Rust ... again !

[Odsox]

Some of you may remember I had rust sweep through my veg garden last year, well after about 3 weeks of almost continuous rain, drizzle, mist and fog, it's just starting to rear it's ugly head again, although I'm not really surprised.
I noticed this morning that my pea rows are turning brown and looking over the fence I see that the bracken is also taking on a rusty tinge.

This year however I'm not too bothered as the only veg in that garden are my potatoes, which don't get rust, and my maincrop peas which are nearly finished anyway. All my other veg is safely tucked away in my tunnels, as after last years fiasco I decided to get another tunnel to protect my precious crops. And it seems to be paying dividends thankfully ... thankfully not only because of the healthy veg but also my head and ears, which would get severely bashed if the depleted bank account wasn't worth it.

See for yourself, this was my wonderful parsnip crop last year, I think we got about 4 meals of carrot sized ones ......

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And these are my parsnips this year, the shoulders are already a good two inches across on some of them .....

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I am finding it great fun experimenting as to what will grow in a polytunnel and what will not, so far this year there has been one major failure and that was a new variety of calabrese that I was trying. They produced a very spindly central shoot that flowered immediately, but everything else is growing well. In fact some of them too well, like my sprouts that I planted far too early which are now about four feet tall and already have small sprouts forming. It will certainly be a novelty eating sprouts in August.

[Millymollymandy]

Fingers crossed here that the plums won't get it, none of the alliums had it this year either. Just a brand new special rose which is riddled with it and the other roses just starting to get some. My geraniums seem to get it late in the season too just before I bring them in to overwinter and then it spreads badly and can kill some if they are young cuttings.

I think we have some sort of rust every year but last year was particularly bad on all sorts of things from veg to flowers to fruit trees.

Glad to see your parsnips looking so nice and healthy in the tunnel.

[Odsox]

I think there are different varieties of rust.
We get it nearly every year on the many willow trees around here, but not every willow tree gets it, they seem to take it in turns.
But I don't think that sort affects anything else, not that I've noticed anyway. The one that got me last year started in the bracken and took out my peas, broad beans, runner beans, leeks, sweet corn and parsnips, and then affected the wild montbretia.
Hopefully the polythene will protect my stuff this year.

[grahamhobbs]

Strange but I associate rust on plants not with damp but dryness. My garlic this year got hit with it at the end, when it has been dry as anything.

[Odsox]

I think there are many kinds of rust Graham, and the kind that I have in my garden at the moment may not be because of the wet.
But I do know that in the 15 years I have been gardening here, last year was the first time I suffered from it and that was a very cool and extremely wet summer.
This year we have had about 12 inches of rain over the last 3 weeks with rain every day and on many days ALL day ... and the rust has reappeared. Could well be coincidence.
Thankfully it stopped raining a couple of days ago and the forecast is good for the next week.

[Millymollymandy]

quick maths 12 x 2.5cm = er gets calculator out 300mm OK equals about our year's rainfall so far.

[Odsox]

Yep, that's why the emerald isle is .. err ....and Brittany is a delicate shade of brown.

Edited to say that I just looked up the monthly Irish data and last November we had 360mm.

[Green Aura]

Have a look at this, Tony, it might be of some use.

http://www.ehow.com/way_5471261_homemad ... lants.html

BTW Murphy's Oil soap if a floor soap so maybe Ecover might substitute - or maybe you can get Murphys being in Ireland and all

[Odsox]

Thanks for the link Maggie, but I think my solution is probably the best (polytunnel)
I was looking at the instructions that said .....

Rust prevention is a simple process that needs to be repeated about once weekly. Simply spray your solution onto the stem areas and the underside of your plant's leaves--which is where the rust typically begins--until every surface is thoroughly coated.

I can't really see how it is possible for me to do that to 2 x 20' rows of peas .. once a week .. in the rain.
Would you like to try ..

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BTW, you can definitely get Murphys in Cork, it's my favourite tipple

[Green Aura]

Prefer Black Bushmills myself

[Odsox]

Ah, we are talking at cross purposes Maggie, Murphys is Cork's (better) version of Guinness.
If you want Cork's version of Bushmills you have to head off into the hills and get a bottle of clear explosive potato juice.

[Millymollymandy]

We've sprayed the rust/blackspot/mildew rose treatment on our decimated by rust rose, but it hasn't made a blind bit of difference yet. Well lots of leaves are just crispy so guess will have to wait and see if some new growth comes through which is healthier.

Would have acted sooner but I was trying to be good (i.e. no chemicals) but sometimes you just have to cave in. But at least I don't eat roses.

[Green Aura]

If you want Cork's version of Bushmills you have to head off into the hills and get a bottle of clear explosive potato juice.

Could be interesting!

I know what Murphy's is but spirits are lower in carbohydrates so obviously better for you

[Odsox]

Goodness me, you're right !
So a bottle of poteen is far far better for me than a helping of chips.

Never let it be said that I don't know how to wander off topic.