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Organic Gardens/Questions Answered by Expert Frank and Vicky Giannangelo
| Subject | Date Asked |
| fertilizer | 1/25/2012 |
| Q: How to convert dry and dead leaves of apple trees into fertilizer and how to improve soil PH. A: Please visit our website http://www.avant-gardening.com/ for all our information about soil ... | |
| horse manure | 10/28/2011 |
| Q: the farmer tells me it caught fire some months ago. What is left is a mixture of ash, partly cooked ... A: Ashes are very alkaline, so if you have acid soil it would be ok. I would sift it first by using ... | |
| old railroad ties bordering my garden | 10/9/2011 |
| Q: Old railroad ties border my property along one side. The area was formerly a driveway. There is a ... A: I am sorry to say that if you want to grow organic food, I would not grow it anywhere near creosoted ... | |
| apple | 9/18/2011 |
| Q: i have apple farm and i want to know can i use organic fertilizer and spray.kindly tell what organic ... A: http://www.planetnatural.com/site/xdpy/sg/Organic%20Fertilizers - Planet Natural Peaceful Valley ... | |
| invasive wisteria | 9/16/2011 |
| Q: how can i organically or environmentally safe, kill wisteria sprouts, I dont want to kill the plant ... A: After you dig up the unwanted shoots, I would dig a trench and line it with 12 inch roof flashing ... | |
| Looks like a blueberry | 8/14/2011 |
| Q: My Mom's been picking blueberry-like berries from her balcony. I've tried them and they're safe; ... A: I would pick a stem with berries and take it to a local extension office or horticultural society ... | |
| Green Been Problem | 6/9/2011 |
| Q: What could be affecting my green beans? The plants grow until they have about two to three leaves ... A: I think you have a beetle that is eating your beans at night. Rotonone is an organic insecticide ... | |
| Planting 1st garden | 5/27/2011 |
| Q: I will be planting a few hills of potato's for the 1st time. A friend of mine showed me some gross ... A: For potatoes and corn I would plant them in rows....about 6 inches apart in all directions. Corn ... | |
| organic gardening; no chances of survival? | 5/22/2011 |
| Q: I planted peppers, eggplants and a nice array of other veggies and spent over 200$ worth of organic ... A: ....flea beetles will die if you use Rotenone (an organic pesticide) but so will bees and other ... | |
| Planting 1st garden | 5/12/2011 |
| Q: I will be planting a few hills of potato's for the 1st time. A friend of mine showed me some gross ... A: First of all, do not worry yourself sick. Plants want to grow even more than you want them to.... ... | |
| strawberry problem | 5/10/2011 |
| Q: A week or so ago I noticed some of my strawberry plants looked like they had been snipped off at the ... A: I think that there are some beetles that will eat things down like that..I remember it happened to ... | |
| orange peels | 4/27/2011 |
| Q: Can citrus fruit peels such as orange, lemon, lime, etc be composted? They seem to tough and think ... A: There are pros and cons. If you add citrus to your pile, chop them up fine, so they can break down. ... | |
| Indoor Tomatoes Blossoming | 4/23/2011 |
| Q: Hey guys... have a quick question. I started my Tomatoes inside this year for the first time. They ... A: I presume they are in a greenhouse? Or your house. Either way, all you will get are tomatoes. ... | |
| composting with worms | 2/17/2011 |
| Q: I need to know about feeding worms kitchen waste.I asked expert Greg/composting and he broke down ... A: All about composting on our website: http://www.avant-gardening.com/composting.html Like all ... | |
| Sandpaper for slugs | 1/5/2011 |
| Q: I've just begun vegetable/herb gardening about 2 months ago and am trying to grow as organically as ... A: Well, we conducted a test by putting slugs in the center of a large sheet of plywood. Around them ... | |
| Sandpaper for slugs | 1/2/2011 |
| Q: I've just begun vegetable/herb gardening about 2 months ago and am trying to grow as organically as ... A: I don't think sandpaper will deter slugs, but you can try it. The only thing that deters them is ... | |
| stink bugs on fruit trees. | 11/12/2010 |
| Q: I have recently spotted orange stink bugs on my young fruit trees - how can I get rid of them??? A: Adults overwinter in weeds on the ground or in protected places outside the orchard like brush ... | |
| organic fertilizer for hydroponics | 9/6/2010 |
| Q: can i use organic fertilizer for nutrition in hydroponics.thanks muhammad farooq A: "Both hydroponic fertilizers and those intended for use in soil contain the three major nutrients, ... | |
| Green Beans fail to produce pods | 8/8/2010 |
| Q: I am in Southern North Carolina. I planted Kentucky Wonder beans in May. They came up well, I ... A: Their roots may have been too hot. Do you mulch? You should mulch them with at least three inches ... | |
