HOLD OFF ON THE ZUCCHINI

TO DO THIS WEEK IN THE GARDEN

1

Cycads are having their last flush of new leaves for the season, spray with a botanical oil to protect the soft new leaves from cycad beetle.

2

Cut away fern fronds that have been damaged in heavy rain and wind. Fertilise and mulch to promote new growth. 3

Look out for frass (caterpillar poo) underneath hanging baskets. It will indicate that control methods are necessary or the caterpillars will damage the plant.

4

Plant green gem cucumber seeds in mounds along a fence. This cucumber has some resistance to fungal pathogens active in wet, humid weather.

QJack Thomas, from Mission Beach asks; “My zucchini fruits keep rotting and falling off the vine. What can I do?”

AJack,

It’s the wrong time of the year to grow zucchini. These plants are particularly susceptible to downy mildew in wet and humid weather. I generally plant seedlings in mounds when the wet and showery season has finished; this is often around July, after the Agricultural Show. Three things stop zucchini fruit from setting;

1. Overnight rain wets and washes out the pollen.

2. Heatwave conditions dries the pollen before the pollinators have become active.

3. No pollinators about and you must hand pollinate to achieve fruit set.