Xref: kermit uk.rec.gardening:153110

Sorry to ask these questions all at once but I thought it would save space.

1. I aquired a rhododendron bush for free, it's approx 4 foot high and only
has to dead looking woody stems which take up 3 foot of its height - the
leaves begin after this on the two stems. It looks daft to be honest! It
produced one pinkish/redish flower this year and has begun to grow new
leaves above the leaves already there. If I was to cut it down drastically
to 1 foot or 6 inches therefore cutting off everything that's green, would
it recover and become more bushy?

2. I recieved two blackberry bush cuttings and when they began to take hold
they ended up covered in white mildew type stuff. This year is the first
time they've grown fruit (not much - they are only about 2 foot high) but
the leaves and some of the stem are covered in this white stuff again. They
get a lot of sun but the soil stays quite moist.

3. Any suggestions on stopping/dealing with whitefly on brussel sprouts and
purple sprouting?

4. What exactly is a truss on a tomato plant??

Thanks in advance,

Anne.

Sorry I meant blackCURRANT bushes not berry!

"anne" wrote in message
...
Sorry to ask these questions all at once but I thought it would save
space.

1. I aquired a rhododendron bush for free, it's approx 4 foot high and
only
has to dead looking woody stems which take up 3 foot of its height - the
leaves begin after this on the two stems. It looks daft to be honest! It
produced one pinkish/redish flower this year and has begun to grow new
leaves above the leaves already there. If I was to cut it down drastically
to 1 foot or 6 inches therefore cutting off everything that's green, would
it recover and become more bushy?

2. I recieved two blackberry bush cuttings and when they began to take
hold
they ended up covered in white mildew type stuff. This year is the first
time they've grown fruit (not much - they are only about 2 foot high) but
the leaves and some of the stem are covered in this white stuff again.
They
get a lot of sun but the soil stays quite moist.

3. Any suggestions on stopping/dealing with whitefly on brussel sprouts
and
purple sprouting?

4. What exactly is a truss on a tomato plant??

Thanks in advance,

Anne.

In article , anne
writes
Sorry to ask these questions all at once but I thought it would save space.

1. I aquired a rhododendron bush for free, it's approx 4 foot high and only
has to dead looking woody stems which take up 3 foot of its height - the
leaves begin after this on the two stems. It looks daft to be honest! It
produced one pinkish/redish flower this year and has begun to grow new
leaves above the leaves already there. If I was to cut it down drastically
to 1 foot or 6 inches therefore cutting off everything that's green, would
it recover and become more bushy?

I don't know .. but if you're in doubt, you can usually get away with
cutting back about a third of the branches - you haven't lost much if
they don't re-grow, and with two thirds left alone, the shrub itself is
going to survive.

2. I recieved two blackberry bush cuttings and when they began to take hold
they ended up covered in white mildew type stuff. This year is the first
time they've grown fruit (not much - they are only about 2 foot high) but
the leaves and some of the stem are covered in this white stuff again. They
get a lot of sun but the soil stays quite moist.

I know you mean blackcurrant! Mildew tends to be because the plant is
too dry, or perhaps too crowded in with other plants. Feel free to cut
back the worst affected shoots.

3. Any suggestions on stopping/dealing with whitefly on brussel sprouts and
purple sprouting?

4. What exactly is a truss on a tomato plant??

The bunch of flowers which then turns into the bunch of tomatoes.
'Tomatoes on the vine' as sold in supermarkets are a (or several)
trusses


--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

In article , anne
writes
Sorry to ask these questions all at once but I thought it would save space.

1. I aquired a rhododendron bush for free, it's approx 4 foot high and only
has to dead looking woody stems which take up 3 foot of its height - the
leaves begin after this on the two stems. It looks daft to be honest! It
produced one pinkish/redish flower this year and has begun to grow new
leaves above the leaves already there. If I was to cut it down drastically
to 1 foot or 6 inches therefore cutting off everything that's green, would
it recover and become more bushy?

I don't know .. but if you're in doubt, you can usually get away with
cutting back about a third of the branches - you haven't lost much if
they don't re-grow, and with two thirds left alone, the shrub itself is
going to survive.

2. I recieved two blackberry bush cuttings and when they began to take hold
they ended up covered in white mildew type stuff. This year is the first
time they've grown fruit (not much - they are only about 2 foot high) but
the leaves and some of the stem are covered in this white stuff again. They
get a lot of sun but the soil stays quite moist.

I know you mean blackcurrant! Mildew tends to be because the plant is
too dry, or perhaps too crowded in with other plants. Feel free to cut
back the worst affected shoots.

3. Any suggestions on stopping/dealing with whitefly on brussel sprouts and
purple sprouting?

4. What exactly is a truss on a tomato plant??

The bunch of flowers which then turns into the bunch of tomatoes.
'Tomatoes on the vine' as sold in supermarkets are a (or several)
trusses


--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm