Striped cucumber beetle [Credit: CamPixie ] Striped cucumber beetle [Credit: CamPixie ] Host Plants: On Crops: Cucumbers, melons, squash Where Found: Most of North America Description: Striped cucumber beetles are less than a quarter of an inch long with...
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. Position A sunny spot where bumblebees and other large pollinators are desired.
Frequently the plant will break off as you pull it from the ground. 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.
Gather them for use as cut flowers to keep valerian from reseeding and becoming invasive. Store in airtight container. Often planted with low, mound-forming herbs and flowers. Valerian can stand 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall when it is in full bloom.
Crop Rotation Group Miscellaneous ● Soil Rich well-drained soil. Gather stems for drying or steeping into tinctures in early summer, just before the plants bloom. Frost tolerant A cold-hardy perennial, lemon balm can survive temperatures to -20F (-30C).
Position Full sun. Hot pepper sprays help to deter these nibblers. Frost tolerant Excellent. Allow 4in (10cm) between bulbs of miniature tulips, and 6in (15cm) between taller varieties.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. Some varieties produce white or pink blossoms. Companions Thyme and Osteospermum.
Position Full sun. Black patches on the bottom of fruits are a nutritional disorder best prevented by growing tomatoes in well-prepared soil with constant light moisture. Troubleshooting Watch for leaf-eating tomato hornworms, and pick them off.
Position Sun or partial shade. Can be left in the soil through winter in many areas. Harvesting Use a digging fork to loosen soil along outside of the planting before pulling roots.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. Position Sheltered spot in full sun or partial shade. Begins to bear after five years.
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.
Harvesting Many muskmelons and cantaloupes separate naturally from the stem when the melons are ripe, so they come away from the vine with only a gentle tug. Wipe harvested melons clean and store indoors in a cool place, or in the refrigerator.
The fly larvae tunnel through the fruit as they feed, making the fruit lumpy, disfigured, and prone to rot. Some apple varieties are more susceptible to apple maggot damage than others.
Large varieties may need wider spacing, or you can grow them in 14-inch (35cm) diameter containers. Position Full sun. Notes Many lantanas have florets that change color as they age.
Crop Rotation Group Miscellaneous ● Soil Fertile, well drained soil. When the stems are dry, pop off the blossoms and store them in an airtight container. Frost tolerant Young seedlings easily tolerate spring frosts, and may survive winters in mild...
Start small plants in containers at least 12" (30cm) wide and pot them up a size yearly until they reach mature size. Soft soap sprays can help against scale insects. Planting and Harvesting Calendar < Back to All Plants Pests which Affect Orange (Container...
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...
Managing Outbreaks: Japanese beetle populations vary from year to year. When they stop feeding in late summer, the larvae (grubs) become a problem in lawns, where they damage grass by eating roots.
Crop Rotation Group Miscellaneous ● Soil Any average, well drained soil. You can also dry lavender branches for use in recipes, sachets or potpourri. Frost tolerant A hardy perennial from the Mediterranean, lavender will survive winter temperatures...
The fruit should pull away easily from the tree. In humid climates, peaches often develop problems with fungal diseases such as brown rot. Frost tolerant Yes, but it is important to choose varieties known to grow well in your area to reduce risk of losing...
In humid climates, cherries often develop problems with fungal diseases such as brown rot. Feeding Cherries benefit from a mulch of well-rotted organic matter and a feed with a balanced organic fertilizer in spring.
Companions Melon, Cucumber, Pepper and Eggplant. Frost tolerant No. Feeding Not required, but thrifty growth often indicates nutritional stress. Crop Rotation Group Miscellaneous ● Soil Fertile, well drained soil amended with compost.
Feeding Not generally needed. Authentic Greek oregano can be grown from seeds or plants. Spacing Single Plants: 7" (20cm) each way (minimum) Rows: 5" (15cm) with 9" (25cm) row gap (minimum) Sow and Plant Start with a purchased plant, or start seeds indoors...
Position Full sun. They will pick up again when nights cool down. Troubleshooting Hot weather can cause peppers to temporarily stop flowering. Crop Rotation Group Solanaceae (Potato and tomato family) ● Soil Well drained soil that holds moisture well.
Crop Rotation Group Miscellaneous ● Soil Fertile, well-drained soil. If pickling, harvest while it is still possible to pierce the nuts with a skewer. Frost tolerant Yes, but flowers can be damaged by late frosts.
Preventing Problems: In areas where cabbage moth is a chronic pest, try making a small planting of cress each spring, and let the bugs have it. Damage: The larvae rasp holes in plant leaves that gradually enlarge to give the leaves a windowpane appearance.
Clip off and compost stems holding aphid clusters. In addition to the direct damage aphid feeding does to plants, aphids can transmit several diseases. Encourage beneficial insects including lady beetles, syrphid flies, and lacewings, which are important...
