• Tuesday’s rain was welcome and a gentle distribution to soften up the ground but do not be lulled into a false sense of security until we get a whole lot more. Here it penetrated the lawn to a depth of about 1cm only. The immediate effect will be to encourage the explosion of fungal disease on all susceptible plants (tomatoes, cucurbits, clematis, roses and the like) and to cause a fresh flush of weeds. Be vigilant on both. If you don’t want to spray for fungal attack, and most gardeners won’t, reduce the infected foliage, make sure you have good air movement and hope for dry weather. Obviously, avoid any overhead watering.
• Citrus trees are due for their spray of copper and summer oil. This spray will deal to mites and discourage botrytis. If you live in warmer coastal areas with reasonable shelter, we strongly recommend planting orange trees. They are by far the most productive fruit trees we grow here and keep us well stocked with oranges for twelve months of the year (although navel oranges and tangelos have a shorter fruiting season and do not hang on to their fruit until you are ready for it).
• If you have thrip infested rhododendrons (which shows up as silver leaves), now is the time to spray again if you plan to. You need to use a systemic insecticide which the plant absorbs and disperses, rather than a contact insecticide which only kills where it touches. Your local garden centre should be able to advise on suitable sprays. If the plants are badly infested, it weakens them as well as looking unsightly, so if you don’t plan to spray them at all, remove these plants and replace in autumn with better selections. The cold climate rhodos (which usually includes the American and German hybrids) are particularly vulnerable.
• Watch out for aphids and white butterflies, especially on brassicas. There are organic insecticides for brassicas or you could try a chilli spray. We haven’t tried it ourselves but a recommended home spray combines hot chilli sauce (tabasco or similar) at 3-5ml per litre of water plus 3-5ml of dishwashing detergent. A level standard teaspoon is 5ml but be stingy not generous as this is the maximum dose. This is a repellent, not a killer spray so you may have to combine it with digital control (squashing between fingers) and repeat fortnightly. If you don’t want to spray at all, draping net curtains or fine net cloth keeps white butterflies at bay.
• As space is created in the garden by digging potatoes or summer crops finishing, replant with winter brassicas, lettuce, or leeks for a late crop.