There's quite a few things in the garden (ranging from caulis and swede to strawbs and lobelia) where the lower leaves have gone quite pink.
Anyone know why ? Something in the water perhaps ?
???
With Brassica, especially Caulis, almost certainly a mineral shortage. Very common. Can't recall which one - or find the link!
well it's certainly not a water shortage. :P
Many thanks Tim, now I know what I'm looking for I can go on a search.
;D
I get it a little and just give them a feed of Ammonia Nitrate:
http://www.gardenhealth.com/product_range/straights/ammonia.php
They seem to soon perk up. Take care not to get any on the leaves though as it will burn.
Jerry
Is pink the same propblem as yellow then ? ???
Everything is either planted in clay (and plenty of organic matter) mix which hasn't had anything grown on since time began or bagged compost so I'm surprised if there's a nutrient deficiency already.
I'm game for a laugh so will search out some AN and see what happens.
Many thanks.
Goodie, ammonia nitrated my brassicas today, and then the lovely rain fell. Hoping all will be lush and green upon next visit! ;D
I would guess it is lack of light!
If I can go back to my biology days I seem to recall leaves are naturally semi transparent and its the chlorophyl formed by photosynthesis that turns them green.
So if they are getting little or no light (caused by the leaves above the affected leaves), then there is no photsynthesis,therefore no green colouring.
Can anyone tell me if my memory is serving me right?
hmmmmmmm i'd say not ! although they're the lower leaves they're still getting plenty of sun but it's not scorch, ALTHOUGH after a chat today, it might be wind damage, although i don't know why it would be some and not all.
don't know why i didn't show you before ! these are all in different parts of the garden. i don't know why but you know the red stain that you get round the shower, or on the shower curtain (well in my house you do), and the pink that you get from the water if you microwave bacon ? well it reminds me of that !!! ::)
i couldn't get any sulphate of ammonia today but got some Nitrate of Soda which i asked a garden centre man and he said it would do much he same job! 16.0% nitric nitrogen!
Now that I have seen the pictures my guess is your pH is too acid.
which won't be helped by throwing Sulphate of Ammonia at it will it ??? :o I've probably made it a whole lot worse by adding my nitrate of soda !
soil currently drying so i can test the acidity !
Sorry - don't know anything about pink leaves - but the photo labelled 'Mystery plant' looks like an Aquilegia to me. :)
cheers for that, i have sown some, but of course never labelled them properly. i was waiting for them to come into flower and check against the picture on the pack ! now i know i've got "going pink and suffering Aquilegia". ;D
Oh and btw Tee Gee soil test is proving difficult. i've currently got second test tube settling. first one looked like erm mud ! ::) second one's not much better although i must admit it's definitely not green !!!! i presume i'm looking at the colour of the water on top of the soil yeah ?
::)
;D
Edit: well the nearest colour on the chart to the mud is a ph 6.0 acid, but looking at my wee chart that should be just fine for my caulis and acceptable for the lobelia so will give it a couple of days to see if the nitrate of soda helps any. ???
I work on a pH to 6.5 or higher for brassicas.
Regarding the Aquilegia I would say that it is just aging, and probably they are a bit hungry.
Split them and repot or transplant would be my advice here.
The Lobelia might be a similar situation, have you noticed it is the lower older leaves that are turning blue.
I have noticed with some varieties of lobelia, possibly due to hybridising, some varieties have bright green leaves and others have very dark leaves with a hint of purple in them perhaps there is a bit of reversion going on here.
But I have to admit I am guessing a bit with the lobelia.
bit of lime then for the brassicas ?
must admit the fluers are a bit cramped (as is everything else to be honest) so they're all probably starving !
feeding day tomorrow though so i'll give them a bit extra (and probably fry the poor souls).
it's all a learning curve which i'm thoroughly enjoying and many thanks for your help.
spent all day in the roasting sun putting up greenhouse No. 2 and I'm not doing bad with it either. So the repotting might have to wait a few days.
got myself a fabby tan though, so all in all i'm well happy !
;D ;D
Quote from: MrsKP on July 14, 2006, 19:43:58
bit of lime then for the brassicas ?
They love lime, especially if you have club root like me!
Jerry
would they object to liming tomorrow so soon after nitrate of soda-ing ?
don't give me more headaches to worry about, i'm panicking about blight as it is. cut off some particularly nasty looking leaves off the tatties today, thinking if i cut them off, i can't see it,in - fingers in ears - tra la la la - I CAN'T HEAR YOU - fashion.
;D