Tomato Pruning and disease

QuestionHi Mike, Im trying to figure out how to prune my tomato plant. I have read numerous sites stating cut off the suckers. What exactly are the suckers? It would be helpful if I can have some

Growing tomatos in containers

QuestionI live in Norfolk, Va. We have 11 tomato plants behind our condo. They get plenty of sun and water. Were using miracle grow potting soil. We have plenty of tomatos on the vine.

Pumpkin? or Squash?

QuestionHi - My 6-year old daughter found a ziplock bag full of seeds and planted them randomly around in my garden (unbeknownst to me). When I noticed plants beginning to grow, I asked her what they were and

epsom salts

Questionwhat benefits or problems are apparent from growing vegetables with epsom salts AnswerEpsom salts are a primary source of magnesium for the garden. I spray a solution of 3 tsp. per gallon

Cucumbers for a novice

QuestionHi there. I am growing a backyard garden for the first time and have a cucumber question. Im growing a National Pickling Cucumber variety-- and have heard some conflicting information about male flowers. &nb

vegtable garden

QuestionI have a couple of questions. 1. My yellow pepper plant gets blooms and when the bloom falls off the tiny new pepper falls off with it. 2. I have had a couple of blooms fall off of my summer squash and my z

Are leaves of certain vegetables edible?

QuestionHi Mike, Thanks for providing this service. My wife and I have been gardening for just a few years here in Colorado Springs, CO. A question came up and I thought I would ask: We planted quite a few bush g

HELP, loosing plants

QuestionI am within 25 of a black walnut tree! Now what?? ------------------------- Followup To Question - My peppers started first - green leaves turning to a yellow (on the bottom) dropping off then tg

Vegetables in June

QuestionI have been gardening for 3-4 years now, and I am more-or-less satified with my knowledge of herbs, annuals, some perennials, etc. However, aside from tomatoes, radishes, chillis and peppers (all of which h

peas in decline

QuestionDear Mike, My pea plants got off to a great start early summer but after a lot of hot dry weather they have almost all turned quite white and the growth is stunted. I have had some delicious peas

swiss chard

QuestionHi, I am trying my first vegetable garden this year. My question is as the swiss chard is picked (a few leaves at a time) will it continue to grow or once all the leaves are picked that is it? &

Tomato Storm Damage

QuestionIm a first-time homeowner in Lawrenceville, Georgia and decided I needed to grow something in my backyard, so I planted tomatoes and peppers--of course not knowing squat about how to grow anything. I have

how do you grow butternut squash

Questionhi.im kinda new to planting vegetables soi thought i should give it a go.anyway i am growing butternut squash and i was wondering.they have fallen down a bit(they are still green and alive).is this normal.do

My tomatos dying

QuestionI live in Chicago. I plant my tomatoes every year in different spot of my garden. Everything it is OK for about have time of growing. After that time lives start furling. Than they shrivel. After a whi

tomatos & peppers

QuestionI am growing peppers and tomatos in pots on our deck. both are starting to turn red. when should I pick? do I have choices of leaving on the vine or is it better to take off(when)the vine? thank you AnswerW

goards

QuestionHello, I am not sure if a goard is a vegetable or not but I thought I would give you a shot! I have planted some goards and the plant is growing like crazy but no goards are forming. Is there som

tomato leaves with spots

Questioni live in southern middle tenn and my tomato plants have a problem. they developed rust colored spots on the leaves and have spread to adjacent plants. this began at the bottom and spread toward the tops of

Tomatoes black on bottom

QuestionI am having problems with some of my tomatoes getting black and soft on the bottoms.They are doing this befor they can get ripe. They look great except for the bottoms.Any ideas? Thank you in advance Darlene

zuchinni fruit aborting

QuestionWhat is causing a zuchinni plant to abort fruit that gets 6 long? AnswerDear Don: Do you have lots of fruit bearing on the plant? Not every flower can bear fruit,not every fruit can grow just like fruit tre

garlick braids

QuestionI have a lot of newly harvested garlick, which I would like to braid for storage. I cant seem to get the hang of it. The stems seem to be too stiff to braid. Is there a trick to it? or do I simpl