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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: shaolin101 on August 21, 2005, 14:03:39

Title: Sweetcorn bugs
Post by: shaolin101 on August 21, 2005, 14:03:39
the only thing that seems to be growing is my sweetcorn (it is only at the early stage though and looks a bit like wheat growing out).

If i look down the twirling green leaves there are quite a lot of tiny blue/purple bugs. They are about 1mm round and just stay there.

What are they/should i be worried?

The rain didn't flood them out and i didnt want to pull the leaves down too far. Was thinking of trying to run a knife around the inside and scrape them off.

Any ideas?
Title: Re: Sweetcorn bugs
Post by: jennym on August 21, 2005, 22:42:05
Could be something called corn leaf aphid. Never had it myself. I understand that it's not a major problem if the plant has already been pollinated. (if it hasn't been by now, you are unlikely to get any sweetcorn anyway, it's a bit late.)
Blast them of with strong jets of water, or use a spray containing horticultural soft soap, or squish them with your fingers.