| Growing Pumpkins--Follow Up | 8/1/2010 |
| Q: Firstly, I have never gardened, ever. This is my first attempt, I need help! Here goes: I planted ... A: Wilting is normal in the mid-day sun. The baking soda will not hurt them in any way. NPK is your ... | |
| Growing Pumpkins--Newbie | 7/31/2010 |
| Q: Firstly, I have never gardened, ever. This is my first attempt, I need help! Here goes: I planted ... A: You can leave the two plants, there is room for each to grow. Your soil is too damp. Before you ... | |
| cow dung | 6/26/2010 |
| Q: how should i use cow dung in my garden? A: To use cow dung in the garden you can either compost it: ... | |
| Detecting pesticides | 6/17/2010 |
| Q: An old organic gardener taught me how to use chicken manure and grass clippings to make fertilizer ... A: The only way of being sure is to have the soil or plant tissues tested. You can test these by ... | |
| wax beans | 5/29/2010 |
| Q: this is my first time gardening i live in ne pa my leaves are being eating im not sure what is ... A: They may be too wet, or to shaded. Do you have slugs or snails? Have you tested your soil? Have ... | |
| munched green bean sprouts | 5/28/2010 |
| Q: In Denver my green bean (Contender bush) sprouts are coming up looking like they have been chewed ... A: I would mulch and see if that helps. It looks like they are too wet at ground level, but I don't ... | |
| lye on flowers | 5/7/2010 |
| Q: Is it okay to place lye directly on flowers or in flower bed to fight against pest, such as ... A: That is totally different! Ok, lime is only used as a soil ammendment to make an acid soil more ... | |
| lye on flowers | 5/7/2010 |
| Q: Is it okay to place lye directly on flowers or in flower bed to fight against pest, such as ... A: NO NO NO never, it will kill all the bees and beneficial insects, and probably burn the plants. See ... | |
| Roundup contamination | 3/16/2010 |
| Q: Help! I asked my gardener to dig up a patch of lawn so I could plant some vegetables. Before I could ... A: Roundup is relatively short lived. Even if there are some residual chemicals left in the soil after ... | |
| Help... My Asparagus! | 2/8/2010 |
| Q: I know there is a big debate on what kind of damage pill and sow bugs actually do in a garden but I ... A: They are not usually a problem unless you have thousands of them! If you have an acid soil, you can ... | |
| Steer Manure On Fruit Trees | 12/14/2009 |
| Q: I Have A Couple Of Fruit Trees That I Wanted To Put On Bigger Pots And My Question Was Can I Mix In ... A: No. You can put it in a container with new all purpose soil. Trim back the roots some as you go. ... | |
| Steer Manure On Fruit Trees | 12/14/2009 |
| Q: I Have A Couple Of Fruit Trees That I Wanted To Put On Bigger Pots And My Question Was Can I Mix In ... A: I would use a balanced fertilizer, not just steer manure. Buy a fertilizer meant for fruit trees, ... | |
| Fertilizers | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: FirstIs Roundup really any worse than using 5% vinegar? Please be very detailed in your answer so I ... A: 1. Roundup is a chemical pesticide, toxic to plant life. Vinegar is an organic method of killing ... | |
| Mulching over leaves | 10/25/2009 |
| Q: Frank and Vicky: I have large areas of plants and shrubs. Over the years I have used a mulch which ... A: You can find opinions either way about the toxicity of cedar mulch. Our experience comes from the ... | |
| Mulching over leaves | 10/24/2009 |
| Q: Frank and Vicky: I have large areas of plants and shrubs. Over the years I have used a mulch which ... A: You could try to take the cedar layer off and get rid of it, or you could just add a four inches of ... | |
| Mulching over leaves | 10/24/2009 |
| Q: Frank and Vicky: I have large areas of plants and shrubs. Over the years I have used a mulch which ... A: The best mulch is to get a bale of alfalfa hay, and break it apart and mulch with it. You can just ... | |
| sowbugs | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: Sowbugs have decimated our greenhouse--again! They have taken out almost everything we've planted. ... A: Sowbugs usually feed on decaying organic matter, help recycle nutrients into the soil, are active at ... | |
| toxicity of cement on plants next to foundation wall | 9/13/2009 |
| Q: Something's been bothering my hubby & I for years. We have a fairly successful organic veggie garden ... A: Actually the answer is really simple....not enough water. The cement absorbs water, acting like a ... | |
| Pole bean pests | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: I had a fully grown row of scarlet runner beans. Then whole stems stated dying. I found that the ... A: Some kind of chewing insect - you could try BT, an organic worm and caterpillar biologic control, or ... | |
| Converting lawn/grass to garden | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: Looking to expand existing flower beds and read somewhere that you can place 5 layers of newspaper ... A: Yes. You can use newspapers and mulch to kill grass, but I would make sure I had at least an ... | |
