[Nicki85]

Hello all!

I'm pretty new to growing veg (and even newer to this forum) and would like some help.

I'm growing a variety of veg and am having particular problems with-

Swede. 
Growing in a raised bed in full sun with new bagged top soil and manure from the garden centre.  Netted with an enviro-mesh style net. 
Problem is that some of them are rotting in the crown (three out of 12) particularly the ones in the middle of the patch.  I have pics-



Should say that the pic was taken before I cleaned the rotten bit of the crown out.  I can now put my finger into the middle of the swede...

I don't want to pull them as they have done so well so far!!  I have sprayed with a pesticide just in case that helps....  Will it spread?  Any chance they could grow through?

Aubergine.
Growing in growbag (3 per growbag with extra soil in pots above) in green house.
Problem is one of them has wilted even though the soil is moist etc.  Any ideas?

And just a general problem of cabbage root fly.... Got most of my small kale... some kohl rabbi... and others.  I netted it all and treated with nematodes.  I'm guessing they could have also weakened my swedes as well.  Anyone else used the nematodes?

Thanks in advance.

[Trillium]

I don't have experience with nematodes myself but others who have used it say it works. A bit pricey but it works, and must be repeated several times for maximum benefit. Here's more info on cabbage root fly:
http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/brassicas/cabbage-root-fly.php

Sounds like the swede is getting too much water, either from excessive rain or sitting in a dip in the soil. They like it drier and full sun. If it's in a dip, hill them up so moisture runs away from the roots and never water from overhead - always beside the plant.

The aubergine that wilted could simply be getting too hot in the greenhouse, possibly extra sun in that spot. Moisture alone won't solve it - if you can, try shifting it somewhere it's partly shaded. If the heat isn't  the problem, then it's possible there's a wilt disease.

[japagow]

I too have rotting swede only 2 out of 30 so no huge problem and the advice about water from above seems spot on.

I notice that water seems to gather at the top because some of the central leaves are missing and water pools thus allowing the extra moisture to gather and soak in. Other swedes seem to have managed to sprout short stubby leaves in the centre so diverting water away from the tuber.

Wow, I used to find young blonde Swedes interesting and now I find young rotting swedes..erm...interesting.

Help.

[mumofstig]

The middle of some of my swede and all the calabrese went like this ...aphids had killed the growing point under debris netting, before I even realised it was there.
Perhaps you had the same problem
I pulled the calabrese, but left the swede as they seemed to recover a bit after I sprayed them...fingers crossed.

Root fly usually eat into the root rather than the growing point, so I wouldn't have thought the swede problem was cos of fly