1. 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?

1. 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,

Q.   Is it okay to transplant raspberries in the fall?

A.   Replant them right away and water them in. Raspberries are almost like weeds and will grow even if mishandled.

Q.   Is it too late to prune my roses? We have been out of town, and some of the plants already have new growth that is several inches long.

A.   Go right ahead and prune the roses. In fact, it is more important that they be pruned in order to keep them in shape and looking nice. If you let them go, without pruning, they will be too rangy and out of proportion by the middle part of the season.

Q.   Is it okay to cut peony stalks to the ground after blooming, or do I have to wait for the plant to dry out as you do bulbs?

A.   You should wait for the stalks to begin to die back, before cutting them.

Q.   My broccoli is blooming with yellow flowers

A. It is probably due to the heat. When broccoli gets too hot, it will bolt or start to flower. Contrary to popular belief, hot weather will not cause bolting broccoli. What actually causes bolting broccoli is hot soil.

The best way to grow broccoli if you expect hot weather is to make sure that the broccoli plant is well mulched. The hot weather effect on broccoli will only happen if the heat gets to the roots. A thick layer of mulch will help keep the roots cool and prevent the broccoli from bolting.

Q.   Snowball Bush Not Flowering

A.   Try feeding your snowball bush with 0-10-10 fertilizer. Alaska Fish makes a product called Mor’ Bloom which is 0-10-10

Q.   What are the herbs that require frost?

A.   Tarragon & Chives

Q.   What is the best type of soil in which to grow vegetables?

A.   Almost all vegetables prefer well-drained soil, rich in organic matter and a little on the acid side.  In fact, the preferred pH for almost all vegetables is 5.5 to 6.5 pH

Q.   When is the best time to plant raspberries?

A.   Raspberries are best transplanted in early spring. The more sun they receive, the better they will produce.

Q.   Why Are My Garden Seeds Not Growing?

A.   Seeding too deeply, planting in cold soil, extremes of watering, improper soil preparation, birds or squirrels and poor seed are the most common causes for seeds failing to germinate.

Holy basil (Tulsi) tea is the beverage originated in India thousands of years ago. It is known for its rich antioxidant properties that promote wellness and longevity.

This means that it has the ability to slow oxidation in the body. The process of oxidation damages cells in the body and may contribute to the worsening of pre-existing conditions, as well as effects caused by aging.

As Tulsi is rich source of antioxidants, it neutralizes harmful radicals present in body to damage the cells and tissues. It enables the immune system to function properly and mitigates the joint pain.

Although many foods you eat contain antioxidants, today’s poor diets likely don’t provide you with all the free radical scavengers you need. This is one area where tea can come in handy as several types of tea have been shown to contain healthy antioxidants, including green tea and black tea. And,

The tulsi plant is referred to as the “queen of herbs” for its healing powers. The use of tulsi leaves have been documented since around 5000 BC.

Today holy basil is a common house plant grown in the home and garden of families in India. The plant achieved its recognition from the West as well and you can easily find it in many home gardens in the US.

It has a very pleasant smell that is known to help prevent the gathering of mosquitoes. Holy basil is a popular patio plant and makes a great addition to any herb garden.

Tulsi has a kind of spicy flavor, comparable to cloves. For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as “hot basil” or “pepper basil”. It is different from sweet or Thai basil, whose flavor is more like licorice.

Holy basil is one of my favorite plants or bushes in my garden. It grows as a bush, so we do not pinch it out. We let it flower and it has lots of leaves. It has long purple flowers and smooth green foliage with a spicy fragrance.

Usually I try to harvest young shoots in early morning for maximum flavor and scent. Small stake helps me to grow it as a lovely bush.

The bees in your garden will love it. I prune it back hard after the seeds have formed. Save the seeds and you will be able to grow hundreds of plants.

The leaves of the holy basil plant are used to make a delicious tea that promotes health and well-being

Consuming the warm brew of holy basil herbal tea can promote a more balanced metabolism, build stamina, as well as increase mental clarity.

Holy basil is traditionally made into remedies for headaches, heart disease, colds,asthma and bronchitis, gastrointestinal disorders, and inflammatory illnesses.

Even though holy basil is known for its antibacterial, and antiviral properties, it is most known for its role in reducing cortisol or stress levels in the body.

Personally, I frequently drink tea instead of coffee, as I never acquired a taste for it.

Considering the questionable benefits of starting your day off with a cup of coffee, I highly recommend you try switching to Tulsi tea instead for a far healthier wakeup call.

Drink holy basil tea to calm the mind. Rich in essential oils, holy basil tea is as much a pleasure to drink for its fragrance as its taste.

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Yours truly, Polly – Organic Gardener