Sugar Corn/Sweet Corn Problem 
I have tried to grow sugar corn (or sweet corn) for two years. It grows well at first then has tiny partially filled ears that I'm unable to harvest. What ...

Round Vegetable Garden Plans 
Hi Charlotte,

I changed my new square vegetable garden into a larger round garden and I love it.

Now how to proceed? I do have some thoughts but ...

Raised Bed Garden Over Septic Drain Field 
How deep should a raised bed over a septic system field be to avoid seepage into vegetables?

Is there still a danger if I use garden fabric to line ...

Should I Add Worms to My Compost? 
Is it a good idea to add worms to the compost bin or pile?

Answer:

Yes, it is a good idea to add redworms to your compost bin or pile, as worms help ...

Growing Cucumbers Upside Down 
Can you grow cucumbers upside down?


ANSWER:

I don't know. I haven't heard of growing cucumbers upside down. I was surprised when I saw tomatoes ...

Which Tomatoes to Grow? 
There are so many tomato varieties.
Which ones grow best in Greensboro NC?

Hi Susan,

Choosing tomato plants is a problem for lots of gardeners! It ...

Will Animals such as Squirrels and Rabbits Eat My Garden? 
Hello, It's my first time planting a garden and I have a nice big back yard I intend to utilize with raised garden beds.

One of the best spots for ...

Growing Celery  Not rated yet
Does celery grow in California?



ANSWER:

Yes. Celery plants will not tolerate frost. But the plants also needs a long cool growing season in ...

Remove Tomato Blossoms?  Not rated yet
Should we remove the blossoms from our tomato plants or leave them alone?


Hi Jenifer,

You should leave the tomato blossoms alone. The tomato blossoms ...

Can you grow a carrot from an old carrot top?  Not rated yet
I remember seeing carrot tops lowered into water, leveled by toothpicks, was this only for ornamentation or will it eventually grow into another carrot,...

Blue Lake Green Beans  Not rated yet
Every year I plant Blue Lake green beans, and order them from a reputable seed catalog, but this year I decided to support our local feed store. I planted ...

Over-watering Green Beans?  Not rated yet

My question is can green bean plants get too much water? I have rows of green beans that are mounded.

Well it rained the other day and water ...

Pests in Vegetable Garden  Not rated yet
What pests are eating holes in the leaves of my young plants?


ANSWER:

Hi Bev,

You will need to do a bit of detective work to find the answer ...

Why is a robin digging in my flower pots?  Not rated yet
I have planters on my front porch railings.

There is a robin that is getting in them and throwing my potting soil all over the place.

Do you know ...

Vegetable Garden Layout  Not rated yet
Hello,

We would like to plant a garden for the first time, but are not sure how to arrange the vegetables.

We would like to plant peppers, beans,...

Planting Carrots  Not rated yet
How deep do you plant carrot seeds?


ANSWER:

Carrot seeds should be planted about 1/4" deep. Cover the seeds lightly with a thin layer of soil or ...

Growing Mini Pop Sweet Corn in Containers?  Not rated yet
Can mini pop sweet corn be grown in containers?



ANSWER:

I have never grown corn in containers, but I hear that it can be done.

Corn is usually ...

Scarlet Runner Beans  Not rated yet
After growing scarlet runner beans could you tell me what crop to sow to replace the nutrients that have been depleted from the soil?

Also, what nutrients ...

Raised Garden Beds  Not rated yet
What is the minimum depth raised garden beds should be? Can I make them 10 inches and be OK for all types of vegetable plants?


ANSWER:

Hi Ken,

Yes,...

Growing Sweet Corn in Containers  Not rated yet
Can I grow sweet corn in pots or containers?


ANSWER:

Hi Julia,

Yes you can. But there are a few important tips to be aware of...

Corn is ...

Planting Potatoes and Pumpkins  Not rated yet
I have read on the internet that you should not grow potatoes and pumpkins near each other.

Please could you tell me how much space I would need to ...

Harvesting Potatoes  Not rated yet
What would be the ideal temperature of potato tubers at digging time, to then put them in cool storage?

ANSWER:

Hi Susan,

Usually when the potato ...

Growing Tomatoes  Not rated yet
When is a good time to plant tomato plants in Northeastern Connecticut?

I am planting them in an Earth Grow Box.


ANSWER:

Tomatoes are a tropical ...

Companion Planting  Not rated yet
Do you have a good chart for the growth period of the different herbs and flowers (ie, Marigolds) used in companion planting so one can plant them for ...

New Sprouts  Not rated yet
My seeds have sprouted but it seem all my plants are growing tall but thin and cannot support themselves.

I thought I was over-watering but then thought ...

Growing Strawberries Next to a Pumpkin Plant  Not rated yet
Can I grow strawberry plants next to a pumpkin plant in a raised bed garden?

