| Subject | Date Asked |
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| Ants; Organic Control | 7/22/2009 |
Q: Baldwinsville (near Syracuse) NY I have an ant problem in my intensive, raised vegetable bed. The ...
A: The only organic product I have found to be effective on ants is diatomaceous earth. Ants will crawl ...
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| Shipping Passion Flower Suckers | 5/5/2009 |
Q: I have a large patch of passion flowers, the wild Maypop type, growing in my pasture here in Eastern ...
A: I would definitely ship them in a light-weight clear plastic filled with peat moss. Just make sure ...
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| Square foot gardening grids/Atlanta Georgia | 3/29/2009 |
Q: I'm making my 1st 4x4 garden and i what to know what to use to make the grid and the best soil ...
A: Brenda, I use cedar wood because it will not rot. I would stay away from the treated lumber since it ...
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| Raised bed on cement patio? | 3/10/2009 |
Q: Please help… we have a sunny area in the back that is paved with cement. I think it’s the perfect ...
A: Diane, I would not use concrete as a foundation for your new garden. Regardless of what you line the ...
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| Square foot garden | 2/13/2009 |
Q: I'm considering putting in a square foot garden this year, mainly because I'm too darn lazy and old ...
A: Yes you can place the box over the grass. If you do proceed in this manner, you will need to cover ...
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| Watermelon & Square-foot gardening | 1/30/2009 |
Q: I am trying to find info on growing watermelon using the square foot garden method. I can't find ...
A: Due to the limited space, most gardeners grow squash and melons vertically when using the square ...
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| optimizing garden soil | 11/15/2008 |
Q: I need advise about whether to amend a 1 foot deep raised bed of well composted horse, cow and sheep ...
A: Dick, it sounds like all you need is sulfur to reduce the ph level to near 7.0, but I would not get ...
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| Gourds; Planting Time | 9/16/2008 |
Q: I live in the central valley of Calif. and want to know when to plant hard shell goards, how deep ...
A: Susan, sorry about that. You sow the seeds directly into the garden one week after your last ...
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| Growing roots in water | 9/15/2008 |
Q: I have a large indoor tree that grew so high, when i came home from a short trip the stems had ...
A: You can transplant them into a pot now. Be sure to use a fertile potting soil in a 12" pot with a ...
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| planting gourds | 9/14/2008 |
Q: I live in the central valley of Calif. and want to know when to plant hard shell goards, how deep ...
A: Gourd seeds should be planted one inch deep and 2 feet apart. This is true for all members of the ...
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| Coal in soil | 4/19/2008 |
Q: I have small chips (but they are plentiful) of natural coal in a section of my yard where I would ...
A: Lynne, unless you plan on renovating that section by digging out the old soil and replacing it with ...
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| Growing corn (small patch) | 4/18/2008 |
Q: we moved to a rural area over 2 yrs. ago in Southeastern, Ontario, Canada and are on an acre. We ...
A: Paula, corn is actually very easy to grow, but it does require some knowledge and quite a bit of ...
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| Bougainvillea | 12/4/2007 |
Q: Not sure about spelling, but I have a huge bougainvillea in my garden and want to transplant to a ...
A: Meredith, propagation by cuttings is the preferred choice. Simply cut a tender shoot that is at ...
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| Snail control | 12/3/2007 |
Q: Is there a home remedy for the control of snail eating putunias and impatients. Help
A: There are not many home remedies for snails, but there are many different inexpensive options for ...
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| Skunks | 10/7/2007 |
Q: During the last three weeks. skunks like to visit my front yard and dig up my lawn and make a lot of ...
A: Jasper, skunks are attracted to grubs in the soil. They will dig verociously when they find them in ...
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| Raised Garden Help - Clay Soil | 4/30/2007 |
Q: I am trying to build a raised garden/low maintenance, in front of mobile home. I live in Lousiana ...
A: Patricia, you do not need to till the existing soil. What I would do is lay down 1" of newspaper ...
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| Tomatoes; Nitrogen | 4/26/2007 |
Q: Mike, I was reading a response to Cathy where she was having problems with tomato plants you advised ...