| moths | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: We have loads of brown moths approx.3/4 in long on all of the shrubs around the foundation. My ... A: The best way to control moths and their larvae is a product called BT. BT is an organic insecticide ... | |
| sulfur | 7/14/2009 |
| Q: is it too late to add sulfur to a flowering veg garden? if okay, add liquid sulfur? A: You are basically adding sulfuric acid to your plants..and it will burn them..it should be done in ... | |
| bush bean bugs | 6/24/2009 |
| Q: A tiny, triangular-shaped green bug with 6 legs that hops is eating my 3 inch high bush bean ... A: You could try that. I personally would use Rotonone, a fast acting light sensitive organic ... | |
| Chia seed fertilization | 5/21/2009 |
| Q: Is there any advice on how to fertilize chia seeds? What is the difference in fertilizers/pesticides ... A: You are not just buying certified organic products, you are supporting a sustainable way of life. ... | |
| Chia seed fertilization | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: Is there any advice on how to fertilize chia seeds? What is the difference in fertilizers/pesticides ... A: Miracle Grow has an organic fertilizer. Organic chia seed (or any other plant or seed) is grown ... | |
| Vegetable Garden | 4/15/2009 |
| Q: I have started my first tomato, cucumber, and squash seedlings in peat moss filled with store bought ... A: The lighter color means they need nitrogen. I would use fish fertilizer. Let them dry a little ... | |
| soil pH | 3/1/2009 |
| Q: What is the best way to lower pH? Mine is neutral at 7.5. I want to plant vegetables, raspberries, ... A: Yes, as long is it is not added to an established plant, and you wait for two months. You are ... | |
| soil pH | 3/1/2009 |
| Q: What is the best way to lower pH? Mine is neutral at 7.5. I want to plant vegetables, raspberries, ... A: Yes, gypsum adds calcium to the soil. http://www.planetnatural.com/site/elemental-sulfur.html ... | |
| soil pH | 2/28/2009 |
| Q: What is the best way to lower pH? Mine is neutral at 7.5. I want to plant vegetables, raspberries, ... A: Tricky. Add lots of gypsum and soil sulfur, but don't plan to plant anything for at least two ... | |
| Miracle grow | 2/16/2009 |
| Q: Does Miracle-grow make an organic for vegatables and where in Missouri can I buy it??'' thanks Pete A: Yes. Scotts Miracle-Gro Miracle-GroŽ Organic ChoiceŽ All Purpose Plant Food is one of their ... | |
| composting | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I have begun taking steps towards composting and we were wondering... once we begin a ... A: We have extensive information on composting on our website: http://www.avant-gardening.com These ... | |
| Gardening over grass | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I are planning to start an organic garden in our back yard, but right now we have ... A: Just dig all of the grass up, shake off all the dirt, and compost the roots, or move the sod to ... | |
| soil building | 1/11/2009 |
| Q: First of all, thank you for your time. I live in Cental Texas, my soil is a couple of different ... A: The first thing is to test your soil so you know what is missing...you can do that at A&L Plains ... | |
| organic gardening | 12/2/2008 |
| Q: Using simple wording and terms could you please explain why inter-relationships between living ... A: Companion planting, or intercropping, allows us to take advantage of certain chemical interactions ... | |
| Raised beds for blueberries and raspberries | 11/21/2008 |
| Q: I recently built a raised bed for Misty blueberries and 2 raised beds for Heritage Red Raspberries. ... A: You need to lower the pH of your soil to about 4.5, because it is too akaline. Sawdust, composted ... | |
| Asparagus | 10/30/2008 |
| Q: I started growing Asparagus 2 years ago. I havent harvested any spears yet, but am anxiously looking ... A: You could do either. Their purpose is to feed the roots so next years spears will be healthy and ... | |
| Winterizing 1st year rhubarb in garden. | 10/18/2008 |
| Q: I have planted a rhubarb earlier this year in spring. It now is full of leaves. We had a freeze ... A: Get some composted manure and add about four inches around the plant. When the leaves are all dead, ... | |
| Tomato | 10/14/2008 |
| Q: I live in LasVegas Nevada its getting chilly now I bought a Tomato plant about a month or two ago ... A: Anytime you buy a tomato plant (or any other plant) check to see if it is already rootbound. Most ... | |
| loofah squash | 9/21/2008 |
| Q: A friend gave a loofah squash plant this spring and it has several large squashes on it.I've never ... A: In the fall the luffas will begin to loose weight. This is a sign that they are beginning to mature ... | |
| soil | 9/4/2008 |
