Quick QUESTIONS
Why have the leaves of my new Virginia creeper turned red and dropped off? Sian Younger, by Facebook Stefan says This is just as it should be. Many people imagine Virginia creeper and its relatives, such as the Boston ivy, are evergreen, but they all turn red and shed their leaves in autumn. In truth, for me, that rich colour is their virtue, but one that has to be offset by their propensity to grow like fury and envelop whatever they’re growing against.
I have a grapefruit in a pot grown from a pip. Will it produce blooms or fruit? Carole Tilden, by email Stefan says: It might, but I wouldn’t be too optimistic. At best, I think you may have an attractive foliage plant but one that, like all kinds of citrus, attracts whitefly and sooty mould. If you really want to be certain of having reliable flowers and fruit from a citrus plant, you need either a lemon or a Calamondin orange, which are especially suited to pot culture.
Could I safely move my honeysuckle bush from one part of the garden to another?
Jim Franklyn, by email Stefan says: If it’s a young plant it won’t be a problem at all and you can get on and move it to its new site now. I do find, however, that old, very woody honeysuckles don’t transplant nearly as successfully. If it has to be done, then leave it until growth is just beginning in spring. Also make sure you give it a hard prune first.