Neighbour planted tomatoes, peppers and cosmos in a new bed. In less than a
week everything has died. There appears to be some accelerated growth, such
as occurs with herbicides, but there have been no chemicals used anywhere in
or near the garden. Could toxic chemicals from a brand new plastic hose have
leached into the water that was used on the plants? (Husband says no, wife
says water appeared milky). Anyone experienced anything like this? Weather
has been fine -- no frost, not particularly hot, and sufficient rainfall.

Thanks,

Neighbour planted tomatoes, peppers and cosmos in a new bed. In less than a
week everything has died. There appears to be some accelerated growth, such
as occurs with herbicides, but there have been no chemicals used anywhere in
or near the garden. Could toxic chemicals from a brand new plastic hose have
leached into the water that was used on the plants? (Husband says no, wife
says water appeared milky). Anyone experienced anything like this? Weather
has been fine -- no frost, not particularly hot, and sufficient rainfall.

Thanks,


The milk water that came from the hole was due to a powder used in the
production process used to make the hose. Think of it as talcum powder. I
gather it's to stop parts of the hose from sticking together. It wouldn't be
toxic, but it may change the acidity/alkalinity of the water enough to cause
young plants to suffer. If the plants went yellow after watering it may be the
powder in the hose was alkaline and the plants suffered death by lime induced
chlorosis. Basically the powder stopped the roots taking up nutrients. Then
again it might just be coincidence and nothing at all to do with the hose at
all.

Dave.

Could toxic chemicals from a brand new plastic hose have
leached into the water that was used on the plants? (Husband says no, wife
says water appeared milky).

I doubt if anything in the hose would have killed the plants.

If repairs to mains water pipes or some other work allows air to enter the
system, when water is restored the pressure causes that air to enter into
solution. When that water - air super solution issues from a tap the air
escapes solution and forms millions of tiny bubbles and the water looks
milky so it most likely had nothing to do with the problem.

An interesting point (completely OT) Charles Dickens would have said "bran
new" or was it just a typo I saw?

Regards

Ron

In message , Dvd
writes
Neighbour planted tomatoes, peppers and cosmos in a new bed. In less than a
week everything has died. There appears to be some accelerated growth, such
as occurs with herbicides, but there have been no chemicals used anywhere in
or near the garden.

Sounds like there have been and a fast acting one too. Try growing
mustard and cress from seed in the suspect bed. They are very sensitive
to trace herbicide. If they will grow then something else killed your
neighbours plants. Slugs or rough handling or inadequate watering in.

Could toxic chemicals from a brand new plastic hose have
leached into the water that was used on the plants? (Husband says no, wife
says water appeared milky).

Water from the tap often appears milky from dissolved air. There isn't
much in a new hose pipe that could leach and affect plants.

Anyone experienced anything like this? Weather
has been fine -- no frost, not particularly hot, and sufficient rainfall.

It's very unlikely to be the hose. Look elsewhere.

Regards,
--
Martin Brown

"Dvd" wrote in message
...
Neighbour planted tomatoes, peppers and cosmos in a new bed. In less than
a
week everything has died. There appears to be some accelerated growth,
such
as occurs with herbicides, but there have been no chemicals used anywhere
in
or near the garden. Could toxic chemicals from a brand new plastic hose
have
leached into the water that was used on the plants? (Husband says no, wife
says water appeared milky). Anyone experienced anything like this? Weather
has been fine -- no frost, not particularly hot, and sufficient rainfall.

Thanks,


Do you live anywhere near a farm where they might have sprayed herbicides on
a windy day ? Wind-borne spray can carry quite a long way. Otherwise, what
was on the land previously - was there a chemical waste tip there at some
time, or is there some plant disease in the soil ?

Bevan

"...........Do you live anywhere near a farm where they might have sprayed
herbicides on a windy day ? ........."

And what about the council spraying verges, pavements etc, they let loose
with a lot of weedkillers as well, probably not as responsible as farmers,
as they get sent out to spray for the day, have to do the job and cant stop
just because of a bit of wind.
Your average farmer is much more responsible.... after all he has to pay for
the spray , and for any damage it does.

--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk

"Bevan Price" wrote in message
...

"Dvd" wrote in message
...
Neighbour planted tomatoes, peppers and cosmos in a new bed. In less
than
a
week everything has died. There appears to be some accelerated growth,
such
as occurs with herbicides, but there have been no chemicals used
anywhere
in
or near the garden. Could toxic chemicals from a brand new plastic hose
have
leached into the water that was used on the plants? (Husband says no,
wife
says water appeared milky). Anyone experienced anything like this?
Weather
has been fine -- no frost, not particularly hot, and sufficient
rainfall.

Thanks,


Do you live anywhere near a farm where they might have sprayed herbicides
on
a windy day ? Wind-borne spray can carry quite a long way. Otherwise, what
was on the land previously - was there a chemical waste tip there at some
time, or is there some plant disease in the soil ?

Bevan


No, the bed is right beside my fence and my garden is totally organic.
Neighbours swear they've used nothing. The soil was new, but from the same
dealer as a load delivered to me the previous day -- could be a seperate
batch, I suppose, but they are a reputable dealer. At this point i'm not
looking to test the soil for them. My question re toxic hose stems from
learning that lead is used in the manufacturing to keep the plastic
flexible. It shouldn't be a problem for the plants, at least not
immediately, but I wonder what else goes into the process when recyling
plastics.

Thanks for all the tips. I'll post if I discover a reason.


--
Remove "weed" to reply.

DVD