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Leaf curl, discolouration, on cabbages, purple sprouting...
Stonefree
Posts: 13
Hi, novice gardener here. I have taken on an allotment this year and have a problem with leaves on young cabbage and maturing purple sprouting broccoli curling at the edges and turning whitish, and not appearing to be growing properly. I also have some young corn salad several metres away which has curling leaves but no discolouration. Google suggests potassium, or perhaps boron, deficiency. I also have lettuce, carrots, onions, raspberries and potatoes which all seem to be doing well. Thanks.
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Posts
Yes, more likely to be aphids than a soil deficiency - especially on an allotment which presumably has been relatively well maintained.
I'd just go over them slowly and carefully with my fingers unfurling and removing what bugs you find there.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks pansy & Dove. Yes, there are aphids, I've been over as much of an area as I could by hand a couple of weeks ago, and did a soapy water wash a week ago. I didn't know they could do so much damage, it looks like some things may not be growing their new leaves. I knew this would be a learning curve!
And yes, the previous chap did feed and maintain the soil well.
I've got nasturtiums in nearby which are supposed to draw aphids but they seem largely clear.
I'll take some photos and do another soapy water wash today.