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kill a plant. Since there are separate fungal species that affect different plants, an attack on your curcubits won't lead to a garden epidemic. Powdery mildew and powdery mildew on roses are similar problems, with similar solutions.The first sign

, while general growth and vigour is poor. Also learn about powdery mildew on roses.In summer, a white powdery coating covers the leaves and possibly the shoot tips and flowers too. Leaves may then become discoloured and distorted, with poor growth

as the pustules erupted from nearly every leaf.The pears too had rust - a sight I've only ever seen a handful of times (and that includes working as plant pathologist at RHS Wisley for 11 years, examining thousands of decrepit plants each year). Presumably it

such as rose rust and hollyhock rust are then quick to establish. At the beginning of summer I was given samples of pear foliage with rust on them. Interestingly, my pear trees haven't been affected this year, which is surprising as the weather conditions have

on hawthorn, blackthorn, rowan and plum. Plenty of those in nearby gardens. I let it out of the back door at 10 o'clock at night and it rose up into the darkness, its ghostly colour flickering off into the void.

surnames are as follows:1 Bean (8224)2 Pepper (4919)3 Leek (3118)4 Onions (2843)5 Garlic (59)6 Swede (40)7 Pea (37)8 Sprout (21)9 Broccoli (17)10 Zucchini (17)

taste for single colours.Pictured above is a brand new zinnia that you may have discovered this year, but will be widely available in the 2011 seed catalogues. It's called 'Purple Prince' and I've been trialling it this summer. I love it! Growing up

'm in no doubt that greenfly, blackfly and just about every other colour of aphid do not seem to be around in their usual quantity. There have been a few on the okra plants I've raised from seed and the odd one on the roses, but that's about it. I've also noticed

forward to seeing more strident colours, too – the roaring reds of the liquidambars and screaming orange amelanchiers. I can’t wait to find the guelder rose thickly covered with berries and the blackthorn bearing sloes, which positively beg to be picked

, and Helleborus niger, the Christmas rose, which starts to flush pink in January and February.Januarywinteran hourHelleborus niger 10cm pot x3Carex buchananii 2 litre pot x130cm satin zinc cube potPeat free, multi-purpose compostElectric drillCrocksWatering can