Q.  Bitter Carrots

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.