Archive for Q & A
Tomato Growing Special: Q & A
Posted by: | Comments
1.Q. Tomato growing is very satisfying especially when you see tomatoes ripen and turn red. But I lose at least half my crop to bird damage. What can prevent this?
A. Bird damage is common in all areas. One control method which works quite well is to take old nylon stockings and cut them into pieces 10 to 12 inches long. Tie a knot in one end of the stocking and slip the open end over the entire cluster of tomatoes.
Secure the end above the tomato cluster with a rubber band or twist-tie. Birds will not be able to peck through the nylon. Slip the stocking off the cluster and harvest the ripe fruit and replace it to protect later-ripening fruit. Also, birds damage fully mature fruit more readily than breaker or pink fruit.
Harvest in breaker or green-wrap stage. Gardeners have tried many ways to reduce bird damage. Scarecrows, aluminum strips, tin foil plates and noisemakers will work until the local birds become accustomed to seeing or hearing them. Fabric covering materials such as Grow-Web and Reemay can also be used as a barrier mechanism.
2.Q. What causes tomato leaves to curl?
A. The exact cause of tomato leaf roll is not fully known. Tomato leaf roll appears about the time of fruit setting. The leaflets of the older leaves on the lower half of the tomato plant roll upward. This gives the leaflets a cupped appearance with sometimes even the margins touching or overlapping.
The overall growth of the tomato plant does not seem to be greatly affected and yields are normal. This condition appears to be most common on staked and pruned plants.
It occurs when excessive rainfall or overwatering keeps the soil too wet for too long. It is also related to intensive sunlight which causes carbohydrates to accumulate in the leaves. Some varieties of tomatoes are characteristically curled.
3.Q. My tomatoes were healthy during the spring and early summer, yet after a recent rain, they wilted and died very rapidly. That put all my tomato growing efforts to zero. Besides, I found a white fungal growth at the base of the plant.
Tomatoes: Question & Answer
Posted by: | Comments
I’m going to ask you to guess what the answer is to this question: “What makes tomatoes have thick skin? What do you think it is?
What do you think that most gardeners don’t think about until their tomatoes have thick skins that detract from the succulent texture of the tomato.
Of course… it’s “What do I Do to make the skins on the tomato a little less tough?
Gardeners want to know the “magic cures” that will allow them to avoid tough tomato skins.
Well, I’ve always got some BAD NEWS for gardeners who want the immediate cure for their thick skin tomatoes.
The bad news is that there are typically three things that can cause tomatoes with tough skins. And, Read More→
Q & A Frequently Asked Questions
Posted by: | CommentsQ. Bitter Carrots
- The lime should help. Even more important, is to watch the watering. Stress to the carrots can cause a bit of a bitter taste.
Q. Blueberries Turning Red
A. The red coloration is a stress response. It could be simply a response to transplant shock. If the soil is too alkaline, that will contribute to the stress.
Q. Can I plant garlic in spring?
A. Yes you can, but it seldom gives as good results as fall- planted garlic because it doesn’t have enough time to develop fully and may result in small bulbs.
Q. Do rabbits or birds eat raspberry plant foliage?
- The rabbits will girdle the stems during the winter months unless you protect them. Squirrels will nibble on anything they can.
Q. How can I remove the ants from the soil without hurting the rosemary?
A. You could try diatomaceous earth. It is harmless to pets and humans; it only affects insects.
Q. How Much Fertilizer is Enough?
A. The usual recommendation is that only about two to four inches of manure be added at any time. And, Read More→
