Stop pesky apple moth

Q Who’s eating my apples? SHARRON BAROUDI, BY EMAIL AND GERALDINE BAILEY, ALTRINCHAM A This damage is caused by the grubs of codling moth; the holes show where the grubs have exited the apples. It’s a common pest and the moths are most active in May. At this time, hang pheromone traps (approx £6 at garden centres) in the trees to catch the male moths. This reduces the number of fertilised eggs laid and also indicates whether to start using a chemical spray. Resolva Bug Killer (£9.99 for 250ml conc) is effective if applied at the correct time – usually in June, once the leaves are open and moth eggs are hatching. Q Why did blossoming cherry tree fail to fruit in greenhouse? CLIVE RIBY, SWANSEA A Cherry trees are hardy so don’t need to be kept in a greenhouse. In fact, after the extremely hot summer, it probably got a bit too hot under glass. The combination of heat and dry atmosphere would also have encouraged red spider mites, which probably killed the leaves. It’s best to leave the plant outside from now on. Q What caused tough skins and uneven ripening on tomatoes? SARAH COLLINS, BY EMAIL AND RON MORGAN, FACEBOOK A Tough skins on tomatoes is associated with insufficient watering and excess heat. Next year shade the greenhouse and keep plants fed and watered. Uneven ripening (greenback) is caused by fruit being exposed to extreme sunshine – it’s warmth, not sun, that ripens fruit. While it’s often advised to remove lower leaves to increase air circulation around plants, don’t expose the fruit to strong sun or they can suffer from this problem. The fruits are edible, though the pale area is often crunchy. Q My potted raspberries were riddled with ants – how do I stop them returning next year? JUNE GREEN, BIRMINGHAM A Ants like sweet things so they could be attracted to the fruits, but they’re also attracted to the sweet honeydew secreted by aphids. Check the shoot tips and undersides of the young leaves to see if aphids are present and treat with an insecticide.