GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

11-06-2004, 09:44 AM

(jane) wrote in message ...
On 8 Jun 2004 07:47:11 -0700, (Davemar)
wrote:

~I've planted some rocket in my allotment, and after it was successful last
~year I was hoping for a bumper crop this year. Unfortunately it has seemed
~to have bolted very early, with hardly any leaves on at all, certainly nothing
~worth picking. The leaves that are there are also riddled with tiny holes.

I think this is linked with the dry/cold/wet/hot weather cycles we're
having, much as the late crops thread I started is.

OK, so the poor things are getting confused! I'll sow some more, and
see what happens with hopefully more stable weather.

The holes sound like flea beetle. Mostly round the edge? If they are,
you can cover with fleece, or dust with derris. Watering enough so the
plant gets bigger, faster is also good: works with cabbages at any
rate!

The holes are pretty much all over the leaf, often only a millimetre
or so in size. I've watered pretty much every day, but it has been hot
and dry recently, so maybe the soil is still too dry.

~Are the two things related? Is it a parasite that's causing these holes, or
~a defect/disease in the plant?

Just hungry beetles I'd guess!
Try looking for tiny black jumping things on the leaves.

I picked a leaf and saw a tiny black round insect on it, so it does look
like a flea beetle I imagine.