In this edition of DIG IT Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with special guest Andrew Mikolajski. Andrew, a well-known horticulturalist, and prolific author of over 40 gardening books, including his latest, ‘Who Ate My Plants’. Andrew discusses the ongoing battle gardeners have with garden pests and diseases.

Plant mentions: Grow as many varieties and species – native and non-native from the Northern Hemisphere as you can to increase insect biodiversity of wildlife to help attract predators. Marigolds as a companion planting with Tomatoes and the pairing of alliums with roses. Check vegetable seed packets for disease resilience. Lavender, Penstemon, Fuchsias and Hebes would benefit from a dose of a high potash fertiliser to help toughen them up. Use vine weevil nematode control for Heuchera, Heucherella, alpines and Fuchsias.

Product mentions: Slug pellets (use the jam jar method mentioned). Sand, Garlic wash, Box Tree Caterpillar Biological Control, Provanto Fungus Fighter (for Box Blight), Pheromone Traps (codling moth and plum moth), Organic pesticides, fleece over cabbage, good drainage essentials, include sand, potting grit, or Perlite to avoid overwet compost, Potassium (K) High potash fertilisers such as Sulphate of Potash, Tomorite, to help harden growth for the winter. Nematodes for slugs and vine weevil. Ladybird larvae and adults can be introduced.

Pest / Disease mentions: Aphids, Slugs, Snails, Muntjak, Deer, Rabbits, Oak Processionary Moth - a notifiable pest, Xylella fasidiosa, Box Blight, Box Tree Caterpillar, Rose Black Spot and Rose Mildew.

No Mow May, or maybe simply mow less often to encourage more flowers and diversity.

Look for the RHS Plants for Pollinators logo.

Make friends with your fellow allotment holders, or join a gardening club / society to learn about local growing conditions if you move into a new area.

Judging at RHS show.

Andrew’s desert island essentials: A ball of garden twine and a pair of scissors and the Rose ‘Nostalgia.’

Find out more about Andrew on his website

Andrew’s book, Who Ate My Plants? is published by Michael O’Mara Books Limited.

Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music.

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