You can imagine then how gutted we were to discover that about half our plants have been hit by crown gall, a bacterial infection that affects the roots.
However, we’re delighted that flower farmers, Green & Gorgeous, have come to our rescue by donating new tubers that should ensure our dahlia displays lose none of their vibrancy next summer.
Client gardener Jamie with a trolley-load of new dahlia tubers.
Client gardeners Gav, Andrew and Jamie and Horticultural Therapist Vicki made the short trip to Green & Gorgeous’s Oxfordshire two-acre site to pick up trays of tubers which are now being stored in one of our outbuildings before being planted out next spring.
Andrew, Jamie and Gav picking up tubers from Green & Gorgeous Flowers
Vicki said, `Crown gall is a horrible infection and has affected our dahlia stock badly and will require affected plants to be burnt, but Green & Gorgeous have been very kind and generous in offering us these new tubers which will enable us to renew what we have lost very effectively.’
Meanwhile in the coming weeks, our client gardeners will be doing some research into the varieties and their colours to help us plan where they go in our gardens.
Thrive Reading
Find out more about the horticultural therapy programmes we run at Thrive Reading
Discover more