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Sprouts problem

nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
in Problem solving
Once safely planted I tend to do little more than weeding and admiring my handiwork but, at this stage, the Catering Manager takes over.  We've now got a huge set of sprout plants with a healthy supply of quite large sprouts BUT, on examination, she's found a grey substance inside the outer leaves that we initially thought were insects but don't seem to move.  Does anyone know what it/they might be?

Posts

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited September 2022
    Iv'e seen this before on sprouts but sorry not sure what it is. Hopefully it is only affecting the outer leaves. The weather has been very dry could be related to lack of water. Hope someone  can help.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    My first thought was Grey Mealy Aphids ... they often infest sprout plants ... I wash them off with a strong jet from the hosepipe ... you may have to repeat it a few times but it works and I prefer to do that rather than use insecticides ... even ones that say they're safe for edibles  :/

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/advice/pests_and_diseases/identifier.shtml?mealy_cabbage_aphid

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    Thanks both.  I'd tend to go against the aphid as the sprouts actually LOOK pristine and firm, not revealing the grey until the perfectly tight outer leaves are taken off.  Having the luxury of our own bore hole water supply and using kitchen water carefully, I'd have thought we'd be somewhat immune but Suze may have a point. The plants are far bigger than any I've seen before, so may have been deprived of their needs.
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