That sucks Gas. My plants are all in varying stages of death except a few hardy ones. They will be being overwintered where as I will start afresh with my others I think.
Most of my plants gave up about a month ago (too much stress from insect attacks and all that, I guess--the poor buggers) and I have since culled the majority of them bar the exception of a handful which show potential as keepers. Some of them really did try hard though and just pumped pods throughout the season... it's just a shame that the fruit fly favourited these ones the most.
I'm surprised to hear that yours are all in varying stages of death though!
Hey Gas, have you tried coffee grounds? someone mentioned on my glog about them & ive started to stockpile it.
Apparently you sprinkle in your pots/around you plants to stop crawly type (slugs/snails) and make up a soup to spray on your plants leaves to stop flying insects, i thought well its free & plentiful so im going to give it a go in spring when i do the big plant out.
Sounds interesting, Mezo, but at the moment I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that it appears that some pests just can't be stopped (i.e. bloody broad mite!). I dunno though, it's worth a shot. Plenty of grounds that could be put to use get washed down the sink every day here (I couldn't do without my daily espresso!).
Another thing I came across that has me thinking is
Yates DroughtShield. I'm wondering if the polymer coating it leaves on the leaf surface would also block sap-sucking insects and mites. Apparently the coating stays and "stretches" on the leaf for up to 90 days. As broad mite prefer new foliage though, successful results would require almost constant maintenance and first getting that coating on all new growth as it first appears.
A few more random piccies.....
Aji Amarillo x Yellow Trinidad Scorpion F1 (which I'm not quite so sure now even took!):
Apart from a lack of gold markings on the flowers, there seems to be no indication that it is even a hybrid.
Trinidad Scorpion ButchT still loaded with pods:
Sadly they are all goners though. Closer inspection reveals fruit fly marks. Second year plant that produced a tonne of pods this season... and I didn't even get to eat one.
"Ripe" ButchT pods:
Don't let them fool you though... premmies brought on by fruit maggots.
Doogies:
First time growing 'em... didn't even get to try one.
NOT Dorset:
(I
hate you, fruit fly.)
Lick me!
(Doogie, I think.)