Keep it clean in autumn
SO here we are, slap bang in the middle of the season of mists, mellow fruitfulness – and mould. The hot, dry summer has segued into a mild, still and slightly damp autumn, which can provide the perfect nursery for all sorts of garden problems. This summer was brilliant in so many ways, not least because the weather was about as anti-blight as you can get. It has resulted in a glut of soft and tree fruits, courgettes and squashes, and the tomato crop to end all tomato crops. But autumn can be a tricky time – it isn’t yet cold enough for frosts, but it is becoming increasingly damp. This creates ideal conditions for fungal diseases and mould, such as botrytis (which is also known as grey mould), powdery mildew in…