Gardeners’ queries

Press, 2 June 1989, Page 11

Gardeners’ queries

Can you identify the weed which has invaded my lawn which is three years old. What are your recommendations for killing it. W. B. (Templeton).

Hydrocotyle (waxweed) continues to be the bane of all those who wish to maintain a good, weedfree lawn. Unfortunately this plant is beginning to show some resistance to even to most efficient herbicides, which are available in commercial quantities only. Best control is achieved when the weed is in active growth, in the spring time and early autumn, and usually has to be repeated at some later stage to achieve the best possible results. To date, Picloram/2,4-D has given the most satisfactory control followed by the combination of Bromoxinil, loxynil, Mecocrop. Clopyralid is being tried more extensively by some big users such as on greens. The addition of an surfactant generally gives improve results. The best recommendation that can be given at present is to prevent further spread through runners, stolons and seed, and not to consign plant material to the compost heap.

In your Gardeners’ Queries column there was a request for sources of large onion seed. I imported the variety ‘Lancastrian’ from Thompson and Morgan, London Road, Ipswich, England. I had great success with this onion,

growing them to 20cm diameter. I kept one for seed and harvested it in March hoping that it will grow true to type. If C. T. likes to contact me I’d willingly send him seed. D. C. (Chch).

I am grateful for your response to the request for information on the availability of large onion seed. C.T.’s address has been mislaid, but if he contacts me I will forward it to you.

With regard to the request for the source of large onion seed, I enclose a catalogue from W. Robinson Ltd., England, from whom I have obtained ‘Mammoth Improved Onion Seed’ through the post. R. G. (Chch). Thank you for providing a source of large onion seed. The full address of this firm is W. Robinson, and Son Ltd., Sunnybank, Forton, Nr. Preston, Lancashire, England. It claims to be a “raiser and sole seed producer of the mammoth strain of seed since 1860.” Two examples of their seed offerings are Mammoth Improved Onion which ‘can be grown to over 51b weight and 22ins circumference,” and Liberty Runner Bean “many beans over 35ins.”

Could you identify the disease on our red currants. The trouble started early in the season and consequently we had little or no crop. Now the bushes appear’ to be

nearly dead and it looks, as though we will have to start all over again. I feel the drought has hit a lot of things very hard and caused problems that otherwise may not have happened in a normal year. Gosh, when will it be normal? H. B. (No. 1 R.D. Rangiora).

A very severe infestation of scale insects has contributed to the poor fruiting and death of much of the growth of these red currants. The build up of these sap sucking pests would have occured over a period of time until the plants lacked the vigour to sustain their depredation. The dry weather would not have assisted matters, but it appears that the rains have finally arrived! Remedial action to take is the cutting out of all old and any other really badly infested wood as low as possible on the plants now. This should be followed up by an application of spraying oil or lime sulphur, to be repeated before bud movement. Burn all prunings.

Gardeners’ Queries should be sent directly to Mr Mike Lusty, 56 Wayside Avenue, Christchurch 5. Samples should be separately wrapped in a plastic bag with air holes. Provide representative, good-sized samples, and your name and address. A nom-de-plume can be used for publication.