ANSWER:

Hi Elaine,

There is no "gardening rule" that I know of against ...

Planting Carrot Seeds  Not rated yet
How far apart do I plant carrot seeds in my garden?


ANSWER:

Hi Berdie,

Carrot seeds are very small and difficult to plant individually.

If ...

How to Arrange my Vegetable Garden  Not rated yet
I am starting a garden but not sure which order to put the vegetables in.

I have corn, tomatoes, broccoli, red and green bell peppers, jalapeno, cabbage,...

Leaves Wilting on Purple Cherokee Tomato Plant   Not rated yet
Our Cherokee tomato plants have leaves that are wilting, then eventually fall off. What can we do to solve this problem on our seedlings?

ANSWER:

Hi ...

Fertilizing Beets and Sweet Potatoes  Not rated yet
What is the best way to fertilize beets and sweet potatoes? This is the first year we have tried either of these plants.


ANSWER:

It's always good ...

When can I plant a garden outside using plants?  Not rated yet
I live in Massachusetts and am wondering is it too early to plant an outside vegetable garden using plants, not seeds? (Today is April 21st.)

Not sure ...

Tomato Blossoms Dropping  Not rated yet
Is there something you can spray on tomato blossoms to keep them from blowing away in the wind?


ANSWER:

I haven't ever experienced tomato blossoms ...

Planting Green Peppers Next to Tomatoes?  Not rated yet
It says not to plant green peppers where tomatoes had been growing previously, but can you plant them next to each other?

ANSWER:

Hi Victoria,

Yes,...

What is the Best Garden Fertilizer?  Not rated yet
Hello.
What would you recommend as the best natural way to fertilize a vegetable garden?

ANSWER:

Adding compost is a great way to condition and ...

Starting Vegetable Seeds, and White Flies in My Garden  Not rated yet
This is my first time doing a garden on my own. I remember helping my grandparents when I was young, but that was a long time ago.

I planted mostly ...

honeydew melons  Not rated yet
I don't know if you think of honeydew melon as part of the vegetable garden, however my question is "what is a good companion to put with honeydew melons"...

Pests in my Veggie garden!  Not rated yet
Some outdoor menace is eating my corn seedlings and now they have turned to my freshly planted row of cucumber seeds!
PLEASE HELP!


ANSWER:

Do ...

Thinning Garden Peas  Not rated yet
Can the pea plants that have been removed for thinning be transplanted?


ANSWER:

Yes they can; but peas do not transplant easily. If the roots are ...

Planting Peas in Zone 3  Not rated yet
When should I plant peas? I live in Zone 3 in Northern Vermont.


ANSWER:

You can plant peas as soon as you are able to work the soil in the spring....

Crook Neck Squash  Not rated yet
How do I plant crook neck squash in my garden?


ANSWER:

Purchase the crookneck squash seeds or small transplants from your local garden center.

If ...

Do you have to plant multiple rows of stringbeans?  Not rated yet
Do you have to plant multiple rows of string beans and zipper peas for cross-pollination?

Answer:

No, it is not necessary to plant multiple rows ...

When to plant container gardens?  Not rated yet
I am a first time gardener and want to plant some veggies in containers.

Can I plant before the last frost has occurred and, if so, do I need to take ...

Growth period?  Not rated yet
What does it mean on the vegetable chart when it says "growth period"?

Answer:

The "growth period" is generally the amount of time it takes from ...

When to transplant broccoli plants from seeds?  Not rated yet
I am starting my vegetables inside from seed. I have a five-shelf portable green house, purchased from Lowes.

Why do my broccoli plants (from seeds)...

How cold can it be outside for seedlings?  Not rated yet
How cold can it be for my pea & pepper seedlings to be ok outside?


ANSWER:


Hi Paul,

Pea seedlings will be fine during cold and frosty weather....

My Bush Bean Plants Tip Over  Not rated yet
Every year my bush green bean plants fall over when they start to get mature.

I plant them an inch deep, 4 - 6 inches apart. How can I overcome this ...

How to tell if potatoes are producing?  Not rated yet
I have heard that sometimes potato plants can make a bush but not potatoes.

Do I have to dig around the roots to see if they are producing?

How ...

Can I use wood ashes in my garden?  Not rated yet
I burn leaves, pine needles, wood, etc. every year and have a huge pile of ashes. Can these ashes be used in my vegetable garden?


ANSWER:

Hi Mari,...

Do you cut the tops off cabbage plants?  Not rated yet
I have tops growing out of my cabbage plants. Do I need to cut the tops out?


ANSWER:

Hi Brad,

It sounds like your cabbage plants may have "bolted"...

