• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Nancy Reading
  • Carla Burke
  • r ranson
  • John F Dean
  • paul wheaton
  • Pearl Sutton
stewards:
  • Jay Angler
  • Liv Smith
  • Leigh Tate
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
  • Timothy Norton
gardeners:
  • thomas rubino
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • Maieshe Ljin

Currant bush - brown leaves

 
Posts: 137
Location: Ottawa, Canada -- Zone 4b/5a
3
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Hi

I notice today that the currant I planned last year seems to have some brown spots on the leaves. I suspect something is sucking the sap but wanted to double check with some of you.

Thank,
Kris
20130528_175755.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20130528_175755.jpg]
 
Kris Minto
Posts: 137
Location: Ottawa, Canada -- Zone 4b/5a
3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
After spending some time doing some research it seems that what I have is currant blister aphid. It seems to be more of an aesthetic concern more than anything and the bush will still continue to grow and produce fruit. The pale yellow aphids (see picture below) can be found underneath the blistered areas in late spring-early summer.
I will have a look tonight and kill any aphids I find and maybe remove the affected leaves. I am not sure is a mix of soap and water does anything against aphid but could be something worth trying.



Thanks,
Kris
Aphids-on-Currant003.jpg
[Thumbnail for Aphids-on-Currant003.jpg]
 
pollinator
Posts: 4715
Location: Zones 2-4 Wyoming and 4-5 Colorado
492
3
hugelkultur forest garden fungi books bee greening the desert
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Kris, keep an eye out for lady bugs, they love to eat aphids!
Any ants taking care of them yet?
 
Posts: 95
Location: New Hampshire
2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I envy your currants. Here in New Hampshire we're allowed to plant all the GMO we want. If we want to plant any type of ribes we need a permit and unfortunately they have banned them ... yet again.
 
Kris Minto
Posts: 137
Location: Ottawa, Canada -- Zone 4b/5a
3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I went outside to have a closer look and found a a bunch of aphids under various leaves. I simply crashed them with my fingers. I did not notice any ants on the bush but did see a lady bug on another flower.
PicsArt_1369869824348.jpg
[Thumbnail for PicsArt_1369869824348.jpg]
 
pollinator
Posts: 4328
Location: Anjou ,France
258
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I have this issue too plus the ants !
unfortunetly the ants stop the ladybirds doing their stuff I am hoping the tits will help out
I may have to resort to soapy water if I am to get a good crop this year and next . I am planting a lot more black current as they are so easy to propergate and to spread them round the garden so their leaves can help the soil. too.

David
 
Happily living in the valley of the dried frogs with a few tiny ads.
Learn Permaculture through a little hard work
https://wheaton-labs.com/bootcamp
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic