Ask Gardenerd Archives - Page 5 of 7

Ask Gardenerd: Preventing Compacted Soil in Pots

Here's a cool question that came into Ask Gardenerd this week: "Hi Christy, When transplanting plants grown in pots, I usually find large sections of soil that are dry and hard, often near the bottom, but not always. I've tried pushing small sticks into the soil to create a channel for water to follow, but it hasn't helped significantly. Do you have any suggestions on how to keep soil in pots watered evenly? Thanks, Jeff Bremer" Solutions for Compacted Soil…

Post author:Christy
Post published:February 6, 2018
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:7 Comments

Tomato seeds being soaked to remove the membrane around them.

Ask Gardenerd: Saving Tomato Seeds and Blight

A question came in to Ask Gardenerd from Jeff Bremer this week: "This is a two-part question: 1. I save seeds from each year's tomato crop to plant the following year. I can never get all the "meat" of the tomato off the seeds. How do you clean these seeds? 2. Can early blight be transmitted through tomato seeds? Thanks, Jeff " Great questions, Jeff. Let's start with saving tomato seeds. Saving Tomato Seeds Saving tomato seeds is relatively easy,…

Post author:Christy
Post published:September 5, 2017
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:2 Comments

Ask Gardenerd: When to Water?

A question came in from Karen at Ask Gardenerd this week: "During these very hot summer days, what's the best time of day to water my vegetable garden?" Irrigation is key during hot weather in climates where rain is scarce. Here in Los Angeles, where days are topping 108° in the Valley and other inland areas, and rain is non-existent, it's important to water regularly to keep plants happy. But when? It's a good question. Ideal watering times Watering is…

Post author:Christy
Post published:July 19, 2017
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:4 Comments

Droppings and munching are a clear sign you have tomato hornworms.

Tomato Worms, Flies, and Flower Drop – Oh, My!

Several questions came in all at once from David this week. He asks, "How do I get rid of flies that like to hang around in my back yard and bask in the sunlight? Also, why would my tomato plants not produce any fruit? The flowers just shrivel up and die. AND, what can I do to prevent the worms from eating my tomato's and apples? Thank you." Those are all great questions, David, with varied answers. Let's start with…

Post author:Christy
Post published:July 12, 2017
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:5 Comments

Ask Gardenerd: Protecting Blackberries

We got a good one from Ask Gardenerd this week: "Hello, our blackberries are thriving this year, probably because of all the rain we got in SoCal, but I am afraid the birds will get them before us, like they did with our blueberries. Do you have any tips and tricks for proper bird netting installment over blackberry bushes? Any brands or techniques you could recommend? - Micky" Good question, Micky. There are several approaches and bird netting is one…

Post author:Christy
Post published:May 17, 2017
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:2 Comments

Prune blackberry canes that have turned brown. Leave green canes in place.

Ask Gardenerd: Pruning Blackberries

As we look into the corner of the Gardenerd Test Garden, we see the need for blackberry pruning. Someone else in the Gardenerd community did the same thing and asked: "I believe you mentioned it is time to prune blackberries, but what's your method? My Seattle friends say they all cut the plants off at ground level and tear out the runners invading new territory. My plants are 2 years old. What is best pruning method for the maximum yield…

Post author:Christy
Post published:December 6, 2016
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:12 Comments

Food grade barrels are best for use in vegetable gardens.

Ask Gardenerd: Tap Water Concerns

Here's a question urban gardeners ask themselves at least once while standing next to a garden hose as the smell of chlorine wafts across the yard. George from Wisconsin proposed it this week on Ask Gardenerd (edited for length): "Hi, A few years ago I noticed that my garden never looked as good after I watered it with tap water as it did after a rain. At first, I attributed it to laziness: maybe I was stingy since I had…

Post author:Christy
Post published:November 29, 2016
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:2 Comments

A volunteer tomato sprouted from under our compost storage tub.

Ask Gardenerd: How to Get More Volunteer Tomatoes

I do believe my favorite question to date just came in to Ask Gardenerd from Jeff Bremer: "Hi Christy, How do I encourage volunteers? Over the years in my tomato garden, a few volunteers would appear each season. Last year, in hopes of getting a lot of volunteers (for this year) whenever a tomato was damaged or half-eaten by some critter, I buried it in the soil. However, this year, not one volunteer arose. Is there anything I can do…

Post author:Christy
Post published:October 12, 2016
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:12 Comments

Fresh oranges from our tree

Ask Gardenerd: Citrus Fruit Tree Care

The questions keep flowing in this time of year. Here's the latest from Jim: "How much water and fertilizer do I need for 2 y o blood orange tree. And do those minimums change in hot or cold weather? My leaves have 2-color leaves, green near midrib and yellowish towards outside Why?" Jim, you might not like my answer, but it is the answer to many a gardening question: it depends. Fertilizer and water needs depend entirely on your soil.…

Post author:Christy
Post published:June 28, 2016
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:1 Comment

Kellogg's Breakfast Tomato

Ask Gardenerd: Pruning Tomatoes

Summer is the perfect time for this question from Jeff Bremer: "Hi Christy, What's your opinion on pinching-off the "branches" that sprout out of tomato plants? Some of my friends don't pinch at all, but my neighbor pinches his plants back so he has only one "stem." Thx, Jeff " Ah yes, to pinch or not to pinch, that is the question. What are we pinching? Side shoots and suckers. Side shoots are additional vines that grow from the base…

Post author:Christy
Post published:June 22, 2016
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:2 Comments