JULY Tips

CULTURAL TIPS FOR LATE CHRYSANTHEMUM

By the first week in July the rooted cuttings of Late Flowering Sprays should have rooted.

Late Spays can be grown with a stop or without a stop. If you rooted some in early June

they should be well rooted by now , pot them up in soil less compost , one to a 7-inch pot 

or three to a larger pot , keep them growing until the stop is due about the third week in July.

carrying three or four laterals.

Buds of most earlies will be appearing in the next few weeks. In most cases it will be four

weeks from the time of bud selection to the time the buds show colour, and a further four

weeks to the maturity of the full bloom.

Lates in pots will need a weekly  feed, The first top dressing of  John Innes compost should be applied , try to keep the roots cool and moist and encourage new root action, the dressing 

should be of the same compost as your final compost mix.

Keep a watch for mildew and for white rust. There should be little difficulty in identifying white rust with its distinctive small white pustules on the undersides of the leaves. unlike the powder like covering associated with mildew.

If you are growing a few Charms for your local show don't forget to turn them it will give them a good uniform  effect.

We are getting our schedules from our local and national shows through the letter box now.

I love to browse through them to find  if the classes have altered from last year, and the names

of the Judges.       

Japanese Fantasy Spiders

I have been talking to one a two members, they have grown their plants on second crown. Just as late singles, reduce the laterals to about six to eight taking any weak laterals off.

Late Sprays

Keep potting on your late sprays they have to grow very quickly  before you black out.

Try to keep them out of the direct sun and keep the temperature down as much as possible.