Q: I have a large stephanotis (sorry if its not spelt correctly) and it has produced 2 large avocado like pears. What are they?

Malcolm Robins - Spain

A: These are just seed pods that will eventually split open and liberate lots of seeds that have silken parachutes, as they are wind dispersed.

These seeds are unlikely to grow into good flowering plants so you may just like to discard the pods as they are taking goodnesss from your plant.

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Q: How do I make a twisting trunk on a small potted bay tree, what do I need to know.

Alison lingard - London

A: As long as your bay tree trunk is not too old and it is still supple you just need to push in a strong bamboo cane or small stake next to the stem and then twist the youg stem around it.

Tie it in place regularly using old tights as they do not chaff and leave it in that position for about 2 years. The trunk will then have taken on that shape.

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Q: Carrots this year were small and black inside. Any suggestions?

Williams - Carmarthen

A: I would try growing them in amother part of the veg carden and trweating that area to a dressing of a really good fertiliser like Vitax Q4.

Growing the crop under fibre fleece all its life should help to keep off carrot fly too.

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Q: We have had a Hydranger plant for three years and still no flowers. How should it be trimmed back for the mild winter season?

Jim Robertson - Myrtle Beach, SC

A: There is no need to prune the plant at all. All that you would ever need to do is the remove the old flower heads in spring and take out the odd older branch to rejuvinate the shrub, but as yours is still young it shoukld be ok.

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Q: I have a problem with wisteria staining clothes. It is only recently that I have realised the stain is caused by the sap when pruning.

You can't see the stain until after washing, it leaves a brown stain, which so far nothing seems to remove.

Barbara Taylor - Yeovil

A: This is the first time that I have heard of this but I'm afraid that I have no real answer except trying on of the stain removers.

Sorry about that. Give old Vic Verrier a ring on Somserset Sound and se if he knows, if you get on give him my regards, I last saw him at Chelsea Show in 2000.

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Q: I am growing basil in a terra cotta pot. The pot has acquired a layer of white powder on the outside.

Are these minerals that have filtered through? Is this a problem?

Kay Bailey - Washington, DC, USA

A: No this is just the calcium and salts comming out of the clay, nothing to worry about.

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Q: What fertilizer can we use to improve our lawn.

Yvonne Rustage - Warrington

A: I suspect that a drop of rain would do your lawn the power of good, in the meantime do not mow it lower than one inch to conserve the strength of the grass.

If you would like an instant effect apply a liquid lawn fertiliser, not one with a wedkiller in it and definitly not a powder or granular one- it is too dry at tghe moment.

Other than putting on a liquid feed I would wait until later September and then use an autumn lawn fertiliser which will help to put the lawn in good heart for the winter.

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Q: Yellow falling leaves on honeysuckle. A 2 year old plant, strong until recently has become a little straggly and leaves are yellowing and dropping.

It is still flowering and some sign of strong new growth as if it is fighting its problem! No insects, full sun up the side of a garage. Could it be because the garage base was only built when the plants was put in (clorosis)

What is verticillium? could it be this, or a virus? No steaking on stems. Plant still flowering although less than last year.

Sally Thompson-Turrell - Bournemouth

A: I think that the problem here is powdery mildew a fungal disease that often attacks honeysuckle, particularly L. Halliana, when the roots begin to get dry.

The plant will grow new foliage and the best remedy is to keep the roots moist, by watering and mulching, and treat the foliage with a fungicide.

If you wish to use a fungicide Bio Systhane Fungus Fighter would be a good bet but you would need to repeat the dose to get the best effect.

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Q: Where can I get trailing pelargoniums in August?

Linda Thorpe - Ealing

A: I doubt if anyone will have any available at the moment as we are too close to the time for getting rid of the summer bedding plants to replace them with autumn bedding.

They should be readily available again next spring.

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Q: I have grown something that I believe is an old fashioned vegetable called a peabean.

It has grown well and now the pods are turning yellow with baked bean sized beans in them. White but starting to turn dark reddybrown. How do I harvest and eat them?

Caroline Page - Caistor St Edmund, Norwich

A: I think that these beans should be harvested for eating as you would runner beans, while he pods are still green.

When they have gone as far as yours I think that they are best kept for seed to plant next season.

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Q: I have 2 honeysuckles growing over an arch. They are growing but are very spindly and lack leaves. It hasn't got mildew. My mum says the arch should be covered by now. Help!!

C Russo - Southampton

A: I suspect that maybe it has got powdery mildew as it appears to be showing the signs of infection. To get it growing well make sure that it is well watered and feed it with some rose fertiliser around the roots.

If there are dtill some leaves on it also try a foliar feed of natural seaweed fertiliser applied to the foliage as this will be absorbed and working in a matter of hours. Repeat the dose of foliar feed every 10 days until early October.
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Q: My new house has a garden that is overrun with ivy on the ground. The roots are quite deep and it is hard to pull it up.

Will Growing Success Ivy Killer work in this case and will it affect the surrounding plants as well?

A: Yes Growing Success Ivy Killer is designed for just this sort of job, but you must keep the spray off surrounding plants.

If you are worried try the paint on gel version.

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Q: Can you tell me when is the best time of year to trim my bay tree into shape, as it is tending to become straggly.

Harry Cox - Hetton-le-Hole

A: The best time to shape up your Bay Tree is in mid April.
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Q: When do I remove the mop heads from my Hydrangea?

Pat Walker - Baildon, W.Yorks

A: I normally leave my dead heads in place until the plant just begins to break into new growth next spring, as I believe that they protect the new flower buds from winter cold damage.

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Q: How do you make morning glory flower? All I have are leaves and vines.

Cathleen - New York City

A: Morning Glory plants do tend to make a lot of vine growth before flowering.

They enjoy a bright spot but the best way to encourage flowers is to feed with a high potash fertiliser, like a liquid tomato food.

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Q: I have just moved into a new house and want to know the best smallish shrubs that grow in the shade.

Sue Oliver - Bridlington

A: Here are some ideas, Hellebores, Vinca, Euonymusf ortunei, Mahonia aquifolium,Skimmia, Sarcococca,Viburnum davidii Hypericum calycinum, Hostas, ferns, Alchemilla mollis, Epimedium, Berberis thunbergii aurea.

Have a look at some of those, some are herbaceous plants by the way.

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Q: I want to get some more plants of the good old fashioned tall hollyhock where can they be found?

Rosalie Daubney - Evesham

A: The cheapest way if you know someone who has some plants that you admire would be to beg some seed from them.

Otherwise have a look in seed catalogues one of the best to get is Chiltern seeds from Cumbria Tel: 01229 581137. Locally try Cotswold Garden Flowers at Offenham 01386422829.

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