General
I recently purchased some cattle manure with the aim of aging it and adding it to the soil for is growing veggies. I have dumped it all on tarp and soaked it as it was drying out a little. How long do I need to age it for before it is ready to use? I’m not in a great rush, I have plenty space so...
Asked
by: George Gifford
(3 points)
Posted: May 11, 2013
3
answers
6256
views
General
northern California
This came up at a meeting of my local garden group. What are the reasons for buying organic seed? We assumed that organic seed producers avoid GMO contamination (for such plants as corn), though presumably all seed producers are aware of the issue. We also assumed that buying organic seed...
Asked
by: Tanya in the Garden
(128 points)
Posted: May 10, 2013
3
answers
4001
views
General
near Johnstown, PA
We have some cold weather predicted for this weekend and it looks like it could go below freezing. I’m worried that my transplanted seedlings might get damaged and have been researching ways to protect them. I came across an articleon spraying water to protect grape vines from frost using a...
Asked
by: Larry Pelenski
(4 points)
Posted: May 9, 2013
3
answers
4995
views
Tomato
None Given
I have heard of people using red mulch or plastic sheet around tomato plants to help ripen the fruits. Does this really work? I would like to hear from people with experience of this before I go coloring my garden! I manged to find a picture which I will try to upload
Asked
by: Vicki Albright
(2 points)
Posted: May 8, 2013
2
answers
3834
views
Apple
North Idaho
I have planted 3 Cox Orange Pippin Apple trees in my yard over the past 13 years. 1 is 3 years old, one is 8 and one is 12 years old. All were bought from different plant nurseries, and planted NOT near each other, but within a variety of cherry, plum, apple, asian and american pears, and...
Asked
by: Angie Lee Morrow
(18 points)
Posted: May 7, 2013
1
answer
3297
views
Maize (corn)
I want to dedicate a small space in my vegetable garden to planting some corn. I’ve been meaning to do it for a long time but I never got round to it. I have a space of 4’ x 6’ that I have not earmarked for anything else yet and thought I would try for a small harvest in this space to start off....
Asked
by: Ellie
(1 point)
Posted: May 7, 2013
5
answers
6122
views
Grape
PA
My husband brought home some grape plants yesterday that he found in the store. I had mentioned growing some grapes to him a few weeks back so when he saw them he decided just to buy them. One of the plants he brought home has some yellow spots on its leaves. I have taken a picture of this. Is it...
Asked
by: Marsha Anderson
(5 points)
Posted: May 6, 2013
3
answers
6085
views
Rhubarb
Lausanne, Switzerland
My Rhubarb plant is producing a flower, which I understand should be cut off immediately so that the plant will not put any more energy into it, rather than the leaves. Is it enough to just cut off the the flower, or would it be better to remove pretty much the entire stalk?
Asked
by: deactivated
(25 points)
Posted: May 5, 2013
2
answers
9227
views
Avocado
Pennsylvania, USA
I have been away from home for two weeks and when I got back last night I found that my avocado seed that I have been trying to germinate in a glass of water has finally grown a root. Having spent a lot of time trying to germinate a seed, I wanted to see if anybody could give me some advice on...
Asked
by: Lindsay McMenemy
(4 points)
Posted: May 5, 2013
2
answers
3164
views
General
I have recently purchased a box of 4oz. "wildflowers butterfly mix" and would like to plant directly outside for the summer. When is the best time and what is the most accurate and simpler way to plant them outside? I do not believe I will be using a garden box.
Thank You
Asked
by: Roseann Sorrentino
(3 points)
Posted: May 3, 2013
2
answers
3511
views
Tomato
SC
I'm very new to growing vegetables so I'm still discovering lots of new things. I have been reading some articles about planting tomatoes almost horizontally in trenches as the plant will sprout roots along the stem. I think this sounds like a good thing to try but I have some questions. First,...
Asked
by: Melanie Young
(10 points)
Posted: May 3, 2013
3
answers
5638
views
Asparagus
None Given
I have a four year old asparagus patch and yesterday I noticed some brown and black beetles on the stems. I looked them up and found out they are asparagus beetles. I have never had any problems with them in previous years on this plant so I'm not sure where they have come from. Do you know the...
Asked
by: Denis Schneider
(1 point)
Posted: May 2, 2013
2
answers
4351
views
Raspberry
I planted raspberry bushes in my small yard two years ago. This was my first experience with berry bushes and I didn't realize how incredibly rapidly they would take over. My garden was quickly overtaken last summer. As such, I tore out the bushes by the roots. Nonetheless, four more new...
Asked
by: Miriam Stein
(5 points)
Posted: May 1, 2013
3
answers
31583
views
Chilli Pepper
FL, United States
My pepper plants have got holes in the top leaves. As far as I can tell, there are no insects anywhere on the plant. Is this some kind of physiological disorder? The peppers are jalapenos and are in large containers on my deck where they get lots of sun.. I live in FL. Does anybody know what may...
Asked
by: Lauren S.
(1 point)
Posted: May 1, 2013
2
answers
5332
views
General
CT
Has anybody ever purchased praying mantis egg cases? If so, would you recommend them as a method of keeping pest populations under control in your vegetables? I often see them in seed catalogs and wonder if I should give them a try - they eat beneficials too though right?
