MY PLANTS

White Rust is here to stay like it or not even growers with the super chemicals are having trouble some have even cut their plants down while some growers have decided to call it a day a bit drastic i think.
How do you spot white rust the picture on the left shows the upper surface of the leaf indicating yellow type spots turn the leaf over picture on the right you will see yellow/brown pustles its when these burst that the disease spreads. I have put a list of chemicals that will help you they may work or not prevention is better than
having to cure the problem its no good jumping in the sea and then sitting on the beach all night then going to the doctors and complaining of a cold.it should be pointed out that there are over 20 strains of white rust

At the end of the season if you have the equipment you can heat treat your stools but i should point out that this is not foolproof some growers have done this and have still ended up covered with White Rust the following notes are for people that do not have the equipment to heat their stools

1 At the end of the season when you dig up your stools remove all the green foliage and also remove the soil ( This can be risky i have done this and next year the stools have throwing no cuttings ) Then dip the stools in SYSTHANE available at most garden centres and let them drain off before boxing them up in fresh clean compost
2 Now to your plot all old plant debray should be removed better still go to your Plant Hire Shop and hire a FLAME GUN and go over your plot killing all debray sterilise your plot also if you feel better
3 HOT WATER TREATMENT OF STOOLS
You can hot water treat your stools there is chapter in the CHRYSANTHEMUM GUIDE on this all growers should have this if you do not have one i have them for sale at £13.95 to non members of the N C S or £11,95 to members on behalf of the National Chrysanthemum Society

Spraying Programme
Every 10 days Ring the changes dont use the same chemical each week alternate
Also use soft soap 1, 5mil spoonful to a 4.5 litres( 1 Gallon ) disolve this in a can with boiling hot water strir till disolved and pour into the gallon of water dont use to much hot water just enough to disolve the soap this will act as a wetting agent and will leave greasy surface on the leaf wich may prevent sporse from attacking the leaf

I should point out that none of the chemicals will kill white rust but will act as a preventative
All the chemicals are available in most garden centres and the soft soap is available from CHEMPAK PRODUCTS
If you are not sure about anything in this artical give me a ring at a reasonable time or drop me a E-Mail

A question i have been asked several times is will HOT WATER TREATMENT stop me catching white rust next year the simple answear is NO what it will do is eradicate any white rust virus you have on YOUR stools so you will have a clean start next year. However if you obtain plants from other sources they may carry the spores and it will start over again if you are not vigilant and keep spraying also when you plant out if old dolly up the road has a garden full of pot mums and they are covered with it you could be in trouble if you are not vigilant and keep spraying.