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What is this on my grapevine?

LoveBeesLoveBees Posts: 3
in Problem solving
HELP!!!! I'm not really a gardener at all!
9 years ago I moved into an old house, with a 40/50+ year old greenhouse,complete with grapevine. (I apologise for grotty state of greenhouse ... it's a bit precarious in places and i think the vine is holding it together! That and the ivy growing on the outside at the far end!) I have no idea what the grapes are ... they turn red, are sweet and juicy with alot of pips! It seems very prolific each year. I give it a little prune each year once all the leaves have died off, and it seems happy! 
a couple of weeks ago i noticed these white things on a few of the stems and wondered what they were ... they are still there today ... not sure if they have got any bigger! Does anyone have any idea? and if so ... what do i do? There was a little spider next to one of these white things, and it also appeared to have a tiny little clear ball of water/sap next to it? the first photo is the worst affected stem. The others just have the odd one or two on them
The only new plants or anything into my greenhouse have been some plants and growbags from a local garden centre a couple of months ago. Thank you.

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391
    Those are scale insects and the white parts are full of eggs.  Scrape them off now, before the eggs hatch.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • LoveBeesLoveBees Posts: 3
    Brilliant! ( well not, brilliant, but good to know what they are! )

    Thank you. how should i dispose of them?
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391
    It's a messy job, so you might want to use rubber gloves.  A small, stiff brush and a bit of warm, slightly soapy water will help with removing the waxy egg sacs.  I flush the remains down the drain.  :)
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • LoveBeesLoveBees Posts: 3
    I've scrapped them off, and cut a few stems! I'll go and use soapy water to scrub as well ... they are very sticky like candy floss! 

    any idea where they might have come from? as i'm pretty sure i've not have them before! although, as i said ... i'm not very 'up' on gardening! i only really have the greenhouse, as it was already here! 

    Also, any recommendations for any 'pest control' sprays? I would usually ask at my local garden centre, but not really possible at the moment! 
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