July News from Upchurch Horticultural Society - From the Potting Shed

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The year is marching on and we have arrived at July. Most of the hard work is done and you have probably hit all the deadlines to get your garden up and running. I am a bit behind this year and still need to plant out my leeks and tomatoes which are now late, but everything else is going well. The weeds are also proving a problem and I really need to find some time to tidy the borders. However, gardening is meant to be fun, not a chore and everything will slow down if we get dry hot weather. If it does all prove too much to maintain, never mind, you get the chance to start again every year. My fruit trees also took a bashing during the wintry weather in spring and not a single apple. Also at the last count I only had 4 plums and one of those has just dropped off. The good news is that the pears are fine so it will be pear crumble this winter. For a comprehensive list of gardening tips for July look at www.thompson-morgan.com/in-the-garden-this-month

One thing I am certain of now that we have reached July is that the pests and diseases that seem to plague everything that grows will have made themselves evident by now. Aphids are usually the first to appear as they love the fresh succulent new growth on plants and infest shoot tips. The first counter measure is to pick out the shoot tips particularly on broad beans that suffer badly with blackfly at this time of year. Autumn planting also helps as you would have harvested by now and missed the worst of it. Greenfly have also set about the apple tree and the leaves are starting to curl and shrivel. The climbing beans and runner beans have yet to come under attack but it won’t be long before they do. The apple is also susceptible to woolly aphid that spins wool type threads to protect itself while feasting on the sap of the plant. The only really effective option to deal with an infestation is to resort to pesticides. There are a number of organic pesticides available but I have not always found them very good so at the risk of public outcry I do resort to chemical attack.

My insecticide of choice is Provado by Bayer which controls a wide range of pests that attack fruit and vegetables including caterpillars and is effective for up to 4 weeks. The best way to apply it, is to dilute in water in a 5L pump sprayer which when pressurised produces a fine mist. Spray all over the plant, especially under the leaves and around the shoot tips. Always follow the instructions on the packaging as most insecticides have a limit on the amount to be used and the number of applications. A lot of products can be purchased pre-diluted in a 1L container, but this is the expensive way of doing it. It is far more cost effective to buy the concentrate and dilute yourself.

Another pest that attacks fruit trees is scale. It starts off as a small mobile nymph but settles down to feed on the sap and forms a hard shell over itself for protection against predators. The most common variety is called Oystershell Scale as it resembles shellfish clinging to a rock. By the time you realise you have it, it is too late to spray. The best thing is to get an old stiff brush and vigorously rub the scale off or just crush it with your thumb. It’s a bit messy but very effective.

There are so many pests and diseases that can set about your plants that it is too much to deal with in a single article. The internet is a good way to identify and treat them or just get a good book.

But the time has come to enjoy your garden and to embrace outdoor living. Spark up the BBQ, get some friends round, light the chiminea, eat, drink and take satisfaction in your labours.

Cheers!

We are always looking for new members and try to encourage a fun attitude towards friendly competition. So if you want to grow your own fruit, vegetables and flowers or even enter any of the 3 shows we hold each year, then please get in touch, we would be happy to hear from you.

If you are interested in becoming a new member, (all ages are welcome), please contact Rosey on: 01634 377812 (evenings) or Email: rosemary@ringwoodaccounting.co.uk

Sean Barry - Upchurch Horticultural Society

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