Allotments 4 All

BIG, BIG mistake!

Thought I was controlling the onset by taking off any affected leaves. By the time I got worried, plus the week to get the predators, 2/3 of the leaves are affected. Probably too much for the predators. And, in any case, the plants will have suffered a severe check in losing so much foliage. So it won't be the record cucumber year that it started out as.

For the sake of £10, ACT SOONER??

Tim I have probably missed an earlier post, but how are you dealing with
them? Have come back off hols and my Aubergines are rife!

www.defenders.co.uk

Thanks for that Tim.  :)

I've just noticed them on my stephanotis... it's on the other side of the conservatory to the aub and cue so is about to get shifted so the predators can move in. Unfortunately aphids have now found the aub so I'm going to have to play squash when I find my marigold gloves...

If it's not one thing, it's another...

But Tim, the cues are now galloping again.  So don't give up... the predators will get there even if you think they won't! (And my aub is flowering again from the newly grown bits)

moonbells

A bit more on this PEST!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/photo04/rsm1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/photo04/rsm2.jpg

Just to rub it home, this is what can happen in a couple of weeks if you're not on the ball. And there are batches of mites abseiling from the roof on their silks!!

Trouble is, the plants are 16' long & up to 8' in the roof, so seeing the first signs of disaster at the very top (where it starts), amongst all that apparently healthy foliage, is near impossible. But, next year, at the very first sign of discolouration of the leaves, it'll be predators for me. Be warned!!

Now to try to stop it spreading to the toms, aubs & peppers.

That's a new growing shoot!! And typical leaf discolouration.

Still hoping for a miracle - meanwhile, despite the RSM damge, as shown, the cus are fighting on!

I don't know what biological control you have, but if you use the predator Phytoseiulus persimilis, you need to also increase the humidity levels. The red spider mite doesn't like high humidity, but this predator does. Also temperature levels if you can, but I know this can be difficult on the allotment.

Hey Tim,

Came back from a sojourn in Devon to find my cukes looking much the same.  Misted them with some seaweed extract, only for that to show up the little webs.  Grr!    Says on the back of my horticultural soap that it can be used for rsm, so I'm giving that a go. 

Hope you don't mind, but it makes me feel better that I'm not the only one whose plants are looking a bit battered.   ::)  Like yours, they're still fruiting, just have to keep on rsm patrol from now on.   :P :D

So right, jenny - they are in the damp, dark end of the 'house & are misted twice a day. The shavings on the floor are permanently damp.

Hence the MILDEW, which I bicarbed again today!!

This was before the things really got going!

If you grow 'em outside, you don't get red spider mite.... ;D

So right, jenny!!

It is a blasted nuisance.  But I am converted (if poorer!) to the use of the predators: I don't seem to have a problem really any more, and the aspidistra (which was almost killed last summer by the things) is now and at last growing new leaves to replace the crispy brown remnants of the old ones. Huzzah!

I bet they come back next spring though.  But with the aid of a humidity meter I bought for a princely 3 squid I shall be making life *very* difficult for them!

moonbells

I lost ALL my pepper plants to spider mite (although white) this year.
I sympathise.