Asked
by: Rod Morrison
(2 points)
Posted: April 30, 2013
5
answers
9362
views
General
None Given
I want to move my layers of plastic closer together, currently we plant winter rye and mow inbetween rows. As we expand and need to be more efficient about using that land I want to move the plastic only a tire length apart. How do people cultivate, mulch, or deal with the weeds in between the...
Asked
by: Aliza Pickering
(1 point)
Posted: April 29, 2013
2
answers
3481
views
General
NY
This is my first time growing my own vegetables and all of the seed packets say to plant in the ground after danger of last frost. Does it matter if my plants are still on the small side when I plant? Can I keep them indoors for a bit longer or is it best to get them in the ground? I have...
Asked
by: Jennifer Casey
(2 points)
Posted: April 28, 2013
5
answers
6530
views
General
I'm looking to find out what this weed is called - it grows very small white flowers and the leaves are bumpy like a mint leaf. What is its beneficial value in homeowner's lawns? And what about human consumption if any? thank you again :-D
Asked
by: Roseann Sorrentino
(3 points)
Posted: April 26, 2013
1
answer
3085
views
General
Central New Hampshire
I'm trolling for suggestions for a cover crop I can use to fill in around the big, ugly, plastic clean-out openings to my septic system. Once it's established, it must withstand heavy foot (and chicken) traffic, thrive in rocky, infertile soil (not much of it, either), and look great.
I live...
Asked
by: Peg Boyles
(4 points)
Posted: April 26, 2013
3
answers
5450
views
General
The soil in my yard is very stony I really want to be able to be able to grow root crops. Is there anything I can use to remove the rocks or will I simply have to dig them out and remove by hand? Is it best to invest the effort in raised beds?
Asked
by: Nina R
(1 point)
Posted: April 26, 2013
5
answers
35197
views
General
Here are two photos of a large-leafed weed. I have a scale of my hand for it since it is a large leaf and weed. Grabbed as much as I could out of it and just threw it out. They will grow back by the end of the summer, so I just wanna know what this is and how it could be used. Thanks alot! Peace...
Asked
by: Roseann Sorrentino
(3 points)
Posted: April 25, 2013
4
answers
9833
views
General
I have many of these plants (weeds) in my backyard and they have thorns. How do I take them out of the yard while it is hard to use the lawnmower over them? I researched online to see if it was beneficial and it said it was part of the "thistle" family and it is beneficial to eat but I do not...
Asked
by: Roseann Sorrentino
(3 points)
Posted: April 24, 2013
6
answers
34433
views
General
zone 4
I came out this morning to check on the garden after a chillier than expected night. What I found was something that has been driving me crazy, onion sets laying out on the ground! Not just out of the ground but a few inches from where they were planted, with some of the tops disappearing down...
Asked
by: J.D. Archer
(31 points)
Posted: April 24, 2013
2
answers
5842
views
Apple
Albuquerque, NM Zone 7b
Trying to figure out what is going on with this apple trees trunk it is about 3 years old.The lesion appears to be spreading growing. Any ideas and or treatments would be appreciated.
Asked
by: Wurgulf
(1 point)
Posted: April 23, 2013
3
answers
7535
views
General
What specific vegetables plants give really good yields of produce? I do not have a lot of space in my garden to dedicate to vegetable growing but I would like to plant some and aim for as big a harvest as possible. I was considering cherry tomatoes as I have heard they can be quite prolific and...
Asked
by: Stan
(1 point)
Posted: April 22, 2013
6
answers
11682
views
General
None Given
I live in Glasgow UK and I have an idea to plant potatoes and other vegetables in sacks in the shared garden at the back of my house. I have never grown any vegetables before. Has anyone advice for a total beginner?
Asked
by: morag sievwright
(1 point)
Posted: April 21, 2013
3
answers
7394
views
Tomato
None Given
I grow tomatoes organically in high tunnels. The tomatoes are grown in the ground, irrigated using drip, trellised on a string and with the exception of the cherries, fully suckered.
The plants do great through mid-August, but start to run out of gas and productivity falls significantly in...
Asked
by: Andy Fellenz
(4 points)
Posted: April 20, 2013
4
answers
7916
views
Tomato
Central Florida - Zone 9A/9B
What is causing freshly-grown tomatoes to constantly be sour, regardless of variety. It must be something in the culture/environment as the neighbor's tomatoes are fine. This question came into our Plant Clinic and I have had problems finding any reliable, proven reasons why this would happen.
Asked
by: Susan League, UF/IFAS Sumter Program Assistant
(1 point)
Posted: April 20, 2013
1
answer
4258
views
Buckwheat
near Johnstown, PA
Can anybody recommend a green/living mulch which will do well in a shaded area of my garden? I do not have time to do much with it this year but I intend to grow edibles on it at some point and would like to keep the weeds in check and turn it in the Fall. I was thinking about planting buckwheat....
Asked
by: Larry Pelenski
(4 points)
Posted: April 19, 2013
2
answers
3307
views
General
I already have a ton of weeds sprouting in the area I was planning to plant my vegetables. I was considering spraying with something like Roundup but then I began reading that I could smother the weeds with cardboard and pile soil and organic matter on top. If I decided to go this route, would...
Asked
by: Alex Ramirez
(2 points)
Posted: April 19, 2013
6
answers
7011
views
