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1500 questions
15
votes
1 answer
What is the risk of soil contamination via leaf mulch/compost?
Soil in the city I live in is quite often contaminated with nasty things like arsenic and lead. Levels are sometimes twice or more what's considered acceptable. For this reason, people usually garden in imported soil in raised beds rather than…
intuited
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15
votes
1 answer
Is there a traditional method/style for pruning a Chocolate Silk tree?
I have a containerized Chocolate Silk (a.k.a. Summer Chocolate) tree that is two years old (i.e. it was planted in its present container from a branchless and rootless stalk two years ago).
It has grown robustly each year, but the foliage seems…
Adam Wuerl
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15
votes
1 answer
What sort of feeding schedule should I use for pepper plants?
I've been trying to find out about feeding my peppers plants. So far the information I've found is very inconsistent, so I'd like something as definitive as possible.
When should I start feeding my pepper plants?
And from then, how frequently should…
DMA57361
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14
votes
5 answers
Should I stop runner beans climbing too high?
I realise I've put runner beans close to an overhanging damson tree.
The beans closest to the damson have scaled my supports and have bridged the gap between support and tree and started to climb on into the branches of the damson.
Leaving aside…
Tea Drinker
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14
votes
2 answers
Is rust from a steel rainwater barrel harmful to edible plants?
We are using a used steel drum barrel as a rainwater container. Someone else in our house brought it from work, and we haven't bothered replacing with a plastic one yet.
Supposing that there is no harmful residue of the previous content in it:
It…
anderas
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14
votes
12 answers
What color should a greenhouse be?
I'm shopping for a greenhouse to protect my tropical fruit trees from winter frosts. While browsing, I noticed that greenhouses are predominantly green or clear. What are the advantages of each color? I don't quite see the advantage of a green…
JoJo
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14
votes
3 answers
What is this long-rooted vine in my yard?
I'm in Massachusetts, and recently moved into a new house. We have a vine in the yard which I have been having trouble identifying so far, and I was hoping someone here might know.
It has not yet flowered, so I am unable to give any information on…
Suzanne Hillman
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14
votes
1 answer
Do strawberry runners start from age zero?
They say that strawberry plants don't produce good fruit as they become a few years old. Let's say a 5 year old strawberry plant starts a new plant via a runner. Does this runner have its biological clock reset back to zero or is it considered the…
JoJo
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14
votes
6 answers
Should I paint old garden tools?
I've got some old tools (shovels and pitchforks) that were my grandparents. The metal parts look like they were painted (a lot has worn off), I want to sharpen them and fix them up following the advice in Rodales Garden Encyclopedia - sand and…
Peter Turner
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14
votes
3 answers
What plants take easily to clay soils?
I live in central Scotland, which is a bit damp, and the soil in my garden, despite years of aerating, adding sand etc is still quite a thick clay soil.
When it is sunny I get sun all day long, so plants that take root seem to grow well, but I find…
Rory Alsop
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14
votes
4 answers
Should I use aluminum sulfate (sulphate) to acidify my soil?
It is often recommended online or by nurseries to apply aluminum sulfate to plants like blueberries, rhododendrons, azaleas and to hydrangeas to make the flowers blue. Is this advice I should follow?
Randy
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14
votes
4 answers
Does seed from F1 hybrid tomato fruits grow?
Some time ago, I wanted to grow tomatoes by using the seeds from the tomato which I was eating at the moment. I did some research on the internet, but then discovered you could not grow tomatoes from F1 hybrid fruits. When searching information…
Sironsse
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14
votes
3 answers
Should I trim the shoots coming off the root of my grapevines?
I have a couple of grapevines that were planted 3 years ago.
The first year, they didn't do much.
The second year, there was lots of growth, but only a couple of grapes.
This year, I pruned it back quite a bit (I have 3 vines in an 8' garden) but…
chris
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14
votes
5 answers
How can I kill or remove insects from cut flowers that I bring inside?
When I cut flowers (typically daylilies) from my garden and bring them inside, I often find I am treated to a barrage of flies over the next few days. I'm going to guess that there are maggot larvae within the flowers, which matures inside my…
glenviewjeff
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14
votes
4 answers
How to prevent Sempervivum tectorum (Common Houseleek) from growing in length and not width?
I have torn a part of this plant twice at my hometown, brought it to where I live now and then planted it. On both occasions, the plant started growing fine at first, but at some point, it started extending its stem and growing in order to reach the…
axel22
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