| Q: Everything was either optimum or over!! My question is, what do you think of using just liquid ... A: Liquid seaweed will provide needed trace elements, and fish emulsion will provide nitrogen in the ... | |
| heavy soil | 8/9/2008 |
| Q: We have an organic garden that has very heavy soil in one area (clay). I've used layers of leaves, ... A: For information on soil building, please visit our website: ... | |
| crop rotation | 8/1/2008 |
| Q: Why is it necessary to rotate crops on a farm when in nature the same plants keep coming up year ... A: Plants in nature generally do not need a lot of nutrients to manage to produce enough seed to ... | |
| Short Bell Pepper Plants | 7/15/2008 |
| Q: I planted 4 bell pepper plants. One looks like a typical pepper plant, 20 inches tall with normal ... A: It may have been genetic - characteristics inherent in the seed. We go through our seed and pick ... | |
| Vegetables and spotty leaves | 6/25/2008 |
| Q: I have recently built and implemented a square foot garden in an 8x5 raised bed. I have used this ... A: Test your soil right away, to eliminate the possibility of an unbalanced soil. It may be too rich. ... | |
| organic fertiliser | 5/27/2008 |
| Q: Tell me, please, is blood meal as effective as bone meal for Irises (Rhizomes),Lilies (Day or ... A: Blood meal will provide nitrogen. Bone meal provides phosphorus. They are two different things. ... | |
| Greenhouse Plastic | 5/25/2008 |
| Q: We are wanting to build a greenhouse but have heard a lot about platic and toxins. Would the ... A: Not if you use Lexan, a double layer sheet of polycarbonate with air layers inbetween. There is no ... | |
| dandelions | 4/23/2008 |
| Q: I recently inherited a chemical-free suburban lawn and garden (Merrick, Long Island, New York). ... A: The first thing is to remove all the flower heads. Hopefully they have not gone to seed. If they ... | |
| arp rosemary | 4/8/2008 |
| Q: Do you know if arp rosemary will grow in the ground in Memphis, Tn.(zone 7) & where can I buy one ... A: ARP Rosemary is good down to zero, for short periods of time, but an extended cold at this ... | |
| organic lawn using sugar | 3/20/2008 |
| Q: I found some comments on this site by an expert called Charlotte (who is no longer available to ... A: Never having used this method, we would be more inclined to use organic fertilizers and organic pest ... | |
| gardening | 3/13/2008 |
| Q: I actually have a couple of questions; First of all, I've read that you should mow over your leaves ... A: In our experience weed ground covers take over what is planted, take up water and nutrients, and ... | |
| gardening | 3/12/2008 |
| Q: I actually have a couple of questions; First of all, I've read that you should mow over your leaves ... A: Actually, in the spring you would want to turn the leaves into the soil. Tilling it or turning the ... | |
| Raised beds of rock retaining wall. | 2/22/2008 |
| Q: I am interested in planting crowns of asparagus and strawberries here in northwest Ohio this mid ... A: I don't think there is any problem with using cement. We use a mixture of Portland cement ... | |
| still insist organic methods | 2/21/2008 |
| Q: I posted a thread on gardenweb.com and tried to see what advice I could get. Here is what I wrote: ... A: I think that if you do everything right nutritionally, weeds won't be a problem, especially if you ... | |
| still insist organic methods | 2/20/2008 |
| Q: I posted a thread on gardenweb.com and tried to see what advice I could get. Here is what I wrote: ... A: Test your soil again and make sure the soil pH is between 6.5 -7 and that you have it balanced. I ... | |
| still insist organic methods | 2/20/2008 |
| Q: I posted a thread on gardenweb.com and tried to see what advice I could get. Here is what I wrote: ... A: Not to worry. Peaceful Valley will suggest corn gluten meal, which you are already using. The best ... | |
| fresh manure | 2/4/2008 |
| Q: Can fresh cattle/horse manure be used safely and effectively to raise soil NPK levels without ... A: No, sorry. You need to compost "hot" manure - like horse and cow. "Cold" manure can be used right ... | |
| raised river rock garden bed | 1/22/2008 |
| Q: I have priced wood and WOW its expensive so I started to research River Rock (I have tons of it in ... A: We just dig a little trench and start. River rock is usually not real flat, so you would probably ... | |
| root cellar | 12/23/2007 |
| Q: poor planning gave my cellar a concrete floor. i am looking at an area about 6'x8' that i would like ... A: Perfect humidity for a root cellar is between 70 and 95 degrees. Cement will just have a little ... | |
| how to handle cover crop over winter | 12/1/2007 |
| Q: I have a partly-shaded area of about 300 square feet (in a yard near Boston, MA) that has never been ... A: Over the winter the clover will send long roots down into the soil and will be much harder to pull ... | |
