大象传媒

The growing season is in full swing now with the garden looking its most colourful with masses of blooms, developing fruits and vegetables responding to warmer conditions with great bursts of growth.

I have planted more Tomatoes, Courgettes, Potatoes, Marrows and Ridge Cucumbers this year as the results of my seed sowing were so good, I was reluctant to throw any on the compost heap as they looked so healthy, so by the Autumn I will be cooking and freezing the Tomatoes ready for use in Bolognese sauce and as additions to curries and casseroles. Nothing from the garden needs to be wasted so just find any little space and as long as the plants are well fed and watered they will reward you.

As the weather warms up then look out for pests and diseases on the new growth as aphids and fungul spores will attack almost without you seeing them before they have a real hold. Just go for one of the many garden products on the market and start your attack. By hitting the problems early you will have a better chance of getting control before the bulk of damage is done.

PLANT OF THE WEEK:
Ceonothus "Blue Mound" is the more miniature version of the large deciduous flowering shrub so loved during the summer months with it's glorious vivid dark blue flowers and striking dark green foliage. This smaller ground hugging version makes a fair amount of outward growth but will not grow taller than about half a metre or so. The light blue flowers will fill the borders during May and June and the shrubs will grow in most well drained conditions.

TOPICAL TIPS:

Keep an eye open for grey mould on Grape Vines and spray with Boudreaux Mixture on a regular basis and if the infection is not too bad then simply remove the effected foliage with clippers and discard well away from the main plant. Trim back any invasive long green shoots to keep the vine from getting too big

Early flowering plants like Aubrietia and Allisom can be trimmed back once they have finished flowering. If done now then there is a good chance of more flowers this summer.

Keep greenhouses well ventilated to allow pollinating insects access and to keep the air flowering through. Stale air in greenhouses will cause fungal diseases to get a hold.

Happy Gardening.

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