Hi Natalie: It just looks odd to see big buds and flowers blooming below the foliage.until I read this topic did I understand that others are having the same problems with 'stunted' scapes. I thought maybe I have done something to cause this problem. Now, I understand that is a weather problem caused by the cooler and rain soaked Northeast. The exact opposite of last year. Also seeing problems in my veggie garden with absense of seeds sprouting. Seeds probably rotted from too much rain. I will have to resow some radish and lettuce beds.
JWWC: Hi. I noticed some of my red flowered buds were being eaten by some bug. I assumed it must be 'thrips'. So I took the advice I had read abouton this forum offered by Bob Schwarz. His organic recipe 1/4 cup of Murphy's Oil mixed with with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Red and purple flowers should be sprayed several weeks before they bloom. I sprayed the moment I saw some damage on several of my plants. Red, Hot, and Boom was he first this get the treatment. I call this home remedy a magical concoction because it works so quickly and efficiently to get rid of thrip infestation. Each time a plant reblooms, its best to spray the buds again. I prefer using this organic method to using insectisides in my gardens