A: Judy, not at all. The key is using a fertilizer low in nitrogen. Keep in mind that fruit-bearing ...
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| Cement Blocks; Raised Beds | 3/28/2007 |
Q: can you use cement blocks inside of treated wood to build raised garden bed
A: Absolutely. Many gardeners use block instead of wood. I always advise against treated lumber due the ...
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| question | 3/9/2007 |
Q: You may not can help me with this, but its worth a try: I have a camellia approx 5 feet tall, ...
A: Patricia, the best time to transplant a camellia is early to mid fall. This gives the roots a chance ...
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| Snails and Slugs | 3/2/2007 |
Q: My wife and I have, out by our pool, three planter areas approx. 6' by 7' in diameter. WE have a ...
A: Newell, there are many prescribed ways to control snails and slugs. They are are especially ...
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| slime | 11/7/2006 |
Q: I have alot of slime on top of my garden it only comes in the winter,it is very slippery and can be ...
A: Dave, these are spores that gather and form a film over the soil. The reason it only surfaces in the ...
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| potatoes and grubs | 10/17/2006 |
Q: Independence, Ky 15 mi from Cincinnati, Ohio. This summer I raised potatoes but lost a large amount ...
A: Betty, Grub-ex is by far the best product on the market for an immediate resolution. The problem ...
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| growing cucumbers | 9/20/2006 |
Q: I have grown several types of cucumbers in my garden in Martinez, California. All varieties, ...
A: Gail, there are varieties that are pickling cucumbers grown specifically for their slightly bitter ...
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| earthworms | 8/28/2006 |
Q: We have just relocted to Pennslyvania. While landscaping our new lawn I discovred we have no worms! ...
A: Pennsylvania soils are composed primarily of clay. Earthworms avoid clay soil due to its heavy ...
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| Bougainvillea plant flowers | 8/13/2006 |
Q: I am located in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. My Bougainvillea plant is approximately 6' tall by 8'wide ...
A: Jim, the secret to abundant blooms is to reduce the amount of nitrogen and increase the phosphorus. ...
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| Current Bush transplant | 7/31/2006 |
Q: I live in Anchorage, Alaska. I would like to know if I can still transplant five well established ...
A: Adrienne, you can transplant at any time, but fall is the most preferable season for transplanting. ...
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| green beans need protection | 7/27/2006 |
Q: My growing green beans have the holes on the leavs. I supose some kind of insects are eating them. ...
A: The best control is a product called reemay, otherwise known as row covers. Reemay is a ...
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| types of current bushes | 7/7/2006 |
Q: I LIVE IN BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK AND I WAS WONDERING HOW MANY TYPES OF CURRENT BUSHES ARE THERE? ...
A: Sharon, there are literally dozens of different currents thanks to hybrids. My best advice is to ...
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| current bushes | 7/6/2006 |
Q: Chicago north suburb How do you prune them. Some of the old stems lose all their leaves and there ...
A: Cynthia, remove all dead stems that are not producing leaves 1" from the main trunk. Also, remove ...
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| around the house mulch for potted tomatoes | 5/17/2006 |
Q: For the first time, I'm trying to grow determinant (spelling?) tomatoes in containers. Are there ...
A: Amy, it sounds like you're doing everything right. My only concern is that one gallon of water per ...
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| Rubber Mulch | 5/13/2006 |
Q: I am from Vancouver, Canada. I saw an item in the news about the advantages of mulch made from ...
A: Rubber is a recent addition to the many types of mulches being used in today's gardens and beds. ...
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| Getting started...(New York State) | 4/26/2006 |
Q: I live in Florida, New York, which is located in the lower Hudson Valley region, and we would like ...
A: Marji, you have four options at this point. You can fence your garden in, attempt to trap the ...
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| Building a raised garden | 4/19/2006 |
Q: I am going to build a raised garden. What materials are safe and cheap. I am not wild about the idea ...
A: Joe, I agree with your decision to stay away from railroad ties. Recent studies have shown that it ...
