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Rust fungus is the curse of hollyhocks. The undersides of the leaves are often peppered with bright yellow or orange-red rust spots with corresponding beige-yellow splodges on the upper surface. Eventually, it affects the whole plant, with leaves

evening to trap in the warmthWater crops in pots and growing bags more sparingly, but continue feeding weeklyStop watering gloxinias, begonias and achimenes to let their leaves die down completely before storing tubers in dry compost for winterPot up

to their baseFlowersGrow early-maturing potatoes in a bag of compostFork compost into beds to prepare soil for plantingChit potatoes Fruit & vegSow cucumbers, tomatoes, aubergines and peppersWater compost with a suitable pesticideSow summer bedding plants

Next week, from 29 March to 4 April 2010, is the inaugural Gardeners' World 'Grow Your Own' Week'. Gardeners across the land will be encouraged to teach others to start growing their own fruit and vegetables. I've taught my children to grow

. The skin's surface is also peppered with greyish pustules.Immediately destroy all contaminated fruit, as well as any damaged ones liable to infection. Cut away and destroy dead shoots or spurs (pruning in the summer for plums, winter for apples and pears

the pepper and aubergine plants in pots. I spread them out on the benching, where they could enjoy the increased light levels coming through that sparkling clean glass.A friend recently gave me a trailer load of manure, so, once the ‘housekeeping’ tasks were

Only a couple of weeks ago I was waxing lyrical about my very much loved greenhouse. There are still a few peppers and tomatoes hanging on in there, but as light levels get lower and days get frighteningly shorter, I finally got around to starting

individual bulbs of garlic into pots, then transplanting them later on.Everything else is starting to move too, the tomato, pepper and aubergine seedlings are responding well to the increased light levels. I planted a few potatoes earlier but had to protect

compost and keep them in a bright place to ensure they germinate.Chilli seeds e.g. 'Cayenne'Good quality seed compostSmall pots x2ClingfilmJanuary - May10 minutes to sow the seedsJuly - AugustFill two small pots with seed compost. Water the compost

It's been a bumper year for strawberries on the Bathampton plot. Lizzy, Paul and I have been picking for all we're worth and my jam pan has scarcely left the stove.We grow two varieties of strawberry: an early called 'Honeoye' and a later one