Jake:

On Sun, 7 Aug 2011 10:40:29 +0000 (UTC), Kate
wrote:

Jake:
Having spent much of yesterday digging up all my impatiens, which have
succumbed to that fungus this year, and then buying up any remaining
decent bedding in the local garden centre to fill the more visible
gaps, it was heartening to read in Amateur Gardening today a
prediction that impatiens "could die out" within five years. Seems
that T&M are researching alternatives "in case".

I've got something in my head that I've read somewhere that other
plants are also possibly susceptible to this "downy mildew" fungus and
shouldn't be planted where impatiens have been affected. But I can't
remember where I read this and what plants were mentioned. Does this
ring a bell with anyone else?

Hi Jake

Could you describe what the fungus looks like?

I've got some impatiens, most of the flowers have gone (usually they
last till 1st frost), the few that are left the pink looks washed out
with white patches. The stems and leaves maybe look a bit yellow/brown
but mostly very light green.

Is this what you're seeing? Do I need to dig up everything & burn? To me
it looks more tattey than disaesed at the min - my natural reaction is
to leave them and see if more flowers come later.

Thanks!

Kate xxx

Hi Kate

Have a look at

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/...e.aspx?pid=205

for their description rather than mine which would be "it looks like the
plants have been attacked heavily by slugs". If it is the fungus then
early action is needed to prevent spread and maybe you shouldn't grow
impatiens next year.

The fungus is supposedly most likely to hit if you plant impatiens in
the same place each year (so you need to "crop rotate" flowers as well
as veg). But in my case, the "same place" argument doesn't apply and a
certain logic suggests it was "introduced" via a particular batch of
plants but it's too early to say anything definite. I have sent some
observations to the supplier and await their response.

Thanks Jake.

Looks like I'm done for got the white under the leaves and
everything. We got them from somewhere reputable - I think either Wyvale
or B&Q, can't remember exactly - so wouldnt have expected problems.

Its annoying - we always have impatiens in that spot!! Not the best time
to get a big gap in the border either, dont really want to pay for
fullsize bedding plants this late on, thats if we could even find any
left in the GCs.

Any ideas for seeds that would grow up quickly to get some more colour by
mid-Sept?

Cheers
Kate xxx