Choy Sum
The holes in the leaves were made by cabbage worms
The choy sum in my windowboxes were not looking very happy, not growing well and the leaves had a yellow tint. Thinking they were lacking nutrients, I gave them some liquid fertilizer (they are not provided with the most ideal conditions in a windowbox), but not much improvement was detected.
Turned out they were infested with aphids. I was so focused on the cabbage worms (picking off worms daily) it never occurred to me that aphids were the issue until I saw them crawling on the stems (should have looked under the leaves when I first noticed the yellowing. Not the brightest light bulb, what can I say.)
Anyhow I harvested the usable plants and gave the remainder a thorough spraying of insecticidal soap. Will see if this spray takes care of the critters.
Shanghai Bok Choy
The plants in the bottom box are transplants from the top box. Although disturbed during transplanting, they are larger and healthier than the undisturbed plants.
Reason: the transplants were given good spacing.
Conclusion: Proper spacing of plants is very improtant.
Should have thinned out and discarded the extra plants in the top box.
Harvested some of the Shanghai bok choy. Combined with the choy sum, got a tad under 1 pound, not great for the effort, but not too bad. Washed all multiple times in salted water to make sure I got rid of all the extra potein. Made a quick stir-fry, tender and tasty.
The neighbour kids brought over 14 bags of leaves for me to recycle. While in the garden I had them pull some carrots and leeks (was surprised at the large sizes as they were planted quite late in the season). The kids never had kohlrabi before so I harvested one for them to take home and try. Also found some fingerling potatoes, another produce new to them. No photos.
Expecting Sandy’s visit in a short time. It will not be a pleasant visit. So thought I would end the post with an area of my garden that always make me smile.
Remember my frogs from a previous post? (Click here and scroll down.) I have acquired a few more and decided to create a little froggyland (oh yes, I lack a life). Enjoy!
Froggyland
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Garden to Wok 
I have a lot of aphids this year too. The kale is pretty badly infested in spots. Though it seems happy enough. I’ve never had so many aphid problems as this year. I think there aren’t enough predators in this garden, though I do try to attract them. I might have to resort to soap sprays at some point. I haven’t done that in over a decade. But my last garden had a much better balance.
Hello Daphne,
Sorry to hear about your infested kale. Do you think this aphids infestation is due to the last unusually warm winter?
Us also with more aphids than we’ve ever seen before. Slugs and cabbage worms also mounting a fall attack… Useful to know that others are having the same problem this year.
Hello Leduesorelle,
Wonder why so many are affected by this aphids infestation, could it be this past overly warm winter?
Oh I like your Froggyland :). I learn this week too in my garden that space is important during cold season. Urrghhh…aphids a problem here too.
Hello Diana,
Appears this is an aphids year, hopefully they will not be a problem next year. Glad you like Froggyland.
I’m finding aphids on my kale. Guess this is an aphid year. They seem to go in cycles.
Hello Mary,
Sorry to hear about the aphids on your kale. Lost power last night, no damage. Just got my cable back. Hope all is well with you and no damage.
I love Froggyland! It really does make a person smile! It sounds to me like you are still getting some pretty nice harvests, despite aphids and cabbage worms. Hope you don’t experience much damage from Sandy!
Hello Patsy,
Thanks for your concern. Just got my internet back. Lost power last night but no damage.
I adore frogs – they just make me smile. 😀
I usually have aphid problems with broccoli and brussel sprouts in the fall crop but so far I have not had any issues – of course I am only growing broccoli so maybe that improved my odds?!
Hello Laura,
Glad the frogs made you smile. Guess like people, aphids have their favorite.
Hope Sandy behaves, she really whipped us up down here! Love your froggy spot.
Hello Barbie,
Sandy did not behave but I am very fortunate, lost power last night but no damage, cable service restored short time ago.
Stay safe Norma!!!!!
I had LOTS of aphids on my plants too. I was trying to kill them with a solution made with onion, garlic, and chilli powder…well, it did work, but they came back after a little while.
I have aphids too, but I hope that the weather will become cold soon and they will die. I grow oriental greens in contanier too, and many of them are infested, while some (like mizuna) are intact. I found out that placing the pots in a very sunny location may prevent the aphid problems.
Global weirding is bringing all kinds of pests. Looks like you licked your worm and aphid problem though. I have been thinking about the pounding that your garden must be getting now from Storm Sandy. Hope your garden and froggies come through it OK and that you don’t lose power. Keep us posted.
Ugh sorry to hear about those aphids my friend! I wish I could just blow them away for you 😉
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Boo to those mean ol’ cabbage worms!
Hello YC,
Yep, those cabbags worms are really mean.
Good luck with Sandy today, we’ve been watching some NYC web cams and it looks rough. We’re expecting some bad winds and rains as the day progresses.
I love the frogs, hope they fare well in the storm. I’ll be thinking of you tonight.
Hello Eva,
I am quite fortunately, lost power last night but no damage, phone, TV and internet services restored a short while ago and things are back to normal, many people are not as fortunate. Brought in many of the frogs before the storm arrive.
I already know two people who’ve had cars damaged because of the storm…and we’re not even near the ocean!