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| flowers | 4/16/2006 |
Q: Is it ok to plant two types of flowers together in a garden? Thanks (Paramus, NJ)
A: Jessica, it's all of matter of personal preference. Some gardeners mix flowers for colors; others ...
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| Watermelons | 4/13/2006 |
Q: This year I have decided to grow some watermelons in an unused space in my backyard. I read that ...
A: Nicolas, my first recommendation would be to not start too big on your first garden. Gardening ...
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| Soaker Hoses and SFG | 4/12/2006 |
Q: I'm planning to try the "new" square-foot gardening method, with 6 in. of peat/compost/vermiculite ...
A: Christi, I place my soaker hoses slightly more apart to save on buying additional hoses. I just ...
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| Soaker Hose vs Drip Line | 3/24/2006 |
Q: I am in the Denver Metro Area and am wonering if a soaker hose or a spray drip line would be better. ...
A: Diane, I personally prefer a soaker hose. I find I get better coverage and more maneuverability ...
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| Current bush | 2/4/2006 |
Q: Mike, I am in Langhorne, Pennsylvania I have a red current bush, it's 8 yrs old. The plant flowers ...
A: Karen, the correct answer to your question depends heavily on the actual variety of currant you are ...
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| Sprouting | 1/20/2006 |
Q: I would like to get started growing sprouts for health purposes. To use them in sandwiches and ...
A: Kathy, you need to invest in a seed starting kit. This kit would include a tray, plastic planting ...
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| animals under the grass | 10/3/2005 |
Q: our back yard (since last year) and now also our front yard is like a big grass/soil sponge. We ...
A: Martina, you most likely have a mole or vole digging under your lawn. Unfortunately, with moles and ...
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| soil | 7/25/2005 |
Q: my husband put red cedar chips in a flower bed about 4 months ago now i find in additon to the ...
A: Laura, your friend is absolutely correct. Besides pulling the weeds by hand, the best organic ...
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| cantelopes and watermelons | 7/5/2005 |
Q: My melon plants are being harmed by something I've never seen before. It starts w/a 3in. piece of ...
A: Kate, based on your description, I have to believe the melon plants have been invaded by the squash ...
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| Suckers on tomato plants | 5/24/2005 |
Q: I read that you provided a picture of the "suckers" on tomato plants to another person. If possible, ...
A: Shane, unfortunately we cannot paste jpg. files or other pictures on All Experts due to the ...
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| current bushes | 5/7/2005 |
Q: I am trying to plant a golden current bush in my yard in Kalispell Montana. I have no instructions.
A: Melinda, dig a hole 3" less in depth than the height of the root ball. Fill the hole completely ...
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| Growing Radishes | 1/30/2005 |
Q: I've purchased two packs of radish seeds. I want to grow radishes this spring. My soil is sandy ...
A: Ed, the best advice I can give you is to make sure you properly amend your soil. Good soil is truly ...
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| trimming red current bushes | 9/15/2004 |
Q: From Aurora, Ontario I would like to know when is the best time to trim red current bushes. Thanking ...
A: June, the best time is late winter or early spring, before the bush buds. You want to avoid any ...
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| failed tomato garden in a 4x4 raised bed | 6/30/2004 |
Q: my tomato plants have been ruined by some kind of pest. The leaves are wilted, discolored and full ...
A: Cathy, if the plants are beyond saving, either compost them or discard them. In your area of the ...
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| Insect control | 5/20/2004 |
Q: I have recently started gardening in a small courtyard – only pots for the moment. As I am in town ...
A: This site is a good forum for asking specific questions about disease and insects. Another good ...
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| Orchid Tree Seed Pods | 5/16/2004 |
Q: I have a number of orchid tree seed pods. Can you tell me how long I should dry the pods before ...
A: Cleatus, you need to allow them to dry for at least one week. However, you should not plant them ...
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| coffee grounds | 4/21/2004 |
Q: ------------------------- one more question on the coffee grounds, then what plants are they good ...
A: Sandy, the coffee grounds will benefit the flowers and vegetables. What I was referring to is ...
