Common Pests In The Garden #5

1.Aphids

These creatures are incredibly common and are found in almost every garden or allotment setting. They are typically green but may also be black or pink depending on the variety of aphid. Reproduction happens very quickly and you can find yourself struggling to keep up with them if you don't deal with the issue very early. They consume the sap of plants and can cause it to wither and die back when they amass in large numbers. This video on my Youtube channel will show you an easy way to get rid of them.

2.Cats

Believe it or not, this beloved household pet can indeed become a nuisance in some gardens. I myself have suffered from their digging and pawing at my plants and lost quite a number of them because of it. You can try to attack a cats sense of smell by having plants such as Rosemary, Lavender & Thyme potted or planted nearby to deter them. This will decrease the chance of them ruining your vegetable plot or using the soft garden bed as a litter box which is not good either.

3.Birds

For those of you who know me personally this may be somewhat ironic since I am a big fan of birds and enjoy their presence. However some birds can also be pests because they can eat away at the seeds that some of your plants produce and can unintentionally cause extra damage to the crop in the process. They can also target fruit producing crops which allows them to enjoy it before you even have a chance to pick it. I made an article about how to keep birds away from your crops here.

4.Slugs & Snails

Another very common set of pests that are so well known I hardly need to say more. There are various ways to tackle them such as using slug & snail pellets, beer traps, using pieces of rock salt, using copper tape around your containers since it gives them an electric shock or removing potential shelters for them that may be in the dark corners of your plot such as broken pottery, buckets, large stones etc. If you have a pond with frogs, they can be handy at keeping the slug population lower since they eat them.

5.Spider Mites

These pests are rather small and create lots of webs all over your plants if you don't notice or tackle them early. They are arachnids making them related to spiders, scorpions and ticks. I had a number of them attack two of my cucumber plants in 2018 that was growing on my balcony. Unfortunately I noticed them far too late and they ended up killing a large portion of the plant. The good news is that I managed to harvest those cucumbers before that happened. Insecticidal soap is a good choice to get rid of them. Spraying neem oil is also another option that you can use individually or after using the insecticidal soap. It will eventually kill the spider mites.

These are a small handful of common pests that growers and gardeners encounter, I hope you may have learned something and benefited! Don't forget to check out my channel for gardening related videos. My Youtube Channel

Common Plant Diseases & Disorders #4

1.Blossom End Rot 

This disorder appears as dark patches on the blossom end of plants such as peppers, tomatoes, aubergines etc. The problem is caused by a calcium deficiency in the affected plant or plants. Calcium is not typically lacking in soil so the most likely issue is that it is not reaching the parts of the plant furthest from the roots due to not enough water. Plants grown within limited root space such as pots or growing bags are at a greater risk since the water either from rain or you is not consistent enough leading to a local calcium deficiency. Keeping the plant moist throughout the season is the best way to prevent this problem.

2.Chocolate Spot

This disease causes dark brown spots to appear on the foliage and stems of plants, notably broad beans. This effectively reduces the vigour of the plant or kills it entirely. The fungus that is responsible for it thrives in damp areas with low air circulation. The best way to avoid it is to make sure you are growing plants in well drained soil and that you give your crops the correct spacing.

3.Botrytis 

This is another fungus that negatively affects plants. It causes decay of the soft tissues of fruit such as raspberries, strawberries, grapes etc. It is a fuzzy grey-brown looking mould that commonly attacks plants grown under glass cover where conditions will be more humid. If you are growing plants under cover, make sure to remove dead plant material and allow for a small amount of ventilation. Some modular trays are designed to have small gaps at certain intervals where the cover meets the actual tray. This promotes a small amount of air flow which will decrease the chance of this mould developing. 

4.Damping Off

This particular disease causing your seedlings to suddenly collapse and die. Like the previous disease, it is caused by fungi. To reduce the risk, plant seeds thinly and keep good ventilation. As mentioned in one of my other articles, use clean pots and containers and mains water.

5.Powdery Mildew

This disease causes powdery white layers on leaves and stems and is fairly frequent. They're actually a collection of related fungi. When the weather is dry, it's even worse. Among the many common culinary and ornamental garden plants impacted are apples, gooseberries, grapes, crucifers, courgettes, cucumbers, peas, and even some grasses. Powdery mildew fungus are also damaging to grain crops. One way to prevent the development of this common problem is to mix a solution of baking soda and dish soap with water in a spray bottle. This will act as a preventative so that you don't have to deal with the mildew to begin with.