| raised vegetable garden walls | 11/24/2007 |
| Q: I am on a limited budget and want to build walls for my raised vegetable garden with as innocuous a ... A: The sheet metal is really sharp, and probably not a good choice for several reasons. Buldging, ... | |
| Organic Auditors | 9/17/2007 |
| Q: what is an organc auditor? what do they do? A: From what I understand, organic auditors may arrive unannounced at any growers, processors, ... | |
| white clover problem | 8/27/2007 |
| Q: I have a relatively new house (6years old)with 2 acres, all lawn, all direct sun. Most of the lawn ... A: Clover is drought tolerant, stays green all winter and converts nitrogen into a form usable by other ... | |
| Arp Rosemary | 8/23/2007 |
| Q: How and when to harvest Arp Rosemary in zone 6b. Would like to use our Arp Rosemary in preparing ... A: If it is leggy, it should be pruned back to hardwood, (brown not green stem), and it will branch ... | |
| apples trees | 8/11/2007 |
| Q: Every year the bugs get the apple before me. Any solution that is safe? I have a dog and a cat. :) ... A: It depends upon which area of the country you live in. Eastern growers must contend with the plum ... | |
| siting a vegetable garden | 7/29/2007 |
| Q: I am trying to decide where to place two small raised beds for a home vegatable garden. My yard has ... A: It depends upon where you live. Tomatoes, beans, corn, cucumbers, carrots, beets, like full sun and ... | |
| Russian Sage | 7/23/2007 |
| Q: This is one of the most wonderful smelling plants on earth! I love sage and I use it in cooking ... A: Culinary sage is named Salvia officinalis, and Russian sage is technically not a sage but named ... | |
| STINK BUGS!! | 7/14/2007 |
| Q: I have what seems to be hundreds of stink bugs in my garden. Are they good or bad, and if they are ... A: Stink Bugs (Cosmopepla bimaculata) belong to the order called Hemiptera, in the Family Pentatomidae ... | |
| Wild Onions | 7/12/2007 |
| Q: Do you know of an organic way -- no chemicals -- to get rid of or at least to avoid "catching" wild ... A: I was just saying that chemical herbicides would work if you wanted to go that route. I wouldn't ... | |
| Wild Onions | 7/3/2007 |
| Q: Do you know of an organic way -- no chemicals -- to get rid of or at least to avoid "catching" wild ... A: Pre-emergent herbicides are spread on the lawn before certain weeds sprout. They create a film on ... | |
| Converting from chemicals to organic lawn | 6/27/2007 |
| Q: After a lot of soul searching, I have finally concluded that an organic lawn program is something I ... A: It can be done gradually. It is mostly a matter of balancing the soil so it will be healthy. For ... | |
| Worms in acid soils? | 6/17/2007 |
| Q: The soil of my land is of old volcanic origin, in some places rather reddish brown, in others just ... A: It is a soil building question, because 90% of the garden activity is in the soil. It all starts ... | |
| yellowing leaves on tomatoes | 6/11/2007 |
| Q: We have had a somewhay cooler and wetter spring this year up to a week or so ago and now it's ... A: It sounds like it might be a TMV virus (Tobacco Mosaic Virus) if anyone has been smoking around the ... | |
| ants | 6/10/2007 |
| Q: please tell me how to get rid of garden ants from my garden A: They usually don't do too much harm. Ants are insects in the Order Hymenoptera, and it should be ... | |
| green bean pests | 6/1/2007 |
| Q: I planted Blue Lake pole beans a few weeks ago, and the sprouts are immediately attacked and eaten ... A: You could grow your beans pots on the patio, planting 6 beans in each pot, using good quality ... | |
| Potato bugs | 5/29/2007 |
| Q: How is the best way for me to get rid of potato bugs without using inseticides?? A: The Potato Bug, or The Colorado potato beetle, it is a plump yellow beetle with black stripes he and ... | |
| safety of public compost | 5/25/2007 |
| Q: Our city offers free compost from the lawn and garden waste they compost. The yard waste is ... A: You never know what people (or the city) does to their yards. I would not trust it. The organic ... | |
| soil | 5/18/2007 |
| Q: I asked about the vermiculite. To be more clear, I wonder if it's completely safe to use? Are ... A: Yes, it is completely safe to use. Horticultural vermiculite is basically a hydrated phlogopite ... | |
| How much spaced needed | 5/17/2007 |
| Q: I am from Australia. We have sold our city house and am moving to a smaller city near sydney ... A: We used our GreenzBox (see our website for information about it at: http://www.avant-gardening.com) ... | |
| manure from commercially raised ducks | 4/13/2007 |
| Q: Does manure from commercially raised ducks contain hormone and/or chemical residues not advisable ... A: I don't think composting will make a difference even if you run it through a lot of earthworms, but ... | |
| manure from commercially raised ducks | 4/12/2007 |
