Sue writes:
On Sat, 13 May 2006 21:47:02 GMT, Sue wrote:

I'm having a heck of a time this year with pests and the season has
barely started. Last year I had that silvery veined stuff on my
zucchini but didn't really take note of it until late in the season
(although it was probably there early on). I have it again this year.
What is it and what can I do about it? It didn't really seem to cause
any harm but someone last year mentioned the leaves inability to do
whatever it is they do with light (photosynthesis?). Also, I was just
out in the garden and shook a zucchini leaf and much to my surprise
there were all sorts of little white bugs that flew up from the plant.
I've never had these before.

If you asked about this last year then it's likely that I replied to it
last year, too. The silver pattern splashed across young leaves is normal
coloration. IT IS NOT A DISEASE!!! Only when the leaves start to show a
white mildew do you have problems, but the silver pattern on leaves when
the plant is young is quite normal and it is not a mildew.

Zucchini leaves and carrot leaves are magnets for white fly, as also are
tomatoes and potatoes. There are chemical-free methods to reduce their
numbers, such as a bright yellow sheet of cardboard smeared all over
with Vaseline: held in sunshine near the plants while the leaves are
shaken the yellow attracts the flies and they get stuck in the sticky
grease. Or if you have only a few plants you could try waving a vacuum
cleaner around and sucking them up. Cover the end of the hose with a
ball of chicken wire or something to prevent sucking in the leaves.
But you'll probably end up deciding to spray the white fly, but I don't
know what pesticide to suggest.
--
John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)