Mysterious veg garden problem

[Peggy Sue]

I notice there are trees in the background, no idea how big, how about a large root sucking some minerals out in its path? Do any of the roots get that far?

Seems a long shot, have you tried feeding with comfrey tea or something similar? Its about the only way to prove deficiency short of paying for tests.

....How nice not to have any moles in the area at all! I didn't think it was possible, are they all off busy drinking Guiness or something?

[Odsox]

Yes, the trees ... that's why I listed them.
They are no way big enough to send their roots into my garden, and anyway I would have found them when I dug my spuds.
But, I was just hoping that someone would say, "Ah yes, such and such tree exudes poisonous sap".
I know that Rhododendrons do that, as do Black Walnuts I think.

No moles because down here there are just isolated pockets of soil surrounded by rock outcrops, there's no way a mole could get here unless it caught the bus.

[Odsox]

Well, I think I have discovered what my problem is

Yesterday was the first dry day for a whole week and I just HAD to get out there and mow at least some of my (waist high) grass.
While doing that I noticed that the wild montbretia that is along the bottom of my lawn is also looking sickly ... just about dead on one side but still fresh and green on the other side. Also I noticed that a weigelia has also some similarly affected leaves, all about 100 yards away from my veg garden.
Then it clicked, they are all suffering from rust disease.
My veg garden wind break has a small gap between the end of the garage and the first hawthorn tree and the other side is bracken, amongst other things. The area of veg garden destruction points back to that gap, hence my first thoughts of wind born problem. A quick look over the back revealed .... dead bracken, suffering from rust, which spread their spores half way across my garden back in April/May, which then incubated for 6 weeks and spread at 90 degrees to the other side (my 'L' shape), and I presume is now incubating again.

There isn't much literature on general rust diseases on the 'net except specialist sites for specific crops, but it appears I have a variety that starts off on bracken and infects peas, broad beans, red cabbage, montbretia and to a lesser extent potatoes, beetroot & weigelia, but doesn't affect sprouts, leeks, lettuce, summer cabbage & onions. The one thing I did find out about rust is it is virulent when temperatures are between 16c and 21c and there is a lot of humidity about, which just about describes this drizzly summer to a tee.

I am relieved that I have sussed the problem and rather pleased that it is a disease, as it means that I probably won't suffer from it next year. It apparently has a very complicated life cycle which means it only appears once every few years and only then when conditions are favourable and in my case will only spread when the wind is in the north when it spawns.
There were a few weeks just recently when I really thought that my veg garden would have to be abandoned, but hopefully that's not the case.
Phew ...

[Green Aura]

Glad, you've sussed it Tony. If you block the gap will it stop it getting in again?

[Odsox]

If you block the gap will it stop it getting in again?

That's what I plan to do, if only with a piece of mesh windbreak.
As it only spread half way up my garden on it's 1st leg it should stop it altogether.
Although the montbretia is a good 100 yards from the bracken with a more convoluted path, so I mustn't be too complacent.

[MKG]

Odsox, I've solved your problem. It's rust spores getting in through that gap in your ...

Oh ... hang on ...

[Islay]

[Millymollymandy]

Glad you have solved your problem - I have spent quite some time googling rust (amongst many other diseases!) because I wondered whether one kind of (latin name) rust would spread to another species of plant. My 3 plums have rust very badly and have been dropping their leaves all over my veg patch for the last month which is a huge nuisance. Just noticed it on the sweetcorn the other day as well. It's wierd that your rust came like that through a gap in the hedge and didn't just spread out all over the veg patch when it hit it. Whenever I've seen rust it's just been all over everything of that type of veg evenly.

[Jandra]

Glad you solved your mystery, Odsox! It's very frustrating to see your veg go to wast despite your TLC and not know WHY. Great also that you'll probably not have the same problems next year(s).

Great detective skills

Jandra

[Peggy Sue]

Yes very impressive detective skills, but losing your crops are a great incentive. Funnily enough this weekend I pulled some spring onions that ahve been remarkably slow this year and they appear to have what looks like rust- I've never had it before so I shall be googling this week too.

Hope you get good luck with getting it under control.

Still visualising that mole on a bus....

[MuddyWitch]

Acyually, Peggy Sue, said mole might need a boat rather than a bus, as I was under the impression that there are no moles anywhere in Ireland. Did St Pat take them with the snakes, I wonder?

MW

[Peggy Sue]

No snakes either- I'm booking the ferry!

[Millymollymandy]

And it rains a lot so I'm coming too!