Hello Eva,
Oh no, cannot believe Sandy is visiting you also, bummer, be safe.
Thanks Norma, you too.
Oh dear, I hope everything’s ok with the storm, Norma, I’ll be thinking of you! The aphids are in full flourish here too – we don’t use any chemicals at all (organic or otherwise), so we’re just crossing our fingers and hoping the ladybirds will deal with them – they’re out in force at the moment as well! 🙂
Hello Celia,
Thanks for your concern, lost power and cable services last night, no damage, thankfullly, all services are now restored.
I see aphids problem is worldwide, hope your ladybirds take care of them for you. This is the first time I am using insecticidal soap, not sure of its effectiveness.
Norma, I’m so relieved to hear you’re ok! We’re just seeing the news reports now – so much devastation!
Hello Celia,
Thanks. Yes, there is major, major devastation in New York City (especially lower Manhattan), New Jersey and many other areas of the Northeast.
I hope Sandy doesn’t disturb you too much. How awful to have your plants infested with aphids. The kids must love coming over to your garden and harvesting things like carrots. I know I would if I was your neighbour! xx
Hello Charlie,
I was very fortunate, lost power and cable services, but no damage. Power and cable services are restored and things are back to normal for now. Many people in the area are still without power. The kids do love visiting my garden and I enjoy their visits too.
I hope Sandy passes without causing you or yours any damage or bad effect, Norma. Good luck!
Hello John,
Thanks. Sandy did not cause any damage but I did lose power, TV, phone and internet services. All are now restored, I was fortunate. Many in the area suffered downed tree damage and are still waiting for power to be restored.
Your froggy land area is cute. Hope you are bothered by aphid problems no more and that you and your garden stay safe from Sandy! Nancy
Hello Nancy,
Thanks for your concern, fortunately, my garden and I did not suffer any damage from Sandy. Did lose power and cable services, all now restored.
Yes, I’m on daily cabbage worm duty also: on my proudly shooting cavolo nero 😦 ! And was so busy etc last week my bok choi got to a somewhat higher size than yours and now I seem to have a yellow flower garden – shall pick mine tomorrow ++ for stirfries too 🙂 !
Hello Eha,
You can use the yellow flowers, they are delicious. Peel the stems if they appear woody.
Your froggy land would cheer any one.. it’s adorable! I have the worse time with aphids.. there’s a certain flower I love… that they love too and I can’t get rid of them!! I will pray for you today and tonight!
Hello Barbara,
Thanks for your prayer, I did lose power and cable services but, fortunately, no damage. All is now restored and I am OK, many in my area are not so lucky. This appears to be the year of the aphids, so many gardens are affected.
awww! Those frogs are so cuuute Norma!! Great looking harvest again! Sorry to hear about the aphids though!
Hello Sammie,
The frogs are cute. This appears to be the year of the aphids.
I hope you and the garden are able to weather the storm okay. At least the cheerful inhabitants of Froggyland will probably still be smiling afterwards!
Hello GD,
So far the garden and I have fared well, no damage and as of now things are back to normal but we are not yet completely out of the woods.
I love your Froggyland…so cute Norma.
Hope you are well and your garden are safe from Sandy 🙂
Hello Juliana,
Glad you love Froggyland. I am well and safe from Sandy, thanks.
Froggy land is a very happy place even if you have problems with your little pests. I am so delighted to hear of your attempts to grow these Asian crops in a different climate as fresh is so much better than having them shipped abroad. Take care, BAM
Love your frogs Norma! I’m so impressed you’re still harvesting too. Everything still looks so green. Glad that you made it through the storm safely. 🙂
Froggie went a-courtin’ and he did ride, uh huh – cute frogs 🙂
Talk about bugville in your garden this year. I hope Sandy didn’t ruin what you have left.
Hello Maureen,
I was very fortunate, Sandy did not cause any damage. How did your sister fare?
Aphids…truly the bane of the garden. Love your froggies!
Hello B and B,
I cannot help but smile when I walk by my froggies, they bring sunshine into my life.
You should live where I live – every year in early autumn we have almost a ladybird “infestation”. Ok, it’s not quite that bad, but they’re all over the place. You leave your window open for a few hours and you’ll have 5, 6 or more flying around in your lampshade or against the ceiling. They’d go to town on those aphids!
How on earth do the cabbage worms get into the window boxes? I’m really confused about that…
Hello Charles,
I have ladybird too, they get into the house even with windows closed.
My window boxes are outdoors on the driveway. The white cabbage worm butterflies, unfortunately, are not confined to the garden area, they fly everywhere, lay their eggs on the plants in the window box, the hatched eggs beome cabbage worms that destroy my plants.
Ah yes – I didn’t think of them hatching from eggs, duh… I was thinking of them dropping down from somewhere and couldn’t figure out the logistics of that but it makes sense now!
Hello Charles,
When I moved the window boxes to the driveway I figured the cabbageworm butterflies would not find them, when I saw the butterflies fluttering around the plants, I put a netting over the boxes, smart critters manage to get under the netting, got to hand it to them, wish I was as smart as they are.