Kales worries...

[Little tom]

I know there are bigger worries in the world but this one annoys me.
The older leaves of my kale plants wilt and become yellow. Is it cabbage root fly?? (I hope not they are already the target of whiteflies and flea beatles for sure).
Next time I'll protect them properly!!!
Is it too late to do something or can they grow out of the problem with a bit of help? If so, what should I do?
Thanks for any tips!

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Tom, there is one sure way to find out - tip the plant out of the pot. If the roots are black and rotted with white maggots in them then it is cabbage root fly. Post a photo of the roots please. Good luck!

[Little tom]

Thanks Lesley you're my saviour
I'll take one plant out tomorrow first thing and get a photo...

[Little tom]

Right, the roots around the pot look OK. Should I look at the more central roots?...

[Lesley Jay]

Originally Posted by Little tom

Right, the roots around the pot look OK. Should I look at the more central roots?...

Hi Tom, well I would have a proper look inside the root ball to see if you can find any maggots.

Looking at the roots the plant is ready for planting out - which might be the problem Tom.

[Little tom]

Hi Lesley,

Thanks for that. I've had a look at the root ball and couldn't spot anything suspicious (relief). I'll attach a photo for your expert inspection (sorry got problems with upload at the moment)
Anyway - I'll plant out other similar plants, eat this one, and hope for the best!
I'll follow-up and post the progress later.
Thanks so much again!

[Little tom]

Ah, I finally managed to upload the photo

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Tom, that's good news! The compost in the last photo looks rather wet in the centre - was it on the wet side or is it just my eye sight!!?? Too much water will cause yellow leaves.

[Little tom]

Hi Lesley,

Yes you're right: it was on the wet side of 'moist'....All that fuss I was making about root flies when it's finally just my own fault !!!
I hope they'll recover...
I'm relieved it's not root flies anyway.

Same for my mint (I saw you posted a reply to another thread of mine)...I was overwatering.
I'm learning!
But thanks for taking the time to help me out it's so great to have people like you ready to share their knowledge!

[Lesley Jay]

Originally Posted by Little tom

it's so great to have people ready to share their knowledge!

Hi Tom, that is exactly what we are all here for - to help each other!!

I still want to know what the underneath of those mint leaves are like! Have a look and see if there is a white or brown growth under the leaves.

[Little tom]

Hi Lesley, well... was about to update the 'help my mint' thread But I'm afraid I was a bit heavy-handed in my approach to the 'problem'.
I'll put my comments in that thread anyway it's worth recording my mistakes here to help other people not to make them

[Nicki85]

Sounds like your kale has been through the mill like mine!! Mine are loved by flea beetle and cabbage whites... I also had the problem of the root flies though Nasty things!

[Little tom]

Sorry to hear you had the same problems Nicki
Nasty bugs as you say!

I had read many times that brassicas need protections, around the root for seedlings and around the leaves later on... Yet somehow I wanted to see if I could get away without that. Well now we know!

I read that you can plant a green manure under the kale as a camouflage from white flies; i was too late to do that, my manure is only seedlings at the moment. So what I did was to spray the leaves with water + washing-up liquid (eco-friendly brand) and that seems to have worked against white flies (I still check the plants every day, I only have 7 pots). I've got yellow sticky tapes next to them, they catch a few beatles. For the root flies I really don't know - apart from unearthing the plants and replanting them in the hope that this is not a quicker way to kill them

Good luck, we'll know better next year! (hopefully)...

[Little tom]

Some news from my kales: they're looking much happier with themselves now, so thank you Lesley