What happened to my chard

[Swag]

Been away for a few days and my chard now looks like this, “burnt and crispy”.
It definitely hasn’t been hot !

I can’t work out how to attach the pic now?!

[Scarlet]

Hiya Swag.
Unfortunately you haven't enough permissions to post up a photo yet. Keep posting, you've got two handfuls to go

[SarrissUK]

I reckon it sounds like you got leaf miner Swag. Maybe google that and see if that matches what is happening to your chard?

[Swag]

I’ve googled it and yes it looks like that.
I grow it in a trug about 4ftx2ft by 1.5ft. Will it be in the soil ?
I have an allotment so could dispose of the soil there and fill with fresh compost ?

I think it did it (to a lesser degree) last year as well.

[Scarlet]

No, they are just in the leaves with the white patches. Take them off and dispose.....if you hold them up to the light you will see them sandwiched within the leaf. You may be lucky as often the new growth won't have them.

[Bren In Pots]

My chard has leaf miner, I do as Scarlet says but with some leaves I just rip of the damaged parts and the rest of the leaf carries on growing.

[ameno]

Remove the infested leaves then cover the plants with fine mesh to keep out the adults who may lay further eggs.
It's usually not very harmful to the plant itself unless you get a severe infestation, but seeing as it's the leaves you want to eat...

[Swag]

Remove the infested leaves then cover the plants with fine mesh to keep out the adults who may lay further eggs.
It's usually not very harmful to the plant itself unless you get a severe infestation, but seeing as it's the leaves you want to eat...

Thanks for the advice. I’ll give it a go but there’s not much greenery left!

Too late to sow more seeds??

[weegie]

Hi

I have the same problem with leaf miners, also in my beetroot leaves. I don't have many plants so am managing, just, to reduce the damage by going out twice a day to remove the tiny eggs on the underside of the leaves:

A small square of masking tape is the easiest way if it is dry. I'm retired so have the time to do this!

It's not too late to sow again.You could save a little time by chitting the seeds first between layers of damp kitchen towel - sow as soon as the rootlets emerge.

[Swag]

Hi

I have the same problem with leaf miners, also in my beetroot leaves. I don't have many plants so am managing, just, to reduce the damage by going out twice a day to remove the tiny eggs on the underside of the leaves:

A small square of masking tape is the easiest way if it is dry. I'm retired so have the time to do this!

It's not too late to sow again.You could save a little time by chitting the seeds first between layers of damp kitchen towel - sow as soon as the rootlets emerge.

I’ve always done that with chillies but never thought of doing it with anything else. Great idea. Thanks

[MarkPelican]

I've had the same problem this year beetroot and swiss chard and I've had to resow twice. Don't know if they are especially bad this year or just bad luck.

[toomanytommytoes]

Beet leaf miner has been bad here too this year. Some Youtubers I follow have also had the same problem.

[weegie]

Today it has been quite wet so the masking tape didn't work - no stick. Instead I wiped the eggs off with a fingertip or nail, then rubbed them hard against my leg in my tattie old gardening jeans to vapourise them. A couple of times I spotted tell-tale signs of recent damage, and holding the leaf against the sun I could actually see the wretches burrowing away! Easily and satisfyingly squished, though.

There is a way of using Neem oil to make a safe spray but I haven't found it yet.