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Gardeners World blog

Grow & eat

Rampant rust

Posted by: Pippa Greenwood, 30 August 2007, 09.19AM

Pippa Greenwood First it was my garlic - a crop I pride myself on (usually) as we get huge bulbs of super-succulent, tremendously tasty garlic that lasts us well in to the next year, generally until the next year's crop is ready...and keeps our friends smelling just as strongly as us! This year rust hit so early that although there are a few respectably sized bulbs, most are half their usual size. I'll be buying it by Christmas.

Then the chives, overnight the foliage flopped, turned bright yellow as the pustules erupted from nearly every leaf. The pears too had rust - a sight I've only ever seen a handful of times (and that includes working as plant pathologist at RHS Wisley for 11 years, examining thousands of decrepit plants each year). Presumably it'll be the beans next, and the blackberries...it's a good thing I only have wild roses!! Someone please send us some dry weather to stop those little spores in their tracks!!

Comments

  • Peter Moon

    30 August 2007, 06.39PM

    Can you eat sprout leaves?

  • Mr Harry W Taylor

    01 September 2007, 03.05PM

    Broad Beans chocolate spot like mars bars, What a year.

  • Rean Ballie

    05 September 2007, 09.29PM

    New to gardening i planted sweet corn in april picked some now really juicey.

  • Pippa Greenwood

    06 September 2007, 01.25PM

    Peter: Yes you can eat sprout leaves in that they're not harmful but in my experience (and I only tried it once) they're certainly less appealing than 'proper' leafy brassicas.

    Harry: As you'll soon be finding out in my next blog, I've got another unexpected invader in my garden....but luckily its actually pretty harmless and only got as far as the drive!!

    Rean: So glad to hear your sweetcorn is great and those first cobs of the first plants you ever grew will stay in your mind forever, so get on and enjoy them whilst they're there!

  • christine

    24 September 2007, 07.48PM

    what sort of carrots should i try to grow? i cant seem to find any that i can plant now, surely they grow in the winter too!!! or should i know that they dont at my age?

  • Barbara Smith

    11 October 2007, 08.02PM

    I've had the same problems with my garlic, such a disappointment. Hopefully next year won't be as bad!

  • Dick Houghton

    18 October 2007, 04.10PM

    I have a very good crop of leeks but they now have rust. Should I be digging them up or can I leave them to continue to grow, or what should I be doing. They are such a good crop I do not want to lose them.

  • John Haydens

    30 September 2008, 09.22PM

    The runner beans have cropped well this year, but due to overproduction there will be an excess of matured beans for seed. Can one eat these beans, and if so what is a recommended method of cooking?

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