User Name
Password
 |
|
       |
How to grow Knockout Roses and Herbs How to control Leaf Cutter Ants Pine Trees and Customer Service How to put Tourist Farms on the Map How to control Snakes in the Garden
|
Questions and Answers:Q. Can you tell me what vegetable plants I can plant now? This cooler weather has got me in the mood for gardening. A. You can still plant snap bush beans, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Cucumber, Kohlrabi, Potato, and another round of summer squash. Of course, this all depends on if we get an early freeze, but everything I’ve named except cucumber, squash, and beans can handle a little cool weather. You just need the warmer weather to get them up and growing before the cooler weather slows them down. Q. I like to use herbs for cooking. What herbs can I grow around here? A. Rosemary, Parsley, Oregano, Lemon Grass, Lavender, Dill, Sage, Sweet Marjoram and Basil will do very well. In fact most herbs used for cooking will grow in our area. I’ve had poor luck with French Tarragon, however. Mexican mint marigold is a good substitute for tarragon and has a brighter flavor. Rosemary and Lavender will need full sun. Oregano, Marjoram, Lemon Grass and Parsley can tolerate some shade. Dill and Basil are warm season annuals that will need full sun for best production. Dill need to be grown in spring or fall as the seeds will not germinate during the hottest part of the summer. Don’t forget to add mint to your herb planting. It will need to be kept contained unless you really like mint. Q. Can you name a good source for organic insect and disease management techniques? A. An excellent on-line source is “The Resource Guide for Insect and Disease Management.” It is an exhaustive source for all things organic. www.nysaes.cornell.edu/pp/resourceguide/index.php It lists products available by brand name that are approved for organic gardening. Q. I’ve have a line of golden euonymus in front of my house and they stay covered with mildew. Is there anything I can do to make them look better? A. When thinking about adding golden euonymus to the landscape remember the more gold in the leaf the better chance for mildew problems. Since most people use this shrub around the front of their house and because most houses are shaded and damp in the front, the potential for mildew problems is high. Treat with a nursery product listed for mildew control that contains neem oil. You can always dig them up if they are not too far along and plant in a sunnier location. Late fall is the perfect time to dig and replace shrubs. Q. I can’t find seed potatoes for my fall garden. Do you know a local source? Can I use potatoes I buy from the grocery store as starts? A. It is difficult to find seed potatoes in the fall. It is best to save some over from the spring crop if possible. Dust with sulfur and store at 65 degrees in a dry place. If you buy organic potatoes in the grocery store, you will probably be OK. Nowadays, non-organically grown potatoes purchased at the store are treated with a growth retardant so they won’t sprout while sitting on the shelf. If you purchase organic potatoes, look for developing eyes as the more eyes on the potato the more it will produce. Plant sections that contain 3-4 eyes 3-4 inches deep. Protect plants from freezing. Mulch and fertilize with a complete and balanced plant food. Q. I was thinking about growing black walnut trees as a cash crop for my retirement. Any thoughts? A. Black Walnut is a high priced wood. You will need to grow trees with straight grain and no bug damage, so you will need to spray trees occasionally and give them plenty of room. You will also need to find someone to harvest them and don’t forget finding someone to market them for you. Calculate all these expenses to see if the Black Walnut would be a good cash crop for you. Click Here to Ask Me a Gardening Question
|
Subscribe to our on-line Newsletter by sending us your E-mail address here.
What are the lastest Landscaping Trends How to Plant Fruit and Nut Trees How to care for Holiday Plants How to care for Mother's Day Gifts What are common Shrub Diseases
|
| Feature Articles | Feature Articles | Featured Articles |
| Read all my Articles on E-how.com | Read all my Articles on Gardenguides.com | Read all my Articles on Examiner.com |
 |
 |
 |
| Copyright © 2009. The Big Lump Gardener. All rights reserved. |
| Home | Find an Article | Ask a Gardening Question | Privacy Policy | My Favorites | Blog | Contact Us |
