Fact Sheet 40
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THE GARDENERS DIARY
WEEK 40
3rd July 2005
THE DIARY
THE FLOWER GARDEN: Stay busy in the flower garden.
Flowers and stems need staking and tying as they thrive in the summer sun. Weeds need to be removed as they grow at a rapid rate. As the weeds show their ugly heads remove them before they take hold and are allowed to flower and seed. The hoe won't have time to gather dust. If you are planting anything new this month, ensure that you water well before and after planting. These plants will require plenty of care and attention. If you are planning to go away through the holiday period make sure that you have a friend or colleague to continue with the watering. Another option to keep the plants watered is to invest into a self-watering system this will allow you peace of mind while you're away. THE GREENHOUSE: Keep it cool! This time of year the greenhouse can become to hot to work in. It's a sign that the greenhouse needs plenty of ventilation and shading. Shading which was started last month should now be placed over the whole structure and vents should be left wide open to allow through drafts to circulate the air inside your structure. If you feel your greenhouse hasn't enough ventilation then it may well be wise to add some lourve vents into the wall opposite the greenhouse door. Only shut doors and vents if the weather turns windy and wild or if in the evenings it turns chilly for the time of the year. Damping down should also be increased to at least 3-4 times a day to help lower the temperature. FRUIT & VEG: Feed tomatoes. Outdoor tomatoes will need feeding as their fruit set. Wait till the fourth truss has set then count two leaves above this and take out the tip of the plant. This will allow all the goodness to enter into the fruit. Keep applying water and liquid feed regularly and evenly through the growing period as the fruit develop. If you don't do this the fruit on the trusses will split or will slowly develop blossom end rot thus spoiling your crop only leaving it ideal for chutney or the compost bin! DISEASE PROBLEM OF THE WEEK: Azalea Gall. If you have noticed that your prize azalea's have produced leaves which are waxy and powdery white then this will be Azalea Gall. The leaves will slowly turn pale green in places and then develop white growths. Not all the plant will be affected. These will spore and continue slowly to infect other parts of the plant. These galls at the end of the season will turn brown and then fall. The fungus will mainly attack indoor and outdoor varieties of Indian hybrid strains of this popular evergreen. The spores are carried on the air currents or by pests. It is best at first signs of attack to remove all the infected growth and then spray the plant with a fungicide. Listen to The Gardener's Diary with Luke Ashmead on BBC Three Counties Radio every Sunday afternoon at 2.00pm Contact The Gardener's Diary Here BBC Three Counties Radio 94.7, 98, 103.8, 95.5 and 104.5FM | 
