Algae in greenhouses or tunnels/cloches
You may notice algae growing on the soil in greenhouses or polytunnels, or under any cloche tunnels. This is actually quite common at this time of year when the surface…
Problems and Pests
Watch out for Leaf Spot
If you’re growing spinach or chard at the moment, or any other beet plants, you may notice some chocolate brown/purple spots appearing on their leaves. It can be more prevalent…
Why your plants may not be thriving
Perhaps some newly planted winter lettuces are looking droopy, or some young kale seems to neither be dying nor growing like the Red Russian Kale pictured above which was planted…
Should I use fleece or mesh netting for autumn plants?
The two can seem interchangeable, but in fact they do not do quite the same job… Use horticultural fleece for warmth (and insect protection) Horticultural fleece is designed primarily for…
How to minimise slug damage in autumn
Slugs remain active at this time of year, and if it is a mild winter, they may well stay active right through until spring. One disadvantage of autumn is that…
Alternaria leaf spot on brassicas
This is a common disease that strikes a lot of plants in the brassica family, like broccoli, kale and cabbage leaves. It is particularly prevalent during prolonged periods of warm,…
Planting for autumn? Protect against slugs…
Pests are generally less of a problem in autumn and winter, but there is one that you need to keep at bay when planting out your new veggies in September/October….slugs!…
5 Fungal diseases to watch out for this month
The turning season, from late summer to early autumn, can often bring with it the perfect conditions for various fungal diseases to take hold in the veg garden. Below are…
Mildew on courgettes
Powdery mildew is a fairly common issue for courgettes, squashes and pumpkins. It starts to affect them in late summer and is not something to worry about. The leaves will…
Watch out for blossom end rot
If your veggies start to rot at the blossom (flower) end, like this tomato pictured, then please don’t panic. You may have lost that particular fruit, but you can save…
Vegetable crops that tend to split, and how to prevent it
Beetroot, Carrots, Tomatoes and Cabbages are among some of the vegetable plants that can suddenly split. You’ll see some examples below. The main reason for this splitting is inconsistent moisture…
Possible problems with potatoes
Potatoes do not always look perfectly formed when you dig them up – in this article, we look at scab (pictured) and a few other things that you may encounter…