What Is Wrong With My Endive?

Do the leaves have a small circular or irregularly shaped dry spots which are gray to straw in color?

Do the lower leaves have small red to brown spots, usually on the underside of midrib which may expand rapidly causing the leaves to rot?

Are the seedlings dying and the stems are girdled or rotted at soil line?

Do the older leaves have a papery texture and fuzzy mold on their underside, young leaves are drying up and dropping off?

Are the outside leaves wilting which spreads inward until the whole plant is affected, leaves have soft watery lesions?

Are there any small, irregularly shaped chlorotic spots on oldest plant leaves that enlarge, turn brown and dry out?

Are there any small water-soaked lesions near the base of petioles that become soft, sunken, and brown?

Do the leaves have large, ragged holes in them?

Are the leaves curled and yellow?

Are there large or small holes in leaves, damage may be extensive; caterpillars are present?

Are the leaves covered in coarse stippling and may appear silvery?

Do the leaves have tiny holes with a characteristic “shothole” appearance?

These symptoms indicate a fungal disease - Anthracnose. Keep plants dry when watering to prevent spread. Spray plants with copper if you have had problems in the past. Apply copper fungicide early in the season.

Bottom rot is a fungal disease that is known to cause problems of endives. The disease is favored by warm, wet weather. Plow soil before planting and rotate crops regularly. Avoid irrigation close to harvest.

The most likely cause for these symptoms is a damping-off disease. Remove and destroy all infected plants. Let the soil surface dry between waterings, thin seedlings and do not add nitrogen fertilizers until plants have developed leaves.

These symptoms indicate a fungal disease - Downy mildew. Remove and destroy all affected plant parts and encourage good air circulation around plants. Water plants early in the morning to make sure they dry before nightfall.

Sclerotinia blight is a fungal disease that sometimes attacks endives. Rotate crop to non-hosts like cereals for at least 3 years. Control weeds, and avoid dense growth by planting inadequately spaced rows. The disease is significantly reduced by the application of fungicides immediately after thinning plants.

These symptoms indicate a fungal disease - Septoria blight. The fungus survives in infected seed and crop debris. The disease spreads in humid or wet conditions and can be spread by splashing water. Ideal planting sites are in regions with low rainfall. Hot water treatment of seeds before planting may help reduce levels of disease.

These symptoms indicate bacterial disease Soft rot. Bacteria thrive in oxygen-depleted plant tissue. Disease emergence requires long periods of water-saturated soil. Plant in well-draining soils. Allow plants to dry before watering. Avoid wounding plants during harvest.

Large, ragged holes in the leaves are caused by slugs and snails. Slugs and snails feed on the plant leaves usually at night. To control slugs and snails use diatomaceous earth around your plants. You can also handpick them during the night or use shallow dishes filled with beer as a trap.

Distorted, curled leaves are caused by aphids. These tiny insects cluster under leaves and on growing tips where they feed on plant sap. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

Cabbage looper is a pale green caterpillar with white lines running down either side of their body. Looper populations are usually held in check by natural enemies, but if they do become problematic larvae can be hand-picked from the plants. The application of BTK will effectively kill younger larvae.

These symptoms may indicate thrips. Thrips are tiny, yellow to black flying insects. Severely infected plant parts should be removed and destroyed. Control thrips by introducing lady beetles or lacewings, their natural predators. Insecticidal soap helps in severe infestations.

Small holes in endive leaves are caused by Flea beetles. These tiny, black, brown, or bronze beetles hop when disturbed. Prevent problems by covering young plants with row cover. Control severe infestations by spraying or dusting plants with pyrethrin.

If the leaves have wandering, white or translucent tunnels in them the culprits are leafminers. These tiny white, maggotlike larvae feed inside leaves. Prune off and destroy all infested leaves. Cover plants with row cover until flowers open to prevent adults from laying eggs on plants.