Eggs on Parsnips?

[Beyoyock]

Hiya,

When we went to the allotment yesterday, the parsnips had patches of black eggs on the underside of the leaves. I have removed them all, but am unsure what they are. Could they be cabbage white eggs? I always assumed the butterflies would only lay these on cabbages, which I have netting over. I am going to cover the parsnips this afternoon. Is there anything else I should do?

Thanks xxx

[GeorgieP]

Squish them all. Keep squishing all the ones you see. I'm not sure what they are - might be another type of butterfly that likes parsnips or some sort of aphid thingy...

[Two_Sheds]

Are you sure they aren't blackfly?
Cabbage white eggs are yellow.

[Beyoyock]

I have been squishing all the eggs I can see! They are definately eggs and not blackfly. Just returned from allotment and now I have another problem - the leaves have got dry brown patches. Can parsnips get blight? I really hope not!

[Two_Sheds]

Blight isn't dry, it's wet.

Your parsnips may have sun/windburn ~ especially if you water the leaves in strong sunlight

[rustylady]

Blackfly look like eggs. Squish them anyway. The brown patches could be scorch marks if you've been watering. Or it could be traces of the damage done by your blackfly! Don't worry too much they'll probably recover OK.

[Beyoyock]

You don't know how relieved I am to hear this, I really thought I would have to destroy them because of blight! I'm now wondering if my tomatoes have blight, as it looks the same as the parsnips do, just some dry areas of brown on some of the leaves. Maybe all is not lost! Thanks so much for your comments!

[squashysu]

i found black fly on my parsnips last week and thought it was eggs! i sprayed them with soapy water and squished them all and so far so good......... also put my pot of marigolds next to them, just in case.

In my greenhouse, i found blackfly on my cuces and have done the same and they are growing ok and i think they all gone too, but none on my toms though.

SS

[Demeter]

Just shows how much I've been enjoying my early(ish) pickings - I thought this thread was going to be about parsnip recipes

(Our dinner tonight was home-grown eggs, tatties, beans and peas - yum.)

[Alice]

It sounds like blackfly to me Beyoyock. Squish them, spray them off with water or use a chemical spray - whatever sits comfortable with you.
The brown leaves are probably only weather damage and it doesn't matter. You're not going to eat the leaves.
Hope it all works out great for you. Relax.

[Beyoyock]

Hiya

Just wanted to apologise for my 'they are definately eggs and not blackfly' comment yesterday...I had a closer inspection after work and they are blackfly! Think I have got them all now, but going to keep checking. I'm still not convinced about the brown patches, I'm really hoping it's just water/wind damage. I will try and take a photo tomorrow.

Many thanks for all your advice!