That was five common diseases and disorders that you may or probably have encountered at some point when gardening. I would like to remind you to check out my channel on Youtube where I post gardening related videos. My Youtube Channel

Caring For Your Containers #3

 Reusing Old Pots

If you're going to undertake some container gardening, it's critical to keep them clean after you've used them to grow plants in the past. This is especially true for any pots or containers that have been left stacked in the garden. If you've ever used seed trays, the same rules apply. Even if you keep your pots and seed trays covered outside (or in a shed), they can become a breeding ground for pests and plant diseases, bug larvae, snails, slugs, and other unwanted critters. Scrub your pots well with warm water and detergent or soap to eradicate any potential concerns.

You can see an example of one of my pots with a dead plant and some dried out compost in the shot directly below. The pot has been in use for several months and has served its purpose; it will now need to be carefully cleaned. While the plant was still alive, I noticed gnats and other insects circling around it, which had most likely laid eggs in the compost. This is why, before reusing the pots and containers, they must be completely cleaned.

In the second photo, you can see an example of one of the small pots I had previously used, but it has been well cleaned and is now ready for use.

Protecting Wooden Containers

Avoid exposing wooden containers to moist soil or compost to prevent them from decomposing over time. Apply a wood preservative to the interior and exterior of the container before using it, allowing it to seep and dry into the wood. This will need to be done at least once a year, preferably in the winter after you've finished with it during the growing season. When selecting a wood preservative, keep in mind that it should not be poisonous to your plants.

Linseed oil is a good alternative because it's fully natural and performs a good job of preserving your wood while causing no harm to your plants. Drill a few drainage holes in the bottom of your wooden container if it doesn't already have any to let any surplus rainfall out.

Don't forget to check out my Youtube videos on gardening! My Youtube Channel

First Steps In The Allotment 2022 #2

Good day to all! I wanted to share the first steps that has taken place at my allotment this year. I went out with a relative this morning to start removing glass panes from our greenhouse which is something we have wanted to do for a long time. We had received a letter from the local council to let us know that the state the greenhouse was in was a health and safety hazard and therefore needed to be removed. As a result of this we set out to get that done which you will see below.

In the photo you can see all but a small number of panes that were in good condition and not posing a threat has been kept. Everything else has gone. Furthermore, you may have noticed how wild everything looks which is what the weeds do the moment you stop working on the ground for a few weeks. We will be replacing the glass panes with plastic panels as soon as possible so that we can start utilising the greenhouse properly. In the next photo you can see where I stocked all of the glass which we will recycled.

 Besides removing all of the old glass, we did head out to do a small amount of shopping and bought ourselves some ground sheets in order to cover up part of the plot. We simply pulled out all of the bigger winter weeds which took no time at all and went ahead and covered the plot. Below you'll see what it looked like before we did the job.

Again, similar to the smaller plot we have around and behind the greenhouse, the weeds have currently overtaken the area. 

This won't be an issue due to the ground cover. By the time March/April rolls around, the weeds beneath the sheets will no longer be a problem. I will keep you updated on how things go.

Don't forget to check out my Youtube channel where I post many of my Gardening videos which you may find helpful. My Youtube Channel 

Keeping Birds & Squirrels Away #1

Keeping Birds & Squirrels Away From Your Plants

Have you ever tried to grow some food in your garden or maybe like myself in your allotment but had birds or squirrels attack or eat the food you are trying to grow? This happened to me in 2021 and I had some level of difficulty dealing with the problem. 

A simple solution to this that works is by using a distraction that will keep them away from your plants. Birds, Squirrels and other wild animals are finding it increasingly difficult to find food in the wild and many of you may be aware of this as we are seeing animals such as seagulls flocking to cities when they normally inhabit coastal areas, or wood pigeons in cities when they usually inhabit woodlands and forests. 

This is due to the enormous amount of food that we as humans unintendedly leave out or drop that attracts these creatures. All you have to do is have a bird feeder or a small table or other suitable outdoor equipment(such as a tray, or empty bird bath)that you can set up away from the plants you are growing. This will divert their attention and cause them to leave your plants alone. 

Understandably there will be other animals to worry about on top of birds and squirrels. However in my experience they seem to be a big problem when it comes to trying to successfully grow food in your garden or allotment. Having a bird feeder or simple tray filled with bird seed or even bread and nuts away from your plants, will be a sure-fire way to keep them from eating the food you are trying to grow!😋

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