Veggie Gardening

As you can imagine, this time of year brings lots of gardening questions... which we love to answer. We've compiled a list of some of these questions. See if you have experienced these issues and check out what our experts had to say.

I planted tomatoes and peppers, and a couple other things. Well, both the tomatoes and peppers were getting chunks chewed out of them again. I am unsure if it's squirrels, some other animal, or bugs such as caterpillars. Do you have any idea what could be eating my plants and how I can prevent this if I try again this year?

We're thinking squirrels or birds. To prevent this, there are a few things you can do. The first option is to net the plant although this can become a hassle to deal with as the plants can grow through the net. We recommend applying hot pepper wax - a natural product recommended for edibles. Our year-round locations have this in stock for $12.99. This is a spray that will deter the critters. We do recommend washing your harvest before eating the product (unless you your tomatoes spicy).

My tomatoes are going bad on the vine. Any help?

That is Blossom End Rot caused by a calcium deficiency in the soil. We recommend a two fold treatment, Blossom End Rot Spray for immediate results, and Mag-i-Cal or Garden Lime to help long term. These products are sold at our 3 yea-round locations.

We'd like to plant apple and peach trees. I’ve thought about buying a couple of apple trees, but I don’t know which varieties will set fruit in our area. How do I find out? I know you must have 2 varieties for pollination. Also, I really want a peach tree, but need some help on how they grow, etc. Help!

There are several varieties of apple and peach trees that will grow fruit in our area. For apples, we carry Golden Delicious, Red Fuji, Royal Gala, Red Delicious, Scarlett Spur, and Granny Smith. For peaches, we have Belle of Georgia, July Elberta, Redhaven, and White Lady. Most of the apples require cross pollination from 2 or more varieties. Most of the peaches are self-pollinating, meaning it does not require a second plant in order to produce fruit. However, if you do provide a second plant you will see about a 20% increase in fruit production.

Why are the blooms on my tomato plants falling off and it is not blooming?

Blossom drop occurs as a result of stress. Anything that inhibits pollination and fertilization, such as low or high temperatures, high relative humidity, and excessive wind can cause blossom drop. We recommend using a product called Blossom Set.

What is the difference between green and red bell peppers?

Ten days. Many of the popular hybrid bell peppers will develop red color when they are mature.

Why are my okra pods tough and stringy?

Try picking the pods sooner. This sounds like the pods have become too old. Pick when pods are about 2 inches long.

My yellow squash are growing about an inch long, then turning brown on the end and falling off. What should I do?

It sounds like Blossom End Rot, which is caused by a deficiency in the soil. You need Yield Booster Spray and a lime supplement for the soil, such as Espoma Garden Lime or Mag-i-Cal. Also, switch to a fertilizer that has calcium in it, like Espoma Gardentone.

We cannot shake the Blossom End Rot. We thought it might be a calcium deficiency in the soil, so we put down bone meal and egg shells (in addition to the egg shells that were in our compost). Almost every tomato still has the blossom end rot. Last year we tried compost so that the water supply was a little more consistent, but we still had the problem. Thoughts?

Yes, you are correct that it is a calcium deficiency causing the end rot and yes eggshells do have calcium. However, they break down very slowly and it probably isn't happening fast enough to remedy the problem. We recommend using Fertilome Yield Booster Spray. This spray can be used on the leaves, stalk and fruit.

I just noticed some black spore-looking things growing on my squash blossoms. What should I do? One of the baby squash had spores on it too, so I removed it. We have been watering at night, should we change our watering time?

The best time to water is morning. Typically, dampness and darkness cause fungus. Meaning at night the damp water will stay on the leaf and cause a fungus to form. To treat a fungus, we suggest purchasing a fungicide like Copper Soap. This is an organic solution.

At the bottom of some of our tomato plants, the green leaves are turning yellow. What should I do?

The yellow leaves could be one of several things:

1) Fungus - If the fungus continues to grow, we suggest purchasing a fungicide like organic Copper Soap.
2) Dirt on Leaves - If dirt gets on the leaves of a tomato plant, it can cause them to yellow.
3) Sometimes when the tomato is putting a large amount of energy into setting fruit, it will naturally get rid of the leaves that are not needed in order to use that energy for the fruit production.

For any of these issues, you need to remove the yellow leaves.

We’re adding McGill Compost to our list of quality, organic products this Spring.

McGill Compost is a natural, safe alternative to chemical fertilizers and is the relacement to Nutrigreen Compost. Whether you are planting containers, creating beds, planting trees & shrubs, or starting a new lawn, this compost will:

• Improve soil quality by adding organic matter
• Restore microbial activity & maintain soil balance
• Facilitate nutrient uptake
• Increase pest and disease resistance
• Reduce water use by allowing the soil to hold more water during dry weather and drain faster in wet

{ Happy Gardening! Posted by McDonald Garden Center, February 27, 2012 }

Many assume that the arrival of cooler temperatures marks the end of the summer and the end to your vegetable garden, but in fact, the cool season provides ideal growing conditions. There are lots of vegetables that actually grow better in the fall. There are fewer problems with insects, plenty of rain and little worry that your plants will bolt to seed. And, best of all you'll enjoy the cool air as much as your plants!

Learn what to plant now by checking out our fall planting guide.
Click Here!

Six veggies to plant in your garden now:

1. Kale
2. Lettuce
3. Spinach
4. Broccoli
5. Beets
6. Collards

{ Happy Gardening! Posted by McDonald Garden Center, September 19, 2011 }

Plant these fruits and veggies for a homegrown summer harvest:

• TOMATOES
• PEPPERS
• SQUASH
• EGGPLANT
• MELONS
• CUCUMBERS
• BEANS
• OKRA
• HERBS

Here's how get started:

PREPARE THE SOIL.
Start from the bottom up ~ start with the soil! Turning over the soil is one of the most important steps in preparing your garden. This process aerates and mixes soil components.

FERTILIZE WITH COMPOST.
When fertilizing a vegetable garden, organic fertilizers are preferred. They consist of natural, organic material such as forest products, vegetable waste and animal manure. It can be purchased in bags, bulk, or made at home. We recommend Fafard Organic Compost, Mushroom Compost and Black Kow Compost.

PLANT THE GARDEN.
Dig the hole a bit larger than the plant’s root ball, place the plant in it, and firm the soil around the roots to the level of the surrounding soil. Water immediately to eliminate air pockets and provide moisture to the root system.

WATER & WEED REGULARLY.
Be sure your garden receives one inch of water per week. Also, remember weeds are strong competitors that can crowd your veggies, compete for nutrients, and harbor insects & pests. They should be pulled when they are small.

Check out some veggies available now at McDonald. >>

{ Happy Gardening! Posted by McDonald Garden Center, May 6, 2011 }