Fact Sheet 43
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THE GARDENERS DIARY
WEEK 43
24th July 2005
THE DIARY THE FLOWER GARDEN: Rejuvenating Rhodo's & Azalea's Older Rhododendron's and Azalea's this week could do with a prune which will rejuvenate them. These acid soil lovers can be slow to restart growing. Look at the plant and strategically prune a third of the plant at a time. The plant may end up looking strange for a while but if you were to trim the whole thing back in one go the plant may not recover from the shock. By trimming one third at a time the plant will still be able to produce food for itself and hopefully will enable dormant buds to break and then replace the growth that has been removed. Once this growth is large enough trim back another third. Feed the plant with an acid plant food and also spray the foliage with a foliar feed. This will also encourage the dormant buds to break. Once the whole plant has been trimmed, you will be able to keep it in check after it has flowered each year. THE GREENHOUSE: Pot up and harden off winter/spring colour Start pricking out winter and spring annuals which were sown last month. Prick them out into pots and trays and once they have produced several adult leaves move them outside into frames etc. to harden off ready to be planted out in the autumn. Slowly feed them through next month to help encourage strong healthy growth. If they try to produce some early flowers pick them off so that all the goodness goes into the plant to help it go through the winter outside. FRUIT & VEG: Sow Spring Cabbage Now's the time to start sowing your Spring Cabbage crop. Pick a reliable variety like Durham Early or April. Sow thinly into drills about 10-13mm deep and about 30cm apart. Once the seed has germinated, thin out to 10cm between plants. Keep your crop well watered through this summer period and feed to encourage the heads to mature.
DISEASE PROBLEM OF THE WEEK: Chrysanthemum white rust
This disease can affect a number of plants If you've noticed raised buff-coloured warts on the underside of the leaves while the upper side has yellow sunken pits then this could be the start of a serious problem. If left these leaves will die and then drop. When Chrysanthemum white rust hits it is best to first remove all signs of attack and then spray with a fungicide. The fungus is usually encouraged by spells of humid weather and any other plants which are in proximity of the disease should also be checked and sprayed. Also earmark the diseased plant and remove it completely at the end of the season.
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