setting of fruit

QuestionMy acorn squash and cantaloupe are blooming profusely but set very few fruit despite plentiful bumblebees etc. Same with bell peppers which now have stopped blooming. Tomatoes are doing fine. &nb

Potatoes/Northeast Washington State

QuestionI am growing potatoes in my garden. The plants were gorgeous and big. The green bushes are all dying back now. Should I did the potatoes now? Can they be left in the ground? I h

Winter Squash

QuestionHi. Iam growing what I believe to be spaghetti squash and acorn squash. My first question regarding the spaghetti squash is that the color is currently green. They are the size of a small cantelo

potatos growing above ground

QuestionMIKE: I HAVE PLANTED ABOUT 7 MOUNDS OF POTATOS, I HAVE ONE MOUND THAT LOOKS LIKE THE POTATOS ARE GROWING ON THE BRANCHES. THEY LOOK LIKE LITTLE GREEN TOMATOES,HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THIS? THEY AR

freezing vegies and herbs

QuestionI live in Tyler Hill , Pa., northeast Pa. I have an abundance of Roma tomatoes growing and basil and sage. I want to knowif I do not want to make a ton of sauce right away how can i freeze the tomatoes or sh

using miracle grow without the spray bottle?

Questioni am in northern ohio, in the middle of one of the hottest summers on record! i had a couple of plants in pots that were going great guns til the heat just overwhelmed them... along with probably too much wa

home drying tomatoes

QuestionI am drying some ripe meaty tomatoes outside. Should I skin them first? AnswerChris, there are several methods to dry and store tomatoes. Some cooks prefer to blanche them first in boiling

Brown Spots-

QuestionHi Mike, I live in Atlanta and have noticed that right around the time my tomatoes are ready to be picked a number of brown spots (dime sized) begin to appear around the entire top of each tomato near the st

suckers on tomato plants

Question Hi Mike: I am growing my first tomatos and getting all kinds of advice on removing &n

squash & cabbage

QuestionHello Mike, This is most wonderful of you to volunteer. I have a comment and a question. This is my first year for my garden - and your advice about the butternut squash is most helpful and timely. &n

Sudden Tomato Plant Death!

QuestionHi Mike I went through the already asked questions, and I think this is a NEW one for you. Im in upstate NY,(near Saratoga Springs, NY) and have been a casual vegetable gardener (organic) for many ye

unusual dropping of leaves

QuestionHello Mike, I have three young bell pepper plants in a small 3.5-inch pot, and theyre very young - theyre about 7.5 high from the ground to the top of the stem, theyre about 4 months old, and the leaves l

Ripening vegtables

QuestionIve read your articles and fully understand the best ripening is on the vine. Please detail for me the procedure for ripening indoors when a vine breaks and tomatoes and butternut squash are brought in. I wo

leek seedlings in fall

QuestionThough I have grown a large farm vegetable garden for many years, this was my first year as a market gardener, and the spring rush to get everything planted was rather overwhelming. A flat of young lee

Ripe Tomato(s)???

QuestionAt age 79 I decided for first time to plant 3 tomato plants in my backyard in Baltimore, Md. One plant died shortly, one plant produced, at first, a few that were rotten. I was told not to water

planting tomatoes

QuestionI bought a tomato plant at The Home Depot in May. I replanted it and keep it on my porch. I started seeing small tomatoes about two weeks ago. I was wondering if I have to trim the plant in order it should g

Jalapeno M

QuestionIm an ex-pat living in Kiev, Ukraine (green zone). On my last trip back to the States I brought back a packet of Jalapeno Ms seeds (hot) and ended up with about 14 plants on my balcony. Unfortuna

cracked butternut squash

QuestionI live in Portland, Oregon and am growing butternut squash for the first time. I have a few large squash that have developed cracks in the rind - there is a clear, sticky substance in the cracks - none

Texas tomatoes question

QuestionHi Mike! I live in Dallas, Texas and I have 2 quick tomato questions I was hoping you could help me with. 1. This weekend, I purchased the best tasting, best looking beefsteak tomatoes from our Dallas Farme

jalapeno life span

QuestionDearMike, I have this jalapeno plant I started from a seed. It lived on my porch all summer producing plenty of fruit. When fall arrived I moved the plant from the porch to my most s