Do Rapini Plants Require Full Sun?  Not rated yet
First can I grow rapini (also known as Broccoli Raab or Rabe) in pots?

How many seeds in what amount of space and how deep (in inches please)?

I ...

Leggy Green Bean Seedlings  Not rated yet
I planted my green beans in jiffy trays and after only 5 days the seedlings are very leggy.

I understand they are reaching for the light and I have ...

Tomato Trees?  Not rated yet
I recently visited Disney's Epcot center. They were growing tomato trees about 6 ft high.

These were not bushes but trees.

Can I do the same? I ...

Where to Plant My Garden?  Not rated yet
Is it a bad idea to plant a vegetable garden by a security light? Will it affect the flowering?


Answer:

Hi J.

You can try planting a small ...

Lethargic Cucumber Seedlings  Not rated yet
First, thanks for the great advise about my cucumber seeds germinating and how to get them fungus-free and growing true leaves. The hydrogen peroxide ...

What is 10-10-10?  Not rated yet
What is 10-10-10? I was told to add it to my vegetable garden, a few weeks prior to planting along with lime and peat moss. Please advise. Thank you....

Which Vegetable Plants Need Staking?  Not rated yet
I'm growing zucchini and peppers along with pole beans, tomatoes and cucumbers.

I know the beans, tomatoes & cukes are trellised, but do the peppers ...

Watering Tomatoes  Not rated yet
How often and how much water do tomatoes need?


Answer:

When you first plant the tomatoes, you will want to water them most frequently; whenever ...

Raised Bed  Not rated yet
I have a raised bed for the first time (4'X20").

I have been told to plant a row of squash down the middle and watermelon, cantalope and pumpkins down ...

Starting Cucumbers from Seed  Not rated yet
I planted cuke seeds in a peat pot (Jiffy Pots) and followed all directions. Within 4 days a shoot approximately 3 inches high is present. The first ...

Planting Onion Sets  Not rated yet
Do I peel the little onions first or stick them in the ground "as is"?

Answer:

Hi Mel,
You do not need to peel the onion sets before planting. Just ...

Growing Melons  Not rated yet
Can you give any information about growing melons in a vegetable garden?

Answer:

Hi Carolyn,
Luckily I had a page on growing melons almost ready ...

Growing Pole Beans from Seed  Not rated yet
I am a new gardener. I started some pole beans from seed two weeks ago. It is too soon to put them outside. But, they are growing very fast and need to ...

What type of soil should I use for a raised bed?  Not rated yet
What soil mixture should I use for a raised bed?

Answer:

Garden soil mixtures usually are a combination of compost, peat moss, vermiculite, sand,...

How Do I Start a Container Garden?  Not rated yet
I am wanting to start a container vegetable garden. I am not sure what vegetables I should start out with at first.

Also, regarding the vegetables ...

How Much Soil Do I Need?  Not rated yet
How much space do I need to grow 6 plants each of the following vegetables:

1. Peppers; jalapeno
2. Cucumber; Muncher
3. Broccoli; De Cicco.
4. Tomato
...

Little White Worms in our Peas  Not rated yet
Last year our peas had little white worms in the pods and they were eating the individual peas.

How can we avoid this problem this year? We plan to ...

When is the best time to start a raised bed garden?  Not rated yet
When is the best time to plant a raised bed garden? Can it be planted earlier than an in-ground garden? How do I know when the soil is the right temperature?...

What to do with extra vegetable garden produce?  Not rated yet
Hi Charlotte,

You have a great and informative gardening website.

Your readers with greenhouse herb and vegetable gardens may well find that they ...

Vegetable Plant Spacing  Not rated yet
Can you tell me what is the spacing for:

Broccoli--Arcadia
Cauliflower-Snowball
Fennel--Florence Bulbing Fennel
Swiss Chard--Rainbow Chard
Gourmet ...

How to Prepare Seed Potatoes for Planting?  Not rated yet
If I could ask...what kind of potatoes did you use in your potato container garden? Can you explain to me the process of how you got the potatoes eyes ...

Is a plastic liner necessary in a raised garden bed?  Not rated yet
I noticed in one of the pictures on your website that you made a raised bed using garden blocks - Did you put plastic on the sides to keep the soil from ...

Rhubarb Crowns  Not rated yet
I have been given 3 rhubarb crowns and forgot to plant them. Work to my house made me neglect them. How long will they last not planted?

ANSWER:

Hi ...

Easy to Grow Vegetables  Not rated yet
I want to raise a vegetable garden for myself and my family of course first of all, but I also want to raise them to sell at flea markets as well.
Can ...

Railway Ties in Vegetable Gardens  Not rated yet
I've heard that railway ties in vegetable gardens can be dangerous because the chemicals in them leach into the soil. If that's true, what do you suggest ...