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Water tomatoes regularly to prevent fruit splitting and blossom end rot Feed tomato crops with a high-potash tomato fertiliser every weekBe on the lookout for aphids, vine weevils and other pestsVentilate daily and add extra shading if temperatures

English name is not really surprising, because 100 years ago this insect was virtually unknown in Britain. An important monograph on hoverflies, published in 1902, reported only two museum specimens 'reputed' to have been found here. Then, during the 1940s

The plot is abuzz with wildlife, including ladybirds, lacewings, bumblebees and ground beetles. They're all marvellous for my crops; bees increase my yields by pollinating flowers, and ladybirds and lacewings eat a lot of aphids. As well

nutritious for both other plants and humans.Follow our tips on putting nettles to good use - but be sure to wear gloves at all times when handling them.For a basic soup you'll need about 200g of fresh nettle tips. Add 450g of potatoes, peeled and cubed, a

band to trees.Grease bandScissorsStringOctober - November10 minutesUnroll the grease band and measure how much you'll need around the base of your fruit tree.Cut off the length required, ensuring the ends overlap so there aren't any gaps

Earwigs, which can be up to 14mm long, hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. The females lay eggs in late-winter, usually in the soil, which hatch in spring. Although earwigs can damage plants, they also eat small pests and their eggs

to feed. After 2-3 weeks, the larvae pupate inside the leaves and emerge as adults. The damage is mostly cosmetic but where many leaves are affected, the plant may be weakened or die. Different species of leaf miner fly affect specific plants.A maze

.a range of ornamental plants, trees, shrubs, herbs, some vegetables, fruitspring, summerMore common garden pestsAphidsScale insectsFlea beetleEarwigs

can be eliminated by calling in professional pest control companies, or if the nest is small enough, by using a proprietory product from any hardware store.fruit trees and busheslate-summer to autumnMore common garden pestsSlugsAphidsEarwigsMealybugs

, loganberries, other fruitsummerMore common problems affecting fruit trees and bushesAphidsBrown rotAntsPowdery mildew