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| coffee grounds | 4/21/2004 |
Q: are coffee grounds good for your garden? can you put them directly in with the dirt? thanks
A: Absolutely, they're a great organic amendment for your soil. I get several used bags per week from ...
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| container gardening | 3/9/2004 |
Q: I would like to plant some carrots, radishes and turnips this year in some containers/boxes on my ...
A: Mark, the three things to keep in mind when gardening with containers is size, materials, and ...
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| Earth Worms, survival of | 1/16/2004 |
Q: I was in too much of a hurry to have a little raised garden when we moved. I allowed our handy man ...
A: Carole, depending on the type of stain used, it very well could be harmful to insects and worms. As ...
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| re: milk weed pods | 10/9/2003 |
Q: I want to plant milk weeds in my garden. I have found the plants where I can pick them, but I need ...
A: Margaret, now would be the best time to harvest the pod and hang it to dry. Within 10 days, go ...
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| fall gardening | 7/21/2003 |
Q: what and when to plant fall garden in alabama.
A: Lisa, the exact answer depends on your first frost date. Although the average in Alabama is mid to ...
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| TWO GARDEN QUESTIONS | 11/5/2002 |
Q: I have two questions for you, if you please: First, I planted several hostas this past spring which ...
A: Patricia, the hostas will recover just fine next spring. Unfortunately, they are very susceptible ...
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| harvesting pumpkins | 9/29/2002 |
Q: I looked at all the volunteers, and you seemed to be the only one who could maybe answer my ...
A: Patricia, although I always try to time my pumpkin seeding to coincide with harvesting two weeks ...
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| johnson grass | 9/8/2002 |
Q: I have a bed of Iris and Daylillies that is overgrown with Johnson grass. I have weeded it numerous ...
A: Anne, Roundup is a non-selective herbicide that will kill everything it touches including bushes and ...
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| stimulated questions | 8/2/2002 |
Q: Jonathan again, the information that you provided me with was very helpful in making my decisions, ...
A: Jonathan. I'll try to answer each question one at a time. I personally do no believe in leaving ...
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| Sloped side yard | 7/17/2002 |
Q: I'm from Portland, Or., my side yard is sloped downward, slightly steep, easy walk on and gets ...
A: Adria, ideally you want the garden bed to be as level as possible to avoid runoff and retain ...
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| problems with red current bush | 7/12/2002 |
Q: we live in Kirkland and have a regular backyard garden with some tomatoes, a gooseberry and a red ...
A: Charlotte, I would prune the bush by one third and spray the plant with a copper-based fungicide. ...
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| square foot farming | 6/22/2002 |
Q: I actually live on a large farm where the in-laws who live in town but garden on our farm, have ...
A: Tracy, you can feed a family of three using 60 square feet of garden. This may be hard to believe, ...
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| Watermelons, Galia melons, and Charentais melons | 6/15/2002 |
Q: Intensive gardening is my way, too. Am wondering how to make my melons more productive. This year, I ...
A: Tim, it all depends on what you are looking for. If you're interested in growing large melons, then ...
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| Tomatoes and diseases | 5/23/2002 |
Q: Yesterday I planted some tomato plants and had a new variety "Big Beef." The little tag in the box ...
A: Dorothy, the letters stand for tolerance to the following diseases: T - Tobacco Mosaic V - ...
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| Soaker Hose | 4/18/2002 |
Q: I could find nowhere else to ask, and since it will be used under in intensive square foot gardening ...
A: Ironically, I also use soaker hoses and I bought them at Wal*Mart. Small world. You are absolutely ...
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| Where do I begin?? | 2/19/2002 |
Q: I'm wondering if you could point me in the right direction. First, my goal is to create a flowering ...
A: Shawna, the only annuals which actually thrive in shady areas are coleus, begonia, and impatiens. ...
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| Gardening in Maryland | 2/10/2002 |
Q: Where can I find a reccomendation on-line for gardening in Maryland's climate? I remember when I was ...
A: Jasmine, cooperative extensions and local universities are often good sources for local and regional ...
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| Square foot gardening | 1/26/2002 |
Q: Living in Florida, where many houses have little garden space, I was wondering, what exactly is ...
