Pests, Diseases and Cures

Arr, the black keeled slug will ave it away with your spuds in Davey Jones lockerOld Pirates tale says that only an application of nematodes will belay the little varmits.

Never seen one before thought it was beautiful looks like a knitted toy, I only get common ones with huge appetites...

Perhaps slightly early in the season for mildew, but it does happen on curcubits at the end of the season. You could try spraying with diluted milk, some thing I picked up from someone on the forum a few years ago. Failing that a systemic fungicide, but be careful a pick one which is OK to use...

Yes that's unusual. I can't think what else they would be, slugs tend to have round eggs so I think we can discount those.

Well, it's taken a few days to sort out etc, however it may have been rust!! I found tell tail signs on some of the plants which didn't seem badly affected. Turned over the leaves and ...I've thrown two that were in pots away (they were only young ones & were hit bad) On the others I've...

That's interesting Kristen, wonder if they can find one that does Rapeseed too, that's crowded out the Balsam along the Parrett.

Phew! That's a relief thanks for responding quickly!Sent from my HTC Desire C using Tapatalk

With pots you can give it a tap, they sound hollow if dry or lift gently (dry compost is very light). I sometimes stick my finger in to feel if the compost is dry or soggy an inch or so down. Otherwise buy a cheap moisture meter like this for less than a tenner:

Hello HY and welcome to GC The black pests are slugs. They don't really do damage to a lawn but are probably on their way to decimate some choice plants in nearby beds! Depending on how you feel about using chemicals, either pellets (based on methiocarb or Ferramol brand) or beer traps are...

The skins will probably taste a bit tough, no harm in trying, if you don't like them remove them as Zigs says

Like JackJJW, my hostas have also remained safe in tall pots with copper tape. However, that hasn't been the case in my local Garden Centre where they're selling a load of (heavily chewed) named varieties off for £1 each so I've bought a few and will be dividing them soon hoping that I've picked...

Looks like Honey Fungus. Won't do you or your dog any harm apart from a bit of bowel movement Welcome to Gardeners Corner

Hmmmm, it could be fireblight. Take a look at this thread, it may help.

I've used Bayer Vine Weevil Killer 2 today (the one I bought recently is a year out of date but I figure a chemical doesn't really go out of date...) on the pot plants and will use the nematodes in the bed this week when they arrive. On the patrol this evening I couldn't see any Weevils but I...

Yes, its expensive, slow, and you cant use a spray for other pests.Good for the professionals not much use for us lot.

Bow-chacka-wow-wow...

We have a 18-20ft plum tree in our garden. This year it flowered well in spring then no sooner did the leaves start growing, they also started dying. It's struggled through the year and is losing its leaves again now for Autumn but it still show signs of what I think is rust.But I wondered if...

I haven't repotted it yet, but it is actually growing putting a couple of more leaves, so I am just leaving it as is.

Raspberry Sawfly Caterpillars?Maybe the Blue Tits got to them first?Beetles? They can cause a lot of damage to plants.