When I dug up some JA's yesterday found many of them covered with these little bugs. Thought they were ant eggs at first but then saw they had little legs.
Has anyone any idea what they are? Sorry not a great photo.
JA's seem undamaged, but that might not last.
what where they planted with?
The JA's were planted in soil which had been dug over two to three times (to get rid of weeds) then had composted manure dug in. No other plants in the raised bed. The nearest roots, celeriac a couple of beds over, didn't have the bugs on them (although something has had a good go at it >:( )
There was nothing on the JA's that I dug up during December.
Perhaps should mention that this is our first winter on the plot which we cleared this spring.
..problem is that as the weather has been so mild they could be anything or the early stages of anything!
sorry i cant help :-[
are they not root aphids like on lettuce? Never seen any on my JA's though.
:-\
Crikey Barnowl, I've never seen owt like that on JAs o or anywhere else come to think of it ???
Is it an infestation of one area or plant, or have all your JAs been affected?
They do look like aphids, but I've never seen them on JA's. Maybe it's down to them being weakened by the drought last summer?
Thanks for yor replies.
I've sent the pic to the RHS in case they can help. Will dig up neighbouring plants this w.e. and check them.
Problem is, with each plant producing around 5lbs of JA's, there's no way we can get through them all ???
Will enquire re freezing in Recipes......
Last time I grew JA, many years ago, I got the same thing. It didn't seem to make too much difference to the crop, but was rather nasty to dig up. Strangely I got root aphids on some of my lettuce this year - they were planted in a raised bed a few meters away from where the JAs were. I also got ants with the lettuce root aphids as well!
I would love an answer or a deterrent!!!