Quick Qu estions
Why do the flower buds on my wisteria drop before opening? Marilyn Anderson, by email The flower buds on wisteria start to develop in late summer of the previous year. Adverse conditions, particularly dry soil, occurring between July and September, can cause the buds to abort and if this is happening every year it’s the likely cause. Watering thoroughly once a week during this time may help. While wisterias are totally hardy, the developing flower buds are susceptible to spring frosts or just cold nights, which may cause flower buds to drop before opening, but this shouldn’t be a regular occurrence. Why is my blackcurrant not fruiting? Sheila Barnes, by email Blackcurrants are selffertile so we can rule out a pollination problem. While they tolerate a li le shade, they do best in an open, sunny position. Some varieties flower in early April and the flowers and small fruitlets are very susceptible to cold and especially northerly or easterly winds. Lateflowering varieties, such as the ‘Ben Sarek’ and ‘Ben Tirran’, are hardier. Why did my potatopropagated rose cu ings fail to grow? Sylvia Kinnersley, by email On the internet and elsewhere it’s suggested that inserting a rose cu ing into a potato and planting it in the ground is a great method. It’s not! Take hardwood cu ings 30cm (1ft) long of the current season’s growth in late autumn and insert them the correct way up to threequarters of their length into well-cultivated soil. The following autumn you’ll have nicely rooted plants to transplant.