Episode 9: What’s Eating My Plants & Potato Sprouting Tips
It’s every garden’s nemesis: pests. This week, Mark gives his best tips for protecting your plants from pesky attackers, from vine borers to recurring fungus and more.
Need help getting your potatoes to sprout? He covers that this week, too. Don’t forget to send in your own gardening questions for a chance to be featured in a future episode!
More of a reader? See the questions and answers below.
Mentioned In This Video
Questions & Answers In This Video
[{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Bryan from Ohio\n","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":"\nA: The first place to start is with a soil test, if you haven't already done one. There are nutrients that help your plants deal with drought and heat stress, so if they're properly fed, they will perform better in the heat. Also, start early by keeping your plants mulched throughout the summer and well-watered. For crops that like it a little cooler, plant them on the shadier side of tall crops like tomatoes or pole beans or things like that."}]}]},"question_title":"Q: How do I deal with September heat and its effects on my plants?"},{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Amy from Idaho ","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":"\n\nA: Whatever you plant, plant it as soon as possible and keep it well watered. In shorter growing season areas like Idaho, you can plant lettuce and radish and spinach—real short-season stuff like that. In the longer-season warmer zones carrots and beets, which will be marginal; kale, collards, mustards, turnips all should do well. Even if they don't come to maturity, you’ll have plenty of greens from all those crops to eat. Another thing that would help is to use a floating row cover, that gives you several degrees of frost protection."}]}]},"question_title":"Q: What can I plant in September?"},{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Judy from Kentucky","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":"\n\nA: Those are harlequin bugs, and they're a tough customer. Harlequin bugs love anything in the cabbage family: Kale, collards, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower…you get the idea. And what they do is probe the leaf and suck the juices out of it and release something in there that deforms the leaves. If you have enough damage, it can end up killing your plants. \n\nThe best strategy for most pests is restricting their access. Cover cold crops (and other things) with a "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/super-light-insect-barrier?srsltid=AfmBOop6jq9MpDdq5QMJiesz2U066cnG6_xoHIKwfsaavzBy2v4YOq-1","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Super-Lite Insect Barrier"}]},{"type":"text","value":". Just lay it over your plantings and weight it down on the edges, and it keeps insects from accessing your plants and sucking. If you don't use insect barriers, you can squash the bugs if there's not too many. If not, you'll have to use an insecticide on them like "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/soap-shield-fungicidal-soap","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Soap Shield®"}]},{"type":"text","value":" or another lightweight pesticide that'll knock them down."}]}]},"question_title":"Q: I have orange and black bugs destroying my kale. What are these and how do I control them?!"},{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Gary from Georgia","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":"\n\nA: You can fertilize if you're planting new plants, like your late-season crops in Georgia—you can lightly fertilize the bed when you prepare it. And you can also fertilize your plants with a water-soluble fertilizer lightly throughout the season. Fall crops are often very leafy crops, so they require a little bit more nitrogen. It’s really helpful to get a soil test done, so you don't overdo it on any certain nutrient. But yes—it is all right to feed your vegetables in the fall."}]}]},"question_title":"Q: Should I fertilize my garden in September?"}]
[{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"G"},{"type":"text","value":"erald from Zone 6","italic":true}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"A: Soaking garlic cloves before planting may be beneficial. While I’ve never seen any studies comparing soaked vs. unsoaked garlic, there’s a lot of anecdotal evidence from home gardeners and commercial gardeners that it is beneficial. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"There are several reasons to soak garlic cloves:"}]},{"listType":"unordered","type":"list","children":[{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"The first is for fertility. You want to soak them in a mild fertilizer solution or liquid kelp. This gives the clove an extra burst of fertility early on. "}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"The other main reason is to protect the plant from pests and diseases. Usually these solutions consist of a disinfectant or a mycorrhizal inoculant. The disinfectant is meant to kill mold spores and certain insects, and the mycorrhizal inoculant colonizes the garlic roots and protects it from pests and diseases. It also helps the garlic plant absorb more nutrients from the soil. "}]}]}]},"question_title":"Q: Is it helpful to soak garlic before planting? "},{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"From Gerald in Zone 6","italic":true}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"A: Mid-October to mid-November is a great time to shoot for planting your "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/garlic-bulbs","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"garlic"}]},{"type":"text","value":". Last year in my garden, I planted garlic the first of the month, from September through February. All the garlic that I planted produced usable bulbs—however the earlier plantings in September, October and November did produce a much larger bulb. "}]}]},"question_title":"Q: When is the best time to plant garlic in my zone?"},{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"A: The best time to prune "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/fruits-and-berries","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"fruit trees"}]},{"type":"text","value":" in your area is late winter to early spring. I wouldn’t recommend a fall pruning unless you want