[PhilippaJ]

Hello, I am new to this site so I hope that I am posting in the correct forum. I am  new to vegetable growing and allotments and really would be really grateful for some advice - I planted some savoy cabbage in mid august and they have grown well but yesterday I noticed that some of the plants have developed grey patches that looks like cigarette ash from a distance but is wet when rubbed off the plant - is this dreaded downy mildew and is there anything I can do to save my plants? Thanks for any help 

[DD.]

Welcome to the forums.

I'm wondering if it could be mealy aphids?

[PhilippaJ]

thank you - never heard of mealy aphids so just looked up a picture on the internet and it looks very similar, but on both sides of leaves. Will spray for them and see what happens, thanks again

[Salmo]

Sounds like altenaria leaf spot, a fungal infection of Alternaria brassicae. Type it into google images to see. Weather conditions are to blame.

Are you able to take a photo. It helps greatly with identification.

You are new to the site. It helps if you put your location into your profile. Need only be county or city.

[PhilippaJ]

Just googled Alternaria leaf spot and doesn't look so much like this, more like the pictures of mealy aphids. Will take your advice and photo the pest/pests next time, thanks for helping.