Damage: When young onion plants wilt for no apparent reason, pull up a sample plant to check for legless worms (maggots) feeding on it roots. Tips: Yellow sticky traps or yellow pans of water can be used to monitor and trap onion flies.
They are also much loved by cats and dogs. Store in airtight container. Often planted with low, mound-forming herbs and flowers. Dried valerian roots are used to make a bedtime tea that promotes sleep.
Notes Lemon balm is very easy to grow. Feeding Not generally required. Position Any sunny spot. You also can start seeds in late winter, and set out the seedlings in spring. Locate it where leaves can be conveniently picked, crushed and sniffed.
Allow 4in (10cm) between bulbs of miniature tulips, and 6in (15cm) between taller varieties. Clear primary colors create a festive effect in a mixed planting. Planting and Harvesting Calendar < Back to All Plants Pests which Affect Tulip Aphids (General)...
Tall varieties make great cut flowers. Some varieties produce white or pink blossoms. Companions Thyme and Osteospermum. Harvesting Snip off spent blossoms to keep plants looking neat, and to prolong flowering.
Position Full sun. Set out after the last frost has passed, when the soil is warm and settled. Spacing Single Plants: 1' 7" (50cm) each way (minimum) Rows: 1' 5" (45cm) with 1' 11" (60cm) row gap (minimum) Sow and Plant Start seedlings indoors or start...
Position Sun or partial shade. Spacing Single Plants: 7" (20cm) each way (minimum) Rows: 7" (20cm) with 11" (30cm) row gap (minimum) Sow and Plant Sow direct into soil, and cover the seeded bed or furrow with a board to keep it moist.
Planting and Harvesting Calendar < Back to All Plants Pests which Affect Hazel Aphids (General) Fall Webworms Slug Snail Corridors within the orchard that are planted with clovers and other legumes contribute to soil fertility and attract pollinators.
Feeding Mix a balanced organic fertilizer into the bed or row before planting your onions, taking care to get it into the soil below the plants. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Do not weed after the fruits have set. Wipe harvested melons clean and store indoors in a cool place, or in the refrigerator. After 2 weeks, thin to 2 plants per hill. Troubleshooting Use a paper or other roll-out mulch to prevent weeds.
The fly larvae tunnel through the fruit as they feed, making the fruit lumpy, disfigured, and prone to rot. Adult flies overwinter as pupae about 2 inches (5cm) deep in the soil. The larvae move from fallen fruit to the soil to pupate.
Planting and Harvesting Calendar < Back to All Plants Pests which Affect Lantana Aphids (General) Slug Snail When growing lantana in containers, use a coarse potting soil that drains well.
Notes Feathery chamomile foliage contrasts well with the textures of other herbs and flowers. The easiest chamomile to grow is a cool-season annual. Position A sunny spot, for example at the end of a vegetable row or bed.
Companions Lavender and Garlic. Picking can continue for several weeks as fruits do not ripen all at once. Feeding In spring and summer, feed with a balanced organic fertilizer. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant...
These cold-natured plants seldom produce well in warmer climates where temperature often top 90F (32C). Spacing Single Plants: 2' 11" (90cm) each way (minimum) Rows: 2' 11" (90cm) with 2' 11" (90cm) row gap (minimum) Sow and Plant Plant in spring, just...
Tips: Pole beans often are damaged by Japanese beetles, but because the infested leaves are at eye level, the beetles are easier to gather. They fly away or drop to the ground when disturbed.
Notes Try different strains, and even species, to find the right lavender for your climate. Feeding Not generally needed beyond annual topdressing with rich compost in spring. Position Full sun to partial afternoon shade, with excellent air circulation.
Feeding Topdress generously with well-rotted organic matter in spring, along with a balanced organic fertilizer. Healthy peach trees will bear for fifteen years or more. In humid climates, peaches often develop problems with fungal diseases such as brown...
Tent caterpillars build gauzy nests in early spring, and devour leaves. Healthy cherry trees will bear for twenty years or more. Frost tolerant Yes, but it is important to choose varieties known to grow well in your area to reduce risk of losing blooms...
Frost tolerant No. Feeding Not required, but thrifty growth often indicates nutritional stress. Troubleshooting Ants sometimes damage okra blossoms. Planting and Harvesting Calendar < Back to All Plants Pests which Affect Okra Aphids (General) Slug Snail...
Feeding Not generally needed. Authentic Greek oregano can be grown from seeds or plants. Notes Frequent pinching back helps to keep plants bushy and full, and it delays flowering. Position Full sun to partial afternoon shade.
Position Full sun. Spacing Single Plants: 1' 1" (35cm) each way (minimum) Rows: 11" (30cm) with 1' 3" (40cm) row gap (minimum) Sow and Plant Start indoors, and set out seedlings when the soil is settled and warm.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. Feeding Mulch with well-rotted organic matter in spring. Position Full sun or partial shade.
Many gardeners also use protective row covers to exclude this and other pests from cabbage family crops. The adult moths will lay their eggs there rather than on your garden plants, and you can chop up the cress and compost it when it is loaded with larvae.
Managing Outbreaks: In small outbreaks, a high pressure spray from the garden hose can help remove aphids from plants. Encourage beneficial insects including lady beetles, syrphid flies, and lacewings, which are important aphid predators.
Frost tolerant No. Feeding Not required. Troubleshooting Flea beetles often make small holes in leaves, but do not merit control. Planting and Harvesting Calendar < Back to All Plants Pests which Affect Radish Aphids (General) Cabbage Root Maggot Slug...
Position Full sun. Spacing Single Plants: 1' 1" (35cm) each way (minimum) Rows: 11" (30cm) with 1' 3" (40cm) row gap (minimum) Sow and Plant Sow seeds 6 inches apart and one-fourth inch deep.
