Swede/Pumpkin/Cabbage/Japenese Maple help!

TraceyB_2

Wondering if some kind soul/s could help me with a few problems we have in our garden at the moment.

We are growing veg for the first time and have a few issues - the first is our swedes - the leaves are massive and starting to look as if they are dying - even turning yellow - if I cut them back would it affect the swede?

The next issue is again with leaves but this time on our pumpkins - they are totally taking over - is it ok to prune them? We have what looks like little pumpkins appearing under the huge yellow flowers and are happy with the numbers we have - can we prune back from the last pumpkin we want to keep?

Lastly on the veg front, our cabbages are being eaten something horrid - we have tried eggs shells which didnt work, 'friendly' slug repellant but still they are full of holes - it is getting to the stage where I'm not sure if there is much cabbage left!

My last worry is my Japenese Maple - not sure of the variety but it looks a bit like a willow the way it falls - I've had it since about April but all of a sudden the leaves are turning brown and dry - I water it every day so am confident it isnt drying out - could I be overwatering?

Just a sneaky last question as I look out on to the garden - my courgettes are also looking very sorry for themselves - the leaves are turning brown - they are full of greenfly and no amount of soapy water seems to be shifting it - could the greenfly be killing them? Any other ideas - we have had one harvest from them and now nothing:(

Thanks for reading all my waffle and thanks loads for any help you can offer :beer:

ALIBOBSY

Regarding the pumpkins, we got little green "golf balls" just behind the flower, but until later on you don't know if they are fertilised and will become pumpkins. We had quite a few that just shrivaled up and dies with the flower. You know you are sorted once the flower dies and drops off, but you still have a firm green pumpkin (probably the size of a tennis ball by this stage.

Once you have the number you want definately fertilised you can cut back the ends of the tendrils. They really are like something out of day of the triffids rofl. They are very greedy feeders so keep piling on the manure/pouring on the feed.

Unfortunately my pumpkins and Bnut squashes were amongst the seedlings OH killed off when I was in hospital having baby 4. It was then too late to get them going again.
Redid some courgettes and got some winter squash to console me lol.

The courgettes are also greedy feeders. I would remove any rotten and yellow leaves (without stripping the plant completely bare of course). Then give it a good feed and make sure it is regularly fed and watered. It should come back. Plus a bit of decent sun will help.

Cabbages like other brassicas are prone to cabbage white butterfly. Check them over for any tiny yellow or white eggs and the green catterpillers. Squish any you see. Then if you can cover with agri fleece or old lace/voile curtains- keeps out the BF's and lets in the sun and rain. If no catterpillers pigeons also enjoy brassicas.

ali x

TraceyB_2

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

Regarding the pumpkins, we got little green "golf balls" just behind the flower, but until later on you don't know if they are fertilised and will become pumpkins. We had quite a few that just shrivaled up and dies with the flower. You know you are sorted once the flower dies and drops off, but you still have a firm green pumpkin (probably the size of a tennis ball by this stage.

Once you have the number you want definately fertilised you can cut back the ends of the tendrils. They really are like something out of day of the triffids rofl. They are very greedy feeders so keep piling on the manure/pouring on the feed.

Unfortunately my pumpkins and Bnut squashes were amongst the seedlings OH killed off when I was in hospital having baby 4. It was then too late to get them going again.
Redid some courgettes and got some winter squash to console me lol.

The courgettes are also greedy feeders. I would remove any rotten and yellow leaves (without stripping the plant completely bare of course). Then give it a good feed and make sure it is regularly fed and watered. It should come back. Plus a bit of decent sun will help.

Cabbages like other brassicas are prone to cabbage white butterfly. Check them over for any tiny yellow or white eggs and the green catterpillers. Squish any you see. Then if you can cover with agri fleece or old lace/voile curtains- keeps out the BF's and lets in the sun and rain. If no catterpillers pigeons also enjoy brassicas.

ali x

And you do all this with 4 children - you must be Superwoman! I'm struggling with my tiny veg patch and 1 DD!

Thanks for your advice, have cut back anything yellow on the courgettes and will give it a good feed today and do the same with the pumpkins - have had a bit of a cutback with them already though as they were starting to resemble the triffids you discussed - hope the ones I have already come to fruit - might have got a bit too carried away and assumed they would all fruit:(:(

Will have a rummage in the cabbages and see what I can find - they look so sad at the moment.

My saving Grace looks as if it is going to be my toms and chillies - both look (touching wood) lovely and full of nicely growing crops:T