Gardening Q & A
Gardening Q & A
0 Comments | Sunday Mail (Glasgow, Scotland), August 30, 2009
Byline: Carolyn Spray
Q My herbaceous plants look very untidy after flowering but I have been told I have to leave them to protect against frost. Do I?
A If you trim your plants now they will still make some growth before autumn and many will flower again.
Q I have been impressed with my border carnations over the past few years but this year some have gone yellow and collapsed. What is this?
A This is probably a fungus disease called Fusarium which blocks the water tubes within the stem and causes the plant to wilt and die. There is no effective control so don’t replant in the same area.
Q Some of my early potatoes have a very rough, spotty skin. What is this and are they safe to eat?
A This is potato scab – an organism which causes the skin of the small tubers to react against it by producing corky patches. They are safe to eat.
Q I bought two courgette plants but they produced great big marrows. Should I complain?
A Courgettes are in fact marrows which are bred to produce lots of fruits. You must cut them when they are four or five inches long.
Q I have been trying to buy spring cabbage plants but can’t find any. What can I do?
A There is still time to sow your own using a variety like Durham Early. Sow them in drills outside or into a plug tray. Plant out when ready.
Q I bought some wonderful tayberries from a farm shop. Can I grow my own and if so when would I plant them?
A Tayberry is a hybrid between a blackberry and a raspberry. They are best planted November to March in good soil in full sun
fusarium
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