Sage Advice

A gardenerd recently wrote in:

"I don't live in California to attend your classes, however I am interested in a bleach-free cleaner for garden tools, clay pots, bird baths and suet feeders."

Ah - good question - thanks so much for asking.  We talk a little bit about cleaning clay pots and such in the Small Space and Container Gardening class, and while a 1-to-10 part solution of bleach is recommended on many websites that I've researched for cleaning clay pots, you can also use a similar ratio of vinegar and water to clean as well.  The key ingredient in cleaning ...

A new question came in on the wire this week:

"My crop of arugula has bolted / flowered. How do I get the seeds so I can store them and plant again next fall?"

I have fond memories of saving arugula seeds - my first seed-saving experience, in fact.  It's about as easy as it gets when it comes to seed-saving.  Here's how it works:

Your arugula will send up little white flowers with dark veins.  It sounds like this part has already happened.  Then little seed pods will form along the stem.  These can be eaten fresh but beware, they are very spicy ...

A new question rolled in this week in Ask Gardenerd:

"I have a worm bin that is great for disposing of my kitchen scraps but I really don't know what to do with the liquid it produces. Also I don't know how often to "harvest" the compost produced.  I am new to your website and am so happy I can ask questions. Thanks for your help. - Emily."

Well Emily, first of all, thunderous applause for using a worm bin!  Kudos all around.  Worm bins, as you already know, are a great way to dispose of your kitchen waste, and to make wonderful ...

A really great question came in this week:

"Dear Gardenerd,
Help! The sow bugs seem to have taken over. If they'd leave some strawberries for ME, I might cut them some slack, but they eat them ALL!!  I saw some Praying Mantis eggs at Whole Foods... will they really rid my garden of the ill "pill" sow bugs?"

Ah, yes, our friendly neighborhood sowbug.  Actually - I found an interesting piece of info to settle the discrepancy once and for all about the differences between sowbugs and pillbugs.  It comes from Louise Kulzer in a feature called the Bug of the Month ...

Our adventurous tomato cage gardenerd writes in:

"Can you recommend particular tomatoes that you have had success with. I am building your cool tomato cage and am inundated with the choices available in tomatoes."

I can recommend a slew of heirloom tomatoes that have worked for me, because honestly - that's all I've grown before.  Depending on where you live, your hardiness zone or the topography of your landscape, you can find tomatoes for all climates. 

As for my recommendations: We are very near the coast in Southern California where I garden.  We get a marine layer for a few months that ...

Those who signed up on the Gardenerd website and downloaded the Top 5 Organic Gardening Tips will appreciate this one.  A gardener wrote in today:

"What kind of store do you find the fencing for tomatoes? I don't think they have it at Home Depot. Would it be more like a farm supply store or some kind of fencing company?"

Admittedly, I found my fencing in the exact size I needed in the discard pile at the community garden where I have a garden plot.  However, there is another person nearby who uses the same kind of fencing in ...