Spinach sugar substance problem

[Adrastea]

Hi all,

My spinach has been growing well with all the cloudy,cool weather we have been having, but recently I noticed that the young leaves are covered in a white sugary substance as though someone has thrown a bag of sugar over them! I can't see any pests such as aphids and the soil is just ordinary clay garden soil that I usually grow herbaceous perennials on, but have turned over to veg. I didn't know if I had fed them too much and it was escaping out of the pores, I daredn't try a leaf in case it's something nasty!

Has anyone else had this problem before or know what it is? it's intriguing!!! (to me at least anyway)

[Jeanied]

Difficult to tell what it is without seeing the problem - any chance of a photo?

[taff]

sounds like downy mildew...

[Adrastea]

sorry for late reply....

It only affected the young leaves and the leaves looked really healthy excpet for the sugary stuff. I have kept it well watered as I was worried about it bolting when we had the hot weather so some kind of downy mildew could be a possibility. Also it was kept under a fleece covering to shade it so I suppose air flow was restricted. I didn't dare eat it so have pulled it up now! Wish I'd taken a photo, sorry...
I have tried growing some more in the open in a shady spot rather than under cover.

I had to pull up a lot of my veg as I noticed a rat in the garden and was worried that it was all contaminated.

[taff]

Most people are going to have a rat in their garden,but rats aren't like dogs, they won't go lifting their legs and peeing on your veg
I think you may have overreacted a little bit, washing/peeling your veg before you eat it takes care of most 'orribles.

[Adrastea]

I read that they urinate prolifically and I saw them climbing in all my pots, I was surprised how agile they are...and up the Buddleja to get to my bird food (now removed) It had the feeder in it's claws! They carry leptospirosis and I guess that was enough to stop me from eating my veg...but I guess I am being too cautious! I'm sure these days that they are all over the place!

It was so sad to pull up all my lovely broccoli and onions, I think I just got worried my family might get something. I know that dogs that eat grass that has been urinated on by rats can get serious stomach upsets...