A: Square foot gardening is a method of intensive gardening. The term "square foot gardening" was ...
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| dahlias | 11/15/2001 |
Q: I live in Long Island. Is it necessary for me to dig up my dahlias each Fall?
A: Yes it is. Otherwise the bulbs will freeze over the winter. Simply dig the plants carefully making ...
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| vegetable gardening/small space | 10/16/2001 |
Q: I have just moved to an apartment and have an area of 5' x 5' in which I plan to plant vegetables. I ...
A: and thanks for writing. I personally prefer raised beds. The soil stays friable since you never ...
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| Sun exposure | 7/16/2001 |
Q: I live in St. Louis, MO, which I believe is region 5. I was told that any plant that says full sun ...
A: Ralph, full sun is 8 hours or more per day. Partial sun is 5-8 hours per day. Less than that is ...
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| Cyclamen Seeds | 7/14/2001 |
Q: Cyclamen............I love this flower. I have read several articles but have yet to determine ...
A: Roger, the seed pod forms inside the calyx, or sepals, of the flower head. As you probably know, do ...
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| Sunflowers | 7/3/2001 |
Q: I have just started growing sunflowers that are 3ft high. recently I have discovered hordes of ...
A: Andi, normally ants are an indication of a high population of aphids in the area. Aphids are a ...
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| I have some Oleandar bushes... | 6/28/2001 |
Q: I have some Oleandar bushes that are "bushing-out" wonderfully - but not blooming. Everyone else's ...
A: Cliff, it sounds like you cut them back during their dormant period which would be the correct ...
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| horehound and hemlock | 5/25/2001 |
Q: I live in southern Missouri, zone 6. I let wild plants grow in my yard and in my garden to help ...
A: Mark, I know of no beneficials that are attracted by these herbs, but they do indeed have other ...
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| Blue annuals | 5/6/2001 |
Q: I have a question regarding potted flowers. Every year, I put rectangular pots of flowers on my ...
A: Robin, I would suggest ageratum, blue petunias, lisianthus, or blue salvia. If you're not familiar ...
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| Seeds on the Web? | 5/5/2001 |
Q: Wondering if you know a good place to buy seeds on the web. Looking for unusual varieties, ...
A: Misty, there are several on-line catalogs where you can find unusual seeds. Although I am not ...
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| Wisconsin perennial bed | 4/13/2001 |
Q: I'm not sure this is in your area of expertise, but I need suggestions. I've recently had to clean ...
A: Helen, since most perennials come in all colors, you can certainly mix and match according to your ...
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| Cucumber varieties | 3/24/2001 |
Q: What variety of cucumber should I plant in my tiny garden in Zone 7 to train on a low trellis?
A: Diane, there are several short-vining cucumbers available through seed catalogs and garden centers. ...
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| standard fuschia | 3/10/2001 |
Q: i have a standard fuschia which i planted last year.it was brought inside for the winter and pruned ...
A: Pete, fuchsia are normally repeat performers. They are actually tender perennials that most ...
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| Green beans | 3/2/2001 |
Q: I need some advice as what to do about my growing green bean plants in my raised beds. I went ...
A: Jackie, you didn't mention what variety you are attempting to grow. Some seed companies list ...
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| starting a sqft garden | 2/19/2001 |
Q: Mike, I'm getting ready to begin my sqft garden. I plan to borrow a tiller and break-up the ...
A: Ken, you definitely want to add soil loaded with organic amendments such as compost, peat, or ...
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| suckers stems on tomato plants | 1/27/2001 |
Q: How do you tell which stems are suckers and if you should snip them off.
A: Bob, I tried sending you a photo of the tomato sucker but it came back as undeliverable due to an ...
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| seed instincts... | 1/11/2001 |
Q: " I always was curious to know , How does a seed buried 8 inches underground know which way is up ...
A: Frank, like with humans, the genetic makeup of the seed is complex, and highly depends on the ...
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| VEGETABLE GARDEN PLANS? | 9/25/2000 |
Q: 30x30,16x35 area where to put what from A-Z vegetables? Tallest to the west then shortest to east? ...