| Q: Does manure from commercially raised ducks contain hormone and/or chemical residues not advisable ... A: Hormones are not allowed in U.S. duck or goose production. The FSIS (Food Safety Inspection ... | |
| organic food regulation | 4/5/2007 |
| Q: Do you think organic farms should have to be certified to be sold as organic? Would you like this ... A: Organic farms should be "certified organic" in order for the food they grow to be sold as organic, ... | |
| rabbit food | 3/12/2007 |
| Q: I recently moved into a new house and am not yet sure about the soil. I am not too sure about ... A: This is an excellent place to get your soil tested: http://www.al-labs-plains.com/index.html The ... | |
| upside down tomatoes | 2/17/2007 |
| Q: I've read that you can plant tomatoes in the drainage hole of a terracotta pot so that the plant ... A: Any of these: nasturtium, parsley, cucumber, basil, chive, garlic, lettuce, mint, peppers, or ... | |
| Cavy manure | 1/3/2007 |
| Q: I'm not certain if this is the proper forum for this question, but I thought it might be a good ... A: Cavy manure is very high in nitrogen, it is a cold manure and can be added right to the garden. I ... | |
| compost | 10/30/2006 |
| Q: I want to have a compost pile and recently saw some nice compost binds on HGTV. The problem is that ... A: There must be a feed store in a city near you, I would buy some bales of alfalfa hay to layer with. ... | |
| mulching | 10/17/2006 |
| Q: Is it okay to mulch bare veg garden over winter with wood chips? I have a pile of them, mostly cedar ... A: There are differing opinions as to the toxicity of using cedar as a mulch. We never mulch with ... | |
| winterizing | 10/6/2006 |
| Q: I have started rhubarb from seed indoors. The plants are about 4 months old. They are quite hardy. ... A: If you have not had a hard freeze yet, you can just plant them directly into the garden and when the ... | |
| ants in container plants | 8/6/2006 |
| Q: I have some plants out on the patio that will need to come in for the winter. Some small brown ... A: You definitely need to repot them all, and the ants might be raising aphids on the undersides of the ... | |
| green bean pests | 8/2/2006 |
| Q: I live in Ohio, and have planted blue lake bush snap grean beans. The plants have been doing very ... A: These are probably flea beatles on the leaves. They are easily organically taken care of by using ... | |
| herbicide | 7/22/2006 |
| Q: can beer malt, wine w/o alcohol or any various molds, fungi or bacteria solve this problem ? A: YES! Plain old distilled VINEGAR can be used as a great herbicide for areas that you don't want ... | |
| blossom end rot on tomatoes | 7/13/2006 |
| Q: I live in Illinois.Last year I lost all my tomatoes with blossom end rot.I planted in a completely ... A: Blossom end rot is caused by a lack of calcium in the developing fruit usually caused by lack of ... | |
| organic farming | 6/14/2006 |
| Q: what i sorganic farming? why is it preferred these days? A: Please go to our website for extensive information on organic gardening: ... | |
| Miracle Grow on Vegetables and Tomatoes | 5/14/2006 |
| Q: I'm a fairly new, uninformed gardener and I was stunned to see something today that said miracle ... A: Ah, yes, trying to grow in NM...If you want to grow organically, without chemicals (yes miracle grow ... | |
| Soil | 5/13/2006 |
| Q: I have few questions if you can answer for me. How Do Alkali soils differ from Saline Soil? Thanks ... A: It is a matter of soil pH properties. Alkaline soil can range from a pH of 7.5 to 9 or 10, and acid ... | |
| tomatoes | 5/2/2006 |
| Q: 2 questions really: 1. Are coffee grounds good for growing tomatoes? Better just in the compost or ... A: Coffee grounds and eggshells are great and will work a lot better if they are composted first, for ... | |
| southern penn. veggies and herbs! | 4/18/2006 |
| Q: I live in southern Pennsylvania, and im looking to start a garden in my backyard. Specifically i ... A: Oh, that it were that simple. Please go to our website http://www.avant-gardening.com and read ... | |
| ants | 4/4/2006 |
| Q: I live in houston,tx. I have dogs. Is there any way to rid the yard of ants organically? Does cedar ... A: I did a google search for "organic ant control" ... | |
| Radish seeds to repel mold. | 1/23/2006 |
| Q: Followup To Question - Germinating radish seeds produce high levels of anti-fungal proteins; do ... A: Check these out: ... | |
| Radish seeds to repel mold. | 1/23/2006 |
| Q: Germinating radish seeds produce high levels of anti-fungal proteins; do you have a recipe for using ... A: "Plant defensins" is a term used for these defense-related proteins which are released during radish ... | |
| Organic Agriculture in Israel | 12/9/2005 |
| Q: BR, 09/12/05 Well Sir,I'd like to know about organic ag in Israel,main ... A: http://www.theorganicpages.com/topo/keywordresults.html?key_name=&keyId=cotton+fiber Copy and paste ... | |
| composting | 10/11/2005 |
