Plant Patch
Gardening can be a battle!
Fleece
Mother nature seems to conspire against us at times.
At the moment we have sunny days with cold drying winds and over night frosts. Many plants are producing their first tender leaves and this combination of weather can be disastrous. Japanese acers are now trying to leaf up and their foliage is particularly sensitive, a covering of fleece will help prevent damage, which can be fatal. Most plants will look as if they have been torched, the young leaves blackened and twisted. In the majority of cases trimming the damaged growth will encourage the plant to regrow.
Frost Damage?
A few years ago a customer came in with a tale of woe at this time. Their beautiful hedge had Fireblight disease and they had pulled it out and were looking for a replacement.They then told me that it was a Grisselina hedge. Knowing that this plant does not get Fireblight I took them and showed them the plants on the display beds which had been blackened with frost."Yes they look just like those." I then had to tell them that they had needlessly removed their hedge, which was only suffering frost damage.
First Fungicide
Fruit trees are beginning to shoot and are now at the green bud stage. This is the ideal time to apply the first fungicide spray if your trees tend to produce scabby fruit. Trees of course should not be sprayed once they are in flower, as this will kill pollinating insects.
First Pesticide
Gooseberries are shooting and once there is leaf think about spraying against sawfly which will completely defoliate the bush. Pyrethrum and derris are both organic products and will knock out this catterpillar.
First Feed
Strawberries are probably looking a bit rough after the winter .Now is the time to cut off all brown and dead leaves and give they plants a feed to encourage flowering. Once little fruit have formed stop feeding or the results will be large watery tasteless fruit.
Tender Annuals
It is of course too early to be planting tender annuals out doors. Most plants are raised in heated greenhouses and would not stand the over night frosts and cold winds. A greenhouse at this time of year is invaluable for growing on all the tender plants.
Tomato Plants
Tomato plants have made an appearance but with no heat in the greenhouse they are sat on the windowsill like a lot of other peoples.
Fleece
Those intrepid gardeners that planted potatoes in early February are now busy banking them up or covering in fleece, if not the frost will have them.
Plant Patch 10 April 2006