Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Jax64 on June 13, 2019, 16:20

Title: Brown on spinach and beetroot?
Post by: Jax64 on June 13, 2019, 16:20

Can anyone help please, these were coming along nicely, now they have this brown sort of marking on the leaf, looks almost like a scorch on the spinach...I don’t think so with this weather!

Thanks

Title: Re: Brown on spinach and beetroot?
Post by: Yorkie on June 13, 2019, 18:47

What is the texture of the brown patches?  Crispy? Soft?

I'm wondering whether it could be too much rain, at least for the spinach, but others may have a view.

Title: Re: Brown on spinach and beetroot?
Post by: Jax64 on June 13, 2019, 19:01

Yorkie,  bit difficult to tell as soaking wet! I’ll have a look tomorrow, if it eases off, thank you.

Title: Re: Brown on spinach and beetroot?
Post by: greenjay on June 13, 2019, 20:08

there is  little bug that feeds in between the layers of the leaf itself. if you feel the leaf there is a slight lump ,(the bug). the brown patch is where the bug has "eaten"

Title: Re: Brown on spinach and beetroot?
Post by: JoshP on June 13, 2019, 20:45

Looks like leaf miner to me (larvae of the mangold fly).

Title: Re: Brown on spinach and beetroot?
Post by: Jax64 on June 14, 2019, 07:47

Thank you all, after 15 years growing a new one on me, how annoying. Will go out and remove leaves that are badly damaged to burn and squash any that show signs. In future will use debris netting to cover.

Title: Re: Brown on spinach and beetroot?
Post by: Paul Plots on June 14, 2019, 11:22

Quote from: JoshP on June 13, 2019, 20:45

Looks like leaf miner to me (larvae of the mangold fly).

It seems to be more common at the moment - we have the same - I presume weather conditions and a mild winter haven't helped.

Solution? Not sure there is one... My daughter has removed all the leaves showing signs of this (painstaking job). I have mostly ignored the ones on my beetroot... I'm hoping the plants will be strong enough to grow through it rather the roots be chomped too.

Anyone got any tips to help please?
I think they over winter in the soil, lay eggs on the leaf and set the cycle off again.

Title: Re: Brown on spinach and beetroot?
Post by: greenjay on June 14, 2019, 20:07

with the beetroot I squash the  leaves where I feel the "bump" and leave the leaves on the plant.
suppose this is not an option if you want to eat the leaves.

Title: Re: Brown on spinach and beetroot?
Post by: Paul Plots on June 15, 2019, 12:17

Quote from: greenjay on June 14, 2019, 20:07

with the beetroot I squash the  leaves where I feel the "bump" and leave the leaves on the plant.
suppose this is not an option if you want to eat the leaves.

I've just looked the other way... several rows so cant be doing with squashing and leaf pulling. I'm hoping mine will grow through the attack... I have a feeling it happens every year but not to such a high level.

Blinking bugs.

Title: Re: Brown on spinach and beetroot?
Post by: Jax64 on June 19, 2019, 20:50

I’ve removed the leaves on the spinach, ignoring the beetroot, too many leaves, resown  beetroot as life cycle of fly, allegedly next phase Sept/Oct. thanks all.

Title: Re: Brown on spinach and beetroot?
Post by: Paul Plots on June 24, 2019, 16:31

I have left my beetroot to get on with it - all seem fine at the moment.

Wish you luck with yours.

Title: Re: Brown on spinach and beetroot?
Post by: Jax64 on June 24, 2019, 17:41

Thanks Paul 🤞