Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Growing in Greenhouses & Polytunnels => Topic started by: Scottish Mike on June 15, 2015, 18:24

Title: Unhappy leaves
Post by: Scottish Mike on June 15, 2015, 18:24

OK, the greenhouse has been up for a week, and everything is already under attack!

My chillis have had a nasty aphid infestation, which, thanks to ladybird larvae has been taken care of, while the flea beetles have been munching on my rocket.

However, in the last week, the chillis, rocket and dahlia seedlings have all developed unhappy looking leaves with a grey-bronze type sheen, and it seems to be spreading to some tomato seedlings. From the pictures below can anyone identify what's going on? I don't think it's all aphid related because I haven't seen any on the rocket or dahlias, but I'm not finding anything on Google searches that matches the leaves I have.

Any advice on what it is would be appreciated or whether the plants are doomed (I hope not).

Title: Re: Unhappy leaves
Post by: Lardman on June 16, 2015, 11:06

Could be leftover problems from your aphids but the last time I saw that sort of thing it was down to a very bad spider mite infection  :(

Title: Re: Unhappy leaves
Post by: oldgrunge on June 16, 2015, 21:49

Looks like spider mite to me, as well. Rocket and dahlias may find it a bit hot and dry in a greenhouse at this time of year. Spray plants with water, sider mites don't like a moist, humid atmosphere.

Title: Re: Unhappy leaves
Post by: Scottish Mike on June 20, 2015, 11:40

Cheers folks I think you're right (I base this on the red spider mite that has been spotted running over my hand. Grrr!)

I've been misting the last few days and working on increasing the humidity, but it's still spreading. The 2 crimson crush tomatoes are not happy (may be blight resistant, but aren't RSM resistant!) and now it seems to be spreading to both my romas and tigerellas. Everything is looking terrible. Sad times.