Cabbage White Caterpillars

Posted on 29. Jul, 2007 by Tracey.

What are they? Tiny green and green and black caterpillars on the underside of cabbage leaves, they leave holes in your crops leaves. The caterpillars are from the small cabbage white butterfly. Look out for the yellow eggs/larvae and remove.
Vegetables destroyed: Leaves – Cabbages, Broccoli, brussels sprouts, turnips, Kale.

Month Occurred: June, July, August and [...]

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Pests & Diseases – Parsnip Leaf Spot

Posted on 29. Jul, 2007 by Tracey.

What is it? – A fungus that forms brown spots on leaves. The disease occurs in warm wet weather. When the leaf stays wet it is prone to infection.

Month Occurred: July/August

Does it damage the plants? No, the leaves may drop off but the parsnip root is not affected. Spacing wider apart may improve air [...]

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Weeds – Stinging Nettles

Posted on 29. Jul, 2007 by Tracey.

What are they? A perennial weed which can grow to 1.2m in height. It has tiny stiff hairs on the leaves which has a cocktail of formic acid and histamine which causes a painful rash if touched. The natural cure is the dock leaf. The grow in areas rich in organic matter and show [...]

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