growing sunflowers

QuestionI am new at growing sunflowers. I have planted 5 packs of seeds. They have sprouted but something is eating the sprouts. What can I do to stop what is eating the sprouts so they grow? I have a small back yar

Tar Paper

QuestionWill using tar paper in my garden as weed block damage or harm my vegetables? AnswerLaura, I personally would not use tar because it will leach from the paper into the soil. The gummy composition will

Tomatoe Plant-Leaf Removal

QuestionChicago, IL - My first time growing champion tomatoes. My friend hurt his leg and was suppose to help me with these plants. He told me I need to remove the leaves that crowd the buds. Its l

soil prep

QuestionBluffton Indiana my new next door neighbor said he was going to put some pea gravel into his new garden to help ariate his soil is this wise ? AnswerJohn, I only believe in adding organic matter to th

Yellowing of pepper plants

QuestionI live near Milwaukee, and am in my sophmore year of gardening on the same plot. I am growing a variety of peppers, and some of the varieties are showing severe yellowing of the leaves, with only the r

peppers and tomatoes

QuestionIve heard that planting peppers and tomatoes too close to each other can affect the growth and production of each type of plant. Is there any truth to this and if so, how far apart do you need to the p

Growing Squash

QuestionMy wife and I sem to have a hard time getting our squash to grow into mature plants. The palnts coem up looking healthly and all but then at the bottom of the plants they to rot and die. We fertilized the pl

Follow up question

QuestionHey Mike. Thanks for response regarding the yellow leaves and the black dots. Plants are growing great now, reaching 6 or so. Pinched the tops off so the plants would concentrated on fruit instead of height.

Pruning pepper plants

QuestionI am growing several different kinds of peppers what i am wondering is should I be prunning off the under leaves or the very large leaves or should I just let well enough alone and let the plant do its thing

tomato and bell pepper container disease

QuestionWe have planted tomatoes and bell peppers in plastic containers for the past 3 years. We tend to use the same dirt/soil but add a little each year to top off the pots. Last year we had few tomato

how do you know when Jalapeno are ready to pick

Questioni would like to know how do you know when Jalapeno are ready to pick. I have 2 plants in a big 5 gal. pot sitting on my proch here in eastern north carolina. AnswerMichael, it really depends on how hot you

Tomatos & sun flowers

QuestionChicago, Il. Dear Mr. Mascio: 1) I have 8 tomato plants. One and only one in the middle has blossom end rot. Why? 2) I cannot seem to get sun flower seeds to germinate. Are they a prob

Tomato plant leaf curling

QuestionWhat causes the leaves on the tomato plant to curl AnswerExcessive fertilizing, especially with a high nitrogen fertilizer such as standard Miracle-Gro, can cause the type of symptoms you have described. T

growing butternut squash

QuestionCheltenham, uk Hi we are growing butternut squash in our garden for the first time and it is growing really well. I am confused though as I was expecting to see large yellow flowers but have only had

Seedless tomatos

QuestionHello, I live in south central Mississippi, the town is called Monticello. My mother, due to her love of fresh tomatos, always grows several (five this year) plants in pots on the patio. O

Growing tomatoe plants

QuestionHello, This is my first year growing tomato plants solo. Ive heard different ways for watering them. With this heat wave would just twice a week be enough if you soak them? Also the eggshell advice is good,

growing sunflowers and potatoes together

QuestionI would like general info on the advantages and disadvantages of growing sunflowers side by side. I have done this before with no ill effects, this year the sunflowers are thicker than usual and the potatoe

bottom of tomatos turn brown

Questionbottom of tomatos turn dark brown why AnswerHarold, your tomatoes are suffering from a condition called blossom-end rot. Blossom-end rot is caused by two things; uneven watering and a lack of magnesium and

butternut squash ripening

Questiondo these squash continue to ripen after being picked? we picked several small ones after the vines they were on died. they are a deep yellow color (interior). i know that orange is the desi

Watermelons and cantelopes

QuestionI think I have planted my watermelons and cantelopes too close together. Is there a problem with having the plants too close? AnswerDear Diane White, It seems that certain vining fruits can cross when