Bizzie Lizzies

I have grown these plants this year, the same as the last 20 years.
This year the plants in my garden, as well as three other gardens, one 25 miles away, are dying:(.
No leaves are left only the stalks.
Some plants are in soil and some in containers of new compost, this season.
Usually all my plants go to the first frost in October.

Does anyone else have this problem his year or know of a reason for it?

 

I have had exactly the same problem this past fortnight as has my Mother In Law and some of the members of G.C ,I think it was Brilliard who first mentioned it :confused:

 

We have lost 4 flower beds (2500 plants) of impatiens in our Parks and roundabouts which is patticularly upsetting for me as I grew them. There seems to be conflicting reasons for this and we might have to wait a while for a definite answer.:(

 

Heard on the radio this morning that there is a virulent mildew hitting busy lizzies hard this year. It thrives in warm and wet conditions - can't believe it's doing well this summer!:D:D:D:D

 

A couple of the seed companies have a note about bizzie lizzies not growing well this year. I bought 6 for 99p from Home Bargains (I thought for that price it wasn't too bad if they died) and they've actually done really well. They're in a new raised bed and a couple in the ground in front. they're not as big as normal but they're still holding their own against the weather.

 

It's a new strain of "downey mildew" a fungus disease first discovred in 2003 the spores are actually on the plants when they are sold at garden centers and due to the very wet weather proliferates,experts advise you try to keep them as dry as possible,remove infected material, clear any dead leaves,it looks like something thats going to be around a while so they will take the knock in any wet summers.