Quick Questions
Why does my acanthus fail to flower? Jenny Egbers, by email
Acanthus have big, bold, glossy green leaves and should produce tall spikes of white and lavender flowers. First, ensure the plant is growing in full sun. If not, move it this autumn. Encourage flowering by applying potassium (as sulphate of potash). While it’s droughttolerant, watering well now may also kick start flowering next year.
What has caused the distortion on my grape leaves? Ms P Reinnohl, Carshalton, Surrey
The damage is caused by microscopic erinose mites. They suck on the sap-releasing chemicals, causing the foliage to blister on top and form dense, felty masses of cream hairs beneath. In late summer these dry up and become brownish. There are no pesticides available. Fortunately, the fruit is unaffected and the vigour of the vine is unaffected.
Why did my four yearold apple tree blossom but fail to produce any fruit this year? Eileen Brown, by email
There are really only two possibilities. Either the blossom got caught by frost and failed to set fruit or it wasn’t pollinated. Apples, even those claimed to be self-fertile, crop best with cross-pollination from another apple variety in the same pollination group or one immediately adjacent. If your tree was pollinated in previous years from one in a neighbouring garden, the failure this year may be down to the scarcity of bees which move pollen from one tree to another.