Gardening with Gary

Gardening Advice from an Expert

Bud Blast

The fungus Botrytis is usually the cause of bud blast. This is when the buds on your flowers, vegetables and fruit dry up before they open and bloom. This cuts severely into not only the beauty, but also the bearing of these crops. Botrytis thrives in warm, humid areas where air circulation is poor. But, you do not have to let it get an upper hand if you follow a few procedures:

Remove all parts of the plants which show a grayish, hairy-looking growth and discard them into a garbage can, never around other plants or in a compost pile.

You may need to remove and replace the old mulch around any infected plants, as the Botrytis may be living on the dead, organic material, and will merely shift up to your plants. Prune your plants, allowing plenty of room around and between them for air circulation. If the problem persists, spray with a fungicide whose label mentions Botrytis.

Q. I am so unhappy watching my fruit flowers start to open and then fall off! What can I do yo stop this?

A. Gardeners in warm, humid climates will soon be fighting bud blast.If the buds on your flowers and fruits dry up and fall off before they bloom, the fungus Botrytis is probably the cause.The disease thrives in warm humid areas where air circulation is poor.Here are some suggestions to help combat bud blast:

Remove all affected parts of the plant and destroy them.

Clean up any debris that may have fallen around the plant.

Remove old mulch.

Space and prune plants so that there is plenty of room for air to circulate.

Spray with a fungicide such as Benomyl. Check at your local nursery and please follow the label directions exactly. Spray in the morning on a still day and repeat as directed to gain full control.

Assistance from: Garden Guides