Black spots on brassicas

[Monika]

We went to pick some sprouts today and found that the yellow, decaying leaves all had black spots on them - took them off and composted them.

Is that just "old age" or some fungal disease I should look out for this coming year? I have never seen it before.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Monika, i have a similar problem on my Brussel leaves too, but mine are more of a dark brown colour.

I am certain that mine are Mycophaerella brassicicola, or easier to say Leaf spot.

This is a fugal disease and is worse in wet seasons, also it is not helped if the plants have had heavy dressings of nitrogenous fertilizers.

You should really burn the leaves, and also try not to grow Brassicas on the same plot of land next year. And planting at wide spacings helps as the plants get better air circulation.

Not sure if this is what you have.

[Monika]

Thanks, OH, that does sound very similar, I will check on the colour of the spots when I next go down. The weather could certainly be a factor because to date we have not had a single day without rain since New Year, including 46mm yesterday!

I always plant them at a good distance apart (not least because if they are too close my trousers get sodden wet when I pick the sprouts!). The sprouts themselves and all the adjoining brassica plants like purple sprouting broccoli, spring greens, kale etc appear to be completely unaffected, but I will not put the spotted leaves on the compost heap but will keep them in a bag for the next fire.

[retropants]

My brussels have had little black spots on them for a couple of weeks, which have now turned into puffy white 'blisters'. We have dug up and destroyed them all. What could this be? Can anyone help?
thanks in worried anticipation!
Emma.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Emma, it sounds very much like Albugo candida or commonly called White blister.

The white masses of fungus can either show singly or in concentric rings, and it particularly likes Brussel plants. It is normally worse on overcrowded plants.

It's not a serious disease, but i would rotate your Brassicas next year.

Just to cheer you up, you can just pull the infected leaves off and burn them.
But it sounds as if that is a little to late.

[retropants]

Thankyou OH, althugh every sprout seemed to be infected to some degree, and they didn't look too appetising!
They were spaced quite far apart, and apart from the blisters, we had a very successful crop, just a shame to have lost the last few (hundred!!!) sprouts
I shall definitely rotate them for this year. Any ideas what I can do to avoid this happening again, or is it just 'one of those things'??
Happy Tuesday!
Emma.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Emma, my Brussels had a bad attack of this problem a few years ago, but i just kept picking the leaves off that were affeced, planted them in a different area the next year and haven't had the problem since.

And a happy Tuesday to you.