Impatiens Downy Mildew this season

Maybe you are aware of the Industry wide problems in the UK this 2011 season, caused by Downy Mildew disease on planted out Impatiens walleriana varieties. This has resulted in disappointment with the performance of some of the plants and their failure to develop into the stunning displays we have come to expect.

Throughout our Summer Open Days we have listened to the concerns of our customers, whether they are directly involved in growing, landscaping or retailing. We understand why some would like to consider alternative products to Impatiens for part of their production next season.

Our brochure The Best of British Bedding has been designed to give you ideas and highlights a selection of outstanding varieties which have a proven track record of providing vibrant and exciting displays of colour. We have included the F1 Divine series as, to date, there have been no confirmed reports of the disease on New Guinea types.

Our 2012 Plant and Seed Catalogues continue to list an extensive range of Impatiens as seed, plugs & cutting raised young plants with the exception of Impatiens Fiesta, Fiesta Ole and the Patchwork Series.

Following a recently industry joint seminar on Downy Mildew by The Horticultural Development Council ( HDC), British Protected Ornamentals Associaiton ( BPOA), and the Horticultural Trades Association ( HTA), it was felt that by not growing Imaptiens Walleriana Vegetative material next season, the risk of Downy Mildew infection could be significantly reduced in the UK.
 
To support the long term confidence in Impatiens as a crop, Ball Colegrave along with some other suppliers decided not to offer cutting raised Walleriana varities next season.

We will be following the most up to date, best practice advice available in the production of our young plant plug range. This will include pre-delivery preventative fungicide applications, to give our plants the best start. As always the product will be quality checked before despatch to ensure that symptoms of the disease are not visible.

You can try to minimise problems during your own production by:

• Starting with clean, disinfected hygienic glasshouse growing conditions for each batch.
  
• Inspecting all your Impatiens plants on arrival and regularly as they grow. Leaf yellowing, mottling and stunting are possible early signs of infection. White spores develop underneath the leaves as the infection progresses.
  
• Removing, bagging and destroying symptomatic plants from the growing area.
  
• Maintaining good nutrition, warm temperatures and low humidity in the growing area.
  
• Planning to include disease prevention measures. For up to date advice ask your fungicide supplier or be aware of the current ADAS and HDC recommendations.
  

Ball Colegrave October 2011