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What are my sunflower leaves telling me?

EtherealElementsEtherealElements Posts: 7
in Problem solving

My sunflower leaves are looking very grim at the moment.  Almost all layers of the leaves are now showing problems and I am curious to know what it is.

It feels as though it will be something simple but as this is my first year gardening properly... well, we all need to start somewhere!

http://imgur.com/pyKd7hM

http://imgur.com/u8UJeLU  This one hasn't turned as bad as the first yet, but as you can see it's just starting up.

Also to save me from making a new thread I want to ask a couple more things here:

http://imgur.com/v7fRFu0  My sweetcorn leaves are starting to take on a yellow shade.  Although I know this is extremely vague, is it usually a sign of over watering or under watering?  It doesn't look too bad yet but it has been getting worse.

http://imgur.com/MnxsKDr  Any idea what this type of fly is (very large orange underbelly)?  It was latched tightly onto my rose bush.  It wouldn't even come off when flicked.

If anyone can answer any or all of these questions I would be extremely grateful, thank you! image

Posts

  • SwissSueSwissSue Posts: 1,447

    Can only answer the one about the sweetcorn. I would say underwatering, that compost looks very dry to me.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,129

    Is that fertiliser on the compost of the sweetcorn?  If so, that looks to be much too much!  Scrape most of it away and then give them a really good watering.  

    Sweetcorn needs a lot of water and the compost looks very dry. 

    I would fill those pots right up to the top, let it drain away and then do it again.  

    I think the sunflowers are thirsty too and from what I can see again, if that's fertiliser remove it.  

    As for the fly, I've had some similar ones on my roses - not sure what they are but possibly one of the parasitic ones whose larvae eat various pests.  I've left mine well alone image


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





  • EtherealElementsEtherealElements Posts: 7
    SwissSue wrote (see)

    Can only answer the one about the sweetcorn. I would say underwatering, that compost looks very dry to me.

    Thanks, I'll get on that straight away (sorry for the double quote D: )

    SwissSue wrote (see)

    Can only answer the one about the sweetcorn. I would say underwatering, that compost looks very dry to me.

     

    Dovefromabove wrote (see)

    Is that fertiliser on the compost of the sweetcorn?  If so, that looks to be much too much!  Scrape most of it away and then give them a really good watering.  

    Sweetcorn needs a lot of water and the compost looks very dry. 

    I would fill those pots right up to the top, let it drain away and then do it again.  

    I think the sunflowers are thirsty too and from what I can see again, if that's fertiliser remove it.  

    As for the fly, I've had some similar ones on my roses - not sure what they are but possibly one of the parasitic ones whose larvae eat various pests.  I've left mine well alone image

    Believe it or not it's slug repellant haha, I was a little taken aback by it as well but that's how it said to use it on the box.  I'll stick with pellets next time I think!

    I'll make sure that's sorted then and fully water everything.

    Ah fair enough!  My rose leaves have had a bit of a rough time due to caterpillars so I've been paranoid about anything I find on them but that's great to know.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,129

    I find these work well to keep slugs away from potted plants

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/171338559688?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0   

    One application lasts all season.

    Much better for wildlife and the environment than pellets. image


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





  • bekkie hughesbekkie hughes Posts: 5,294
    I wonder if the sunflowers need feeding? They do grow really fast and make massive flowers, water well first tho image
  • EtherealElementsEtherealElements Posts: 7

    Thanks for the tip Dove, I'll keep them in mind!

    rebecca hughes wrote (see)
    I wonder if the sunflowers need feeding? They do grow really fast and make massive flowers, water well first tho image

    I've been trying to keep to a pretty regular feeding schedule, but that leaf damage just seems a lot more severe than it needing food image

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