| Q: Will materials that have chemicals in them (veggies, coffee,fruit, lawn clippings etc.)break down ... A: I think this depends upon the state in which you live. You can contact your state department of ... | |
| laural hedge | 10/2/2005 |
| Q: Is laural hedge chips a good flower bed cover A: If you are refering to Bay Laurel, commonly used to flavor soups, but never eaten, then direct ... | |
| worms in garden | 9/18/2005 |
| Q: I have noticed something very strange in my gardens. I have lived here in this house for three years ... A: I would first test the soil, there is a link on our website: http://www.avant-gardening.com on the ... | |
| Russian Sage | 9/3/2005 |
| Q: Is Russian Sage edible? A: Perovskia atriplicifolia - the small lavender flowers have a sweet flavour and can be eaten in ... | |
| lettuce quality | 7/15/2005 |
| Q: I have noticed that the plants from a mesclun mix seed packet are a bit more bitter than I remember ... A: I would not add too much composted horse manure, it is high in salt and over time will make your ... | |
| Non-hybrid seeds | 5/30/2005 |
| Q: Can you help me find an article or site online about why non-hybrid/heirloom seeds are important, ... A: Visit our website: http://www.avant-gardening.com/biodiversity.html for more information about seed ... | |
| starting | 5/27/2005 |
| Q: I'd like to know how to mix fertilizer and soil for my herb garden. What container should I use? ... A: Herbs that are perennial, such as sage, thyme, rosemary, lavender and other woody stemed varieties ... | |
| Starting an organic garden in a compromised setting | 5/5/2005 |
| Q: I want to start an organic garden, and I want to start composting. However, the yard where I live ... A: You can buy organic compost, organic soil, and organic nutrients, or find some totallly untreated ... | |
| Pet friendly pesticides / alternatives?? | 4/30/2005 |
| Q: how do we keep insects out of our garden without endangering pets and other wildlife? thanks in ... A: If you have an organic soil that is well balanced in nutrient content, that will help a lot by ... | |
| Garden Planning | 4/26/2005 |
| Q: I am getting ready to plant a garden in which the plants will be mainly used in folklore/herbal ... A: If you check our website you will find all of that information...http://www.avant-gardening.com ... | |
| soil | 3/26/2005 |
| Q: I had my soil tested and they say to apply amonium nitrate 5lb per 1000sqft.how is the best way to ... A: They would all prefer a pH around 6.5. I would not add amonium nitrate, because it is a chemical, ... | |
| organic soil building | 3/9/2005 |
| Q: I have three raised beds behind my house for growing veggies for my family. Last year had a rather ... A: You could add some gypsum to bring the soil pH down and add calcium at the same time, or peat moss, ... | |
| How can I make my daffodils grow larger? | 2/22/2005 |
| Q: How can I make my daffodils grow larger? What can I put in the holes when I plant them? A: Daffodils should be planted in the late summer or early fall when the temperatures are not going to ... | |
| fertilizer for tomatoes | 2/21/2005 |
| Q: I am growing some tomatoes in a pot in FLorida, and the instructions said to use a fish fertilizer. ... A: If you go to our website http://www.avant-gardening.com and check out our link/resource page under ... | |
| Loquat Tree seeds | 2/18/2005 |
| Q: My question is in regards to my Loquat Tree SEEDS. I grow many things, but need help with some info ... A: Is there any way to just prune off all the branches on their side of the property line? (It is ... | |
| soil | 2/18/2005 |
| Q: I have recently begun a new garden in central Texas. My garden in central Oklahoma was basicaly ... A: We had a similar condition with hard red clay in Arizona that would hardly break up with a backhoe. ... | |
| Blueberries | 2/12/2005 |
| Q: I mulch my blueberries with woood chips and I would like to know if it would be benefical to spray ... A: Vinegar is a natural herbicide, and if you are not careful you could kill your plants. We use it ... | |
| Organic Herbicide | 12/29/2004 |
| Q: I am a International Baccalaureate studentand I need help on my science fair project. I am trying to ... A: You can use distilled vinegar full strength as a herbicide, it will kill anything because it is very ... | |
| Fertilizers | 8/4/2004 |
| Q: Are granular fertilizers ever considered organic? Are the N P &K not derived from natural sources? A: Yes, unlike chemical fertilizers, most granular organic fertilizers release their nutrients slowly, ... | |
| biodinamy and Rudolf Steiner | 7/24/2004 |
| Q: Is this a proven theory.It seems so ridiculous,but here it is trendy and many of my freinds swear ... A: Well, having grown seedlings on a heat tape for 25 years, I can tell you that the seeds that I plant ... | |
| Green Peppers/possible fungus ETC. | 7/12/2004 |
