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Suddenly afflicted Kale - not sure what disease/pest
Hi,
I'm new to the website (and gardening) - hope someone can help!
My Kale has had a couple of small white spots on it over the past few weeks, but suddenly since yesterday these have turned into white patches. Looks like it might end up being fatal.
Doesn't quite match the pictures of cercospora leaf spot I've seen, but can't think what else it might be? I've had problems with leaf miners elsewhere but doesn't look like those.
Nearby runner beans also looking a little odd, but might be unrelated.
undersides look OK:
beans:
0
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Is there any chance of some type of chemical spray etc accidentally being blown onto them, such as a fence treatment or weedkiller being used nearby?
What I did notice on the underside of the Kale leaves are a few butterfly eggs, so they'll get caterpillar damage soon if you don't rub those off, even if they survive whatever has caused the white patches!
I think they are single eggs from the small cabbage white but it is difficult to tell from photo's. If Sophie uses a hand lens to look at them closely all will be revealed! if they look like this:
then they are Pieris rapae eggs.
Thanks everyone.
Yes I noticed the splashes of something (white?) on the beans too. It's very odd as I don't use any chemicals (just a bit of neem oil) and I only water in the evening once the sun is off the plants.
I'm wondering if the neighbour has been up to something.
Point taken about the butterfly eggs, I've already picked off a couple of caterpillars.
I've never used neem oil and although I know a lot of people swear by it I'm quite doubtful - I don't spray my veg with anything - what have you been using it for?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I actually haven't used it on these plants at all, but I did spray it on some borage which was being eaten to death by leaf miners as it's supposed to slow them down a bit (not sure it did).
I've just come home to find that the runner beans are now covered in white crispy patches (I watered them at the roots only yesterday evening), and the kale is now on its last legs.
Wish I knew if there is something I could do to save my beans!