A: There are two rules of thumb when determining the layout of a garden. They are the size of the ...
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| coal | 9/3/2000 |
Q: i have some coal chunks and i wondered if they could be useful in the garden soil.my father had used ...
A: Roger, coal is an acceptable carbon supplement for soil. However, it is not advisable to place them ...
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| Roses | 9/3/2000 |
Q: I live in No. Calif. and would like to know when I should stop feeding my roses for the season. ...
A: Joan, you should stop feeding the roses sixty days prior to your first expected frost date. Here in ...
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| Question on raising garlic. | 8/21/2000 |
Q: We live in Central California, in the San Joaquin Valley. We want to know when is the best time to ...
A: Garlic is best planted in the fall for mid-summer harvest. Here in the midwest we plant garlic in ...
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| Bougainvillea Plant | 8/1/2000 |
Q: I recently purchased a Bougainvillea Plant, and after planting it, the plant went totally limp. What ...
A: Betty, this is a very difficult question to answer because there are literally hundreds of causes ...
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| gardening | 7/29/2000 |
Q: I am wondering how to tell when I can pull the watermelons off the vine. I did pollinate as many as ...
A: and thanks for writing.There are a couple of tricks, but ultimately it comes down to experience. ...
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| weeds | 7/17/2000 |
Q: this spring I tilled under an area about 40 by 60 ft in an oval shape in front of our house. It was ...
A: Alice, this is a common problem in areas that have recently been dug and tilled. The reason for ...
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| tomatoes | 7/14/2000 |
Q: I have some Big Boy tomatoes and some Roma tomatoes. My question is as the plants set fruit they ...
A: Assuming that your plants are receiving enough watering and are well mulched to retain moisture, the ...
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| roma tomatoes w/black bottoms | 7/7/2000 |
Q: i have a teeny apt. size "farm"...3 roma tomatos and 2 zucchini plants....the tomatoes look great ...
A: Sunny, what you are experiencing is a tomato disorder called blossom-end rot. Blossom-end rot is ...
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| storing seed | 7/2/2000 |
Q: i have come back from germany with flower and veg. seeds. it is to late to plant them . what is the ...
A: and thanks for writing. I always place the seeds in a ziplock bag, place the bag in a Tupperware ...
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| Roses | 6/19/2000 |
Q: my dads roses are growing in old, they are blooming but they get old or already grow as if they were ...
A: Reg, it is very important to fertilize roses at least every 10 days to keep them vigorously growing. ...
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| Gardening near black walnut trees | 6/19/2000 |
Q: We have a few black walnut trees around our yards and have been advised by a relative not to plant a ...
A: I wish I had better news, but black walnut trees do secrete a toxic substance into the soil which ...
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| Moving to Home with Small Yard | 6/18/2000 |
Q: We`re trying to decide to buy a "paired-home" in Orange County, CA with a very small yard (14` deep ...
A: You can certainly have a great garden despite the smaller space by using the square foot methodology ...
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| Gardenias and Lithodora | 4/11/2000 |
Q: I have a Mystery Gardenia in a pot as well as two other smaller varieties of gardenias in the ...
A: Tina, gardenias prefer partial shade but can withstand serveral hours of full sun per day. If the ...
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| Gardening: Cocoa Bean Mulch | 4/5/2000 |
Q: I want to use cocoa bean mulch in my garden, but I was wondering if my dog (whose nickname is Chewy) ...
A: Deborah, cocoa bean hulls are an excellent mulch in the garden. They are aesthetically pleasing and ...
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| Intensive Gardening | 3/30/2000 |
Q: What is intensive gardening & is it the same as "French Intensive Gardening".
A: Shelby, intensive gardening, otherwise known as square foot gardening, is a method of planting that ...
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| railroad ties --a suitable edging? | 3/19/2000 |
Q: are treated railroad ties suitable for raising a garden ? i am afraid the chemicals may have an ...
A: Patrick, many studies have been done on this subject over the past three years. Organic Gardening, ...
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