What did I do to deserve this?

[Multiveg]

Went to the plot today to do some weeding and checking for cabbage white caterpillars. Didn't find any of the latter, but instead, I found the start of white blister on my brussels along with some cabbage whitefly which also were on my various cabbages and cauliflowers. My one good looking cabbage was riddled with the bloomin' aphids I got into a state and just pulled up most of the brassicas, all of which have clubroot.

I have few onions/garlic/shallots, they haven't really started to grow with vigour, root veg are a failure as they didn't germinate, nothing sown direct on the plot is doing any good - peas & beans included but the legumes started in paper pots/modules/guttering look fine.

Broad beans, the actual bean pods had started to be covered in blackfly so I said *** it and cut the lot down.

I really could have cried.  :'(

[Multiveg]

[Curryandchips]

I really do feel for you MV, I have had extensive losses too. At times like this, it is necessary to just keep soldiering on, some crops will succeed ... and there is time to sow more stuff, eg young carrots, and winter spinach.

[Tulipa]

MV, there was a thread yesterday about someone who wanted to plant some new crops and I think it was EJ posted a link to Marshalls who have a section on 'Autumn sown seeds' that can be planted now which would give you some ideas of things to replace your crops.  (It's in "Peas - what am I doing wrong" I think!)

It is so sad after all your hard work, but we have had some strange variations in weather this year that haven't helped.  Don't get too down, just think of it as a new beginning.  Take care.

[Hyacinth]

Condolences. Bloody bad luck and quite understand how you feel. Think I'm going to lose a lot to aphids etc. this season.

One thing tho...have you tested your soil? Might it be worth starting new stuff off in modules or directly into drills of new compost on your plot? Just a thought.

Lishka

[busy_lizzie]

Big hug Multi!   :-* I think we have all been there and it is not much fun! Like Lishka says have a good look at your soil and see if that is the culprit for such an onslaught.  Then I would do some re-seeding as there is still time for certain things, so all is not lost. busy_lizzie

[tim]

Oh, ****** Mia - but WHY cut the broadies down??

Too late now, but why not 5 min with water jet & finger & thumb? I do it every day.

[MrsKP]

it does make you want to spit when something goes wrong.

my "flattened" is nothing compared to your "diseased" and i do feel for you.

looking out at the plot this morning though i've a new foe !  magpies have finally landed en masse and are pecking at the strawberry netting and a pigeon has just flown into the living room window !

the shotgun may come out yet !

;D

[supersprout]

o woe multiveg :'( so sorry to hear the beasties are gnawing on your lil sprouts >:(
it's NOT YOUR FAULT :)
at least the compost pile means nothing is ever wasted ;) :)

[MikeB]

Hi MV,

I hope things pick up for you, all the best.

Mike

[Multiveg]

A number of the higher pods were deformed/black/shrivelled/not really going anywhere. Think there were about 4 viable pods on each stem. Beans tasted nice last night. Do I recall from somewhere that chopping down broadies after harvest could tempt them into throwing up new stems and hopefully a late harvest? Still have another load of broad beans just starting to flower (started them out in guttering). Also got bubble-soaked (son spilt bubble-blowing liquid over my packet of seeds) broadies at my mum's coming into flower. May even sow some The Sutton in July (think the seed packet said it could be sown in July for late crop, and is a dwarf variety).

We also dug up some spuds, yummy - quality not quantity prevailed.

Decided that the guttering isn't too much extra work than sowing direct (apart from the walk down to the allotment trying to carry modules as well!) so many thanks to whoever started the guttering thread last year. I have been trying it out with broadies and french beans as well. I don't know why the peas/beans haven't germinated/done well direct sown this year - no problems last year. Starting last night/this week, some more legumes in modules/paper pots.

On the upside, the expensive geraniums that I did not buy from T&M are doing well from seed - see current avatar. Flowers have done well - my impatiens, balsam, calendula; as well as herbs from seed. Things in house/garden/greenhouse doing ok apart from Baron Greenback and have been squishing sawflies on the gooseberries and currants.

[growmore]

Sorry to hear your troubles MV..
A spraying with Bug clear or Cybol would have sorted most  of your probs out ..
I know you try to be organic and avoid spraying but I look at it this way one spraying a season usually keeps stuff clear ..
The alternative is to buy from supermarkets where we don't know how many sprays they have had ..Or what stuff has   been used to spray em  with...cheers Jim

[angle shades]

my heart bleeds for you MV , it really does,(hence me being on line again, I get hacked  :() lotties are bloody hard work anyway, without crops getting problems.Don't give up, and keep smiling, feed your soil and plant plenty of flowers to get the good bugs in and eat the baddies, grow almost everything in
modules and mulch your plants, my very best wishes, and good luck,shades x

[Multiveg]

Last year, I recall cabbage whitefly on the brussels but then I had a squishing session. Dunno what it was about yesterday but I think it really got me down and was a bit of an unthought act pulling up/chopping down things.

The cabbage that was looking good got pulled up - removed half a dozen leaves which were covered in flies leaving a very tasty oversized sprout for dinner last night.

Pulled up shallots as well - the leaves had turned yellow - look fine.

Leeks that I transplanted ages ago look fine, and still got more to go in - need a pogo stick!

[moonbells]

Oh, it's awful when that happens. I can't seem to get some things to grow at all (ever) and this year seems to be terrible where I am for carrots and other root crops.  I've just made my fourth carrot sowing as something keeps eating the seedlings just after they appear. And I've sown an entire packet of Tender and True parsnips and got a lot up, and now only have four left...  :'(

My sympathies

moonbells

[Alimo]

Moonbells - I'm the same with me carrots - very very frustrating  >:( 

I've given in and put more beetroot in where I was hoping to have carrots...  - Can't beet root in my families opinion  ;)

I'll try for more carrots in pots - see if them being higher off the ground will help - only problem not very many !

Alison

[kitty]

ahhh..commiserations to all-if i see another blinkin aphid i shall scream!!!
this gardening lark ay?
o well-another time another trial!
dont give up tho!nil desperandum an all that!

is anyone else having a helluva time with greenfly?

i bet you could get some late runner beans in MV...

kitty

[Hyacinth]

ahhh..commiserations to all-if i see another blinkin aphid i shall scream!!!

is anyone else having a helluva time with greenfly?

kitty

YEP! Green and black, both. >:(

[Multiveg]

Runners, got some HSL ones in the garden just coming into flower. Got Czar down the plot which I'll probably end up drying to make chocolate biscuits if I mix them with breadcrumbs (Bagpuss).

Just noticed teeny weeny little aubergines forming to keep the peppers company. ;D