| Q: thx for ur time. this is my first time growing veg. i have abt 35 plants in my greenhouse (aprox.4ft ... A: The black spots are not natural. I am not sure what they are, but you can do a search for "black ... | |
| snails | 7/12/2004 |
| Q: What is the best way to protect veges from snails , slugs and slaters/centipedes organically? A: We discovered when we lived on San Juan Island, slug capital of the world, that the only sure way to ... | |
| Beneficial Nematodes & Castile Soap | 7/9/2004 |
| Q: Frank and Vicky Giannangelo, I have read that both Dr. Bronner's peppermint castile soap and ... A: Castile soap will do nothing for fleas. I would dust your pet with Rotonone, it can be used ... | |
| disease and organic cure | 7/6/2004 |
| Q: We have brown rings around the tops of our tomatoes. There is a line on some of them that runs down ... A: Go to our website http://www.avant-gardening.com and click at the bottom of the home page on "Planet ... | |
| Lawn care | 6/29/2004 |
| Q: IS IT ADVISABLE TO USE PRODUCTS SUCH AS COTTONSEED MEAL, CORN MEAL, AND ANIMAL FEED ON MY LAWN? A: It depends if you want it to be organic or not, if you have pets or not, and if you care if it gets ... | |
| Blueberry Bush | 6/10/2004 |
| Q: Frank & Vicky: My neighbor has blueberry bushes that produce lots of tasty fruit each June. He ... A: I don't know where you are located, but I think that you can get good quality plants from Johnny's ... | |
| powdery mildew on squash | 4/30/2004 |
| Q: Me and my boyfriend share a organic vegetable garden. We have been having some trouble with powdery ... A: Go to http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/bakingsoda.html for proper instructions of using baking soda ... | |
| WEEDS | 4/13/2004 |
| Q: I have just cleared out all the weeds and grass from an 8' X 12'area that I plan to start as my ... A: I don't think you want to eat weed and grass killer. Weeds will grow, but if you mulch heavily, the ... | |
| berries | 4/1/2004 |
| Q: I don't know if you guys are the right folks to ask, but we're organic gardners (in that we use no ... A: Strawberries: there is no difference between strawberry runners and nursery plants (except maybe the ... | |
| Organic Gardening | 3/26/2004 |
| Q: I organic garden in Harrsiburg, PA. I have built my rasied beds over a 12 year period usind leaf ... A: Please read all the info at: http://www.avant-gardening.com on soil building. Test the soil. ... | |
| tomato | 3/17/2004 |
| Q: I was wanting to know if you grow tomatos in a green house will they produce all year long. Also I ... A: Yes, if you have enough light, heat, and nutrients. As long as the temperature does not go below 55 ... | |
| safe building materials | 3/15/2004 |
| Q: I want to build raised beds in my greenhouse for organics. I need info on safe building materials ... A: You could build a small cement retaining wall, use bricks, make a stone or rock wall, a rubble/stone ... | |
| Pencil shavings in compost | 2/22/2004 |
| Q: Is it OK to add pencil shavings to compost? The wood would be OK I'm sure, and the paint ought to be ... A: Graphite is a source of potassium (K) according to one source featuring a "List of Approved Inputs ... | |
Organic Gardens
Answers by Expert:
Frank and Vicky Giannangelo
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
We will research and answer all questions about organic gardening, soil building, square foot gardening, composting, mulching, planting techniques, sustainable gardening, sustainability, garden design, and how to create a simple reflection pool to attract birds and wildlife. Over the years we have learned that plants respond to the garden's aesthetics, soil conditions, and the attitude of the gardener. The healthier the soil and soul, the healthier the plants become, and are therefore more able to resist insect attacks.
Experience
40 years experience in private and professional organic gardening, creating formal gardens, giving organic gardening workshops, and sharing our insights, both in the Southwest and the Northwest.
Publications
"Growing with the Seasons" a book by Frank and Vicky Giannangelo about their adventures in organic gardening, community, sustainability, and personal growth.
Avant-Gardening Tid-Bytes, an online newsletter we published monthly from 2001-2008. The articles are archived on our website.
Education/Credentials
We both have BA degrees. Vicky from the University of Washington, and Frank from the University of Arizona. We have learned by experience, the best teacher...!
Awards and Honors
NM Book Awards. Second place for "Growing with the Seasons" a book by Frank and Vicky Giannangelo about their adventures in organic gardening, community, sustainability, and personal growth.
Past/Present Clients
We are now back in WA state, creating organic display gardens on San Juan Island, WA and will be open to the public for produce, cut flowers, and culinary herbs. Seasonal.
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