Busy Lizzy Blitzed

Q: Hi you may have covered this on your radio programme but have missed it.  Why have my impatiens after looking fantastic,virtually died off within a week.  All ones in garden & pots have gone & pouches are starting to go from the top.  Is there a fungus etc, killing them off this year? Be grateful for any ideas you may have.  Many thanks, Elizabeth

A: After some research and talking to major suppliers of plants throughout the area we have confirmed that it is a powdery mildew specific to Busy Lizzies that is affecting them.  Even worse is that there is no spray available to us to treat them.  We have even heard from the Environment Agency that they are aware of this disease across Europe.  This has occurred in the past and looks like it is not just a one-off problem.