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1500 questions
13
votes
2 answers
Why are the blooms dropping off my zucchini without fruiting?
As you can see from the pictures the blooms look as if they just release themselves and leave the beheaded stalk. There doesn't seem to be any fruit growing at all. Is there something that I am doing that could cause this? Is there something that I…
DiBobble
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13
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1 answer
How can I ensure a crop of potato seeds?
Background:
I did an experiment where I put the cut seed potatoes directly onto a live lawn, and then covered with 4" of premium bark mulch. The plants did exceptionally well, and I noticed that a large number of the flowers successfully set fruit.…
J. Musser
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13
votes
3 answers
Is charcoal good for use as a soil amendment?
I came across an article the other day on wikipedia about Terra preta. Has anyone used charcoal like this to enhance sandy soil, like we have in Florida? Does this really work, and what is the best method for applying it?
psusi
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13
votes
1 answer
How does vacuuming beetles work?
I've seen advice in books and online that I can deal with my striped cucumber beetle infestation by vacuuming. Unfortunately they don't get into details. I'm ready to drag the shop vac into the garden, but I'm wondering if there are any gotchas...…
bstpierre
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13
votes
2 answers
Is this beetle on my apricot tree a pest?
My apricot tree is infested with black and white beetles on the branches. They are 2-3 cm / 1 inch long. I can't find an identification on the web. There is no visible damage to the tree. Is this beetle a pest? Should I be removing them?
My location…
Jonathan
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13
votes
6 answers
What is this weed and how can I eliminate it?
I live in Nova Scotia, and I have been fighting with this weed for at least 7 years. It is in my flower garden. I have gone so far as to try to follow each of the white roots though the soil and remove them and still it comes back. It seems the…
user4662
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13
votes
1 answer
How do I get rid of this white stuff on my pumpkin leaves?
The leaves on my pumpkin plants have what looks like a white mold growing on them.
What is this?
If it is harmful, how do I treat it?
Mongus Pong
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13
votes
2 answers
Can cereal boxes be used for mulch?
This question asks about using corrugated cardboard for mulch. In the comments and the answer there are some questions about glues and inks possibly having "bad stuff" that you might not want in the vegetable garden.
I'm wondering about cereal boxes…
bstpierre
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13
votes
1 answer
What's the fastest-growing variety of cherry tree?
I really want to add a tree to my garden, but logistics and budget demand that I plant a sapling and nurture it into a healthy tree.
I really like cherry blossom, so a cherry tree would be ideal. It's not necessary that the tree bear fruit, though…
Paul Turner
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13
votes
2 answers
Can I still use mint if it has aphids?
I have an abundance of mint that I'd like to use to make mint syrup. The plants are mildly infested with aphids, but that hasn't stopped them from thriving. If I harvest the mint, what can I do to wash off the aphids so I can boil it down to make…
lukecyca
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12
votes
2 answers
How to stop small black worms from eating my strawberries?
I planted strawberries a couple of years ago in a small patch of my back yard (in Sacramento, CA) and this year they are finally producing lots of strawberries. However, something is eating "divots" into them, as if something scooped out maybe a…
eipi10
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12
votes
2 answers
What is this yellow flower?
This yellow flower was growing in my yard in St Petersburg, Florida. It did not survive my xeriscaping.
Gardening Directions
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12
votes
1 answer
What is a good resource for identification of useful weeds that grow in North Central USA?
One of my favorite books in the entire world is "Weeds of the North Central States". I have an exceptionally long commute and 65 mph weed identification is something more than a pastime.
However, the most it says about the use of the plants is,…
Peter Turner
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12
votes
2 answers
How do I encourage lemongrass to produce a strong stalk for culinary use?
I am growing some lemongrass (in a pot) and it's doing very well so far: over the past month, it went from a stump, to about 20-30cm high, with long thin leaves.
My question is: what the best way to encourage its growth in such a way that it…
Dave
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12
votes
3 answers
How long can aloe last without water?
I neglected an aloe plant for about a year without water but by the window.
It was still alive!
Quite curious about how hardy this plant is. How long can it really last without water?
Pdxd
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