skip to main content

Vegetable Gardening

Need ID on veggie pest or disease please

highalttransplant

16 years ago

I hope these pictures are clear enough for someone to help me identify what is ruining my herbs and veggies.

I also had spinach in pots on the porch, and when I harvested it, at least half of the leaves looked like the ones in the swiss chard photos.

Swiss chard 'Bright Lights'

{{gwi:67087}}

{{gwi:67088}}

{{gwi:67090}}

Basil with deformed leaves

{{gwi:67093}}

In the last two photos it almost appears that something has eaten the leaves, but actually they grew deformed like that.

This is my first year to try a veggie garden, and I am getting pretty discouraged. Nothing is growing well, I had to break down and buy pepper transplants when something sheared off my tiny sprouts at the soil level, and now something has ruined my spinach and is doing the same to my chard and basil. I want to keep the garden as organic as possible, but I am not willing to give over the entire thing to the bugs!

Someone please tell me that there is still hope!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

utdeedee
16 years ago
I see you are in Colorado. It might be that the weather is a little to cool for the basil. As for the Chard, looks kind of like a nutrient deficiency from other pics. I've seen. As for spinich, bugs. You might put down some soapy water around and see what happens. It's really the wrong time of year for spinich. But, that's just my advice. Someone else might have a better opinion. Keep looking on this site and you might get more info. Good luck from TN. Don't give up!
Violet_Z6
16 years ago
Be sure you check the organic forum for threads on what the best "soaps" are to use. Some are detergents and not soap which is what you want.
Related Discussions
Disease or Pest on Sisyrinchium? Need ID
Q
Comments (4)
It's not fluffy, and there's nothing that's moving (at least as far as I can tell). I might wipe off the leaves with a weak solution of water and rubbing alcohol. And if tht doesn't work, maybe spray them with insecticidal soap. They (the sisyrinchium) had a lot of ants earlier this year and so I was wondering if it could be a disease brought by the ants.
...See More
Need help with pest/disease identification (lemon catnip)
Q
Comments (1)
I'm not sure. It kinda looks like leaf miners and it kinda looks like red spider mite damage (check the underside of the leaf for tiny webs or the mites).
...See More
What disease(s) and/or pest(s) are making my sedums sad?
Q
Comments (9)
Yeah I think you're right about the white; looked again today and it was gone. The scale on the last plant if there is subtle, but how about the numerous non-subtle brown spots, some of which look eaten into the leaf? Some kind of mite? If so, here's the combo I've come up with: Acephate - Amazon: "97UP 1lb bag Generic Orthene Insect & Fire Ant Killer" - http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05507.html says "Insecticide with some effectiveness against spider mites. Systemic." Forbid 4F - eBay: "Free Forbid 4F Miticide Spiromesifen 1/4 OZ free gift when u purchase 3 pipettes" - "Like Avid, it is translaminar. The active ingredient, spiromesifin, while not systemic (i.e., it does not move through the plant’s vascular system like, for example, Merit does), is absorbed by the plant’s leaves and will move from the tops of the leaves to the bottoms where the mites feed." A lot of the more mainstream systemic products use Imidacloprid, and while they don't claim to work against mites, they also don't mention that one reason that spider mites become a problem is insecticides [such as Imidacloprid] that kill their natural predators.
...See More
Cane Shredding Pest & Unknown Disease or Deficiency-Help Please
Q
Comments (2)
I was going to say look for sawfly larvae on your damaged plants, but they don't bother canes. Any chance deer are coming through and stripping your roses? If so, I'd spray them with a repellent (I've had great success with Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent) and see if the damage stops.
...See More
highalttransplant
Original Author
16 years ago
Utdeedee, we have had quite a few days in the 80's already, so I don't think it is a temperature issue. Spinach is a spring crop, but as I said I have already harvested, so whatever is going on has been in place for at least 2 or 3 weeks now. I believe that all three crops are being affected by the same thing, since they all exhibited the mishapen leaves.

The problem is that I don't know if it is a bug or a disease, and don't want to put insecticidal soap on the plants if it is a disease of some sort. Has anyone experienced these symptoms in their plants, and what is the safest remedy?
jimster
16 years ago
It's hard to tell exactly from the pic, but it looks kinda like leaf miner. Leaf miner is a tiny insect which burrows between the top and bottom epidermis of the leaf. It wanders around in a random path. From that description you can tell if you have leaf miners and look up the appropriate treatment if you do.

Small seedlings get sheared off at ground level by cutworms. The solution is easy. Cutworms must encircle the stem to do their work, so you can block them by inserting a toothpick or matchstick into the soil parallel to and against the stem.

Gardening has many opportunities for failure. I hope you have lots of big successes to compensate for the failures.

Jim
jean001
16 years ago
The chard has leafminer.
Violet_Z6
16 years ago
I agree, they eat columbine leaves all the time too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Photos of Leafminer Damage
carol_71
16 years ago
Oh, no. Don't get discouraged. This is my first year too with vegetables and already had some issues as well.I've been attempting two seasons potted tomatoes with not big success, therefore was hesitant as to with how many plants to try this season. Now they're in the ground and till now(cross my fingers) they seem to be doing great. Ones doesn't have to give up. Not so quick.
Agree with the rest, the swiss chard has leaf miners.
All the best!
Carol.

Related Stories

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow Your Own Sweet Summer Crops

By Marianne Lipanovich

This guide will help any gardener get started on growing the freshest warm-season veggies and berries for summer

GARDENING GUIDES California Gardener's August Checklist

By Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates

Share the veggie wealth, help plants sip smartly and don't forget to enjoy the simple pleasure of relaxing in your garden

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING 4 Good Ways to Get Rid of Mosquitos in Your Yard

By Katherine Caviness

Stay safe from West Nile virus and put an end to irksome itches with these tools and methods for a porch, patio or yard

FARM YOUR YARD If You Have Room for Only One Fruit Tree ...

Juice up a small garden with one of these easier-care or worth-the-effort fruit trees for a mild climate

FLOWERS Herb Garden Essentials: Grow Your Own Fragrant Lavender

By Marianne Lipanovich

This do-it-all plant is ideal for almost any garden, and its uses are abundant around the home

GARDENING GUIDES 7 Ecofriendly Gardening Ideas That Also Cut Chore Time

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Spend less time weeding, less money watering and more moments just sitting back and enjoying your healthy garden

HEALTHY HOME 12 Ways to Set Up Your Kitchen for Healthy Eating

By Becky Harris

Making smart food choices is easier when your kitchen is part of your support team

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Gift-Giving Gardens for Delights Beyond the Visual

By Laura Gaskill

Grow your own natural dyes, snip herbs for home brews and more ... these creative gardens have benefits beyond beauty alone

EARTH DAY The Case for Losing the Traditional Lawn

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Work less, help the environment and foster connections by just saying no to typical turf

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Cream-of-the-Crop Vegetable Gardens

Both trendy and traditional, these inspired potager designs turn the everyday vegetable garden into art for your landscape

Sponsored

NME Builders LLC

2 Reviews

Industry Leading General Contractors in Franklin County, OH

More Discussions

Veggie Tales - April 2024

55

Planting beans in the same place twice in back to back year?

5

Overnight low of 43 - peppers ok?

15

More bite marks

2

Tiny long thin bugs at night eating leaves

8