The leaves on all my garden herbs (mint, sage, oregano, thyme, lemon balm) get yellow-brown speckles from late spring, which by late summer almost entirely cover the leaves.
What might this disease (or diseases - the mint looks like rust but I've not heard of rust affecting thyme) be, and how can I treat it? And can I still eat the affected leaves?
Those tiny grasshopper-looking jerks are thrips. The spots are from thrips piercing the leaf with their mouths and sucking out the contents. As far as I know, the leaves are safe to eat. I would just wash them to remove the buggers and their frass.
It’s probably an annual problem because thrips can overwinter under plant debris or mulch. Come spring, they’ll start repopulating on your growing plants and the cycle continues.
