As usual the science and advice team will be manning the advice desk at the show. In addition the Wisley garden staff are presenting an exhibit in the Growing Tastes marquee and will join the advice team to give expert advice on growing fruit and veg.
It has been a great year for insects so far, with an influx of painted lady butterflies, blackfly and greenfly, gooseberry sawflies and many reports of harlequin ladybirds and their larvae, particularly on broad beans:
Our entomologist will be at the show to indentify your bugs and beasts – they are especially interested in monitoring the prevalence and spread of lily beetle and berberis sawfly.
London is the centre for two new pests Green vegetable bug and Wisteria scale. They would like to hear from people who suspect these in their garden.
You might think that the hot, dry weather would suppress diseases, but in fact powdery mildews are rife now and the unsettled weather forecast could cause tomato and potato blight to spread:
If you find anything suspicious in your garden bring generous samples and pictures along for our plant pathologists to look over.
Our botanists will be in attendance too; at the peak of summer they get many plants to identify, but do bear in mind the need for very good quality samples or pictures of flowers if accurate identification is to be done.
With the floral marquee and plant plots bursting with tempting plants it is an ideal time to start planning new plantings for this autumn – come and see our horticulturists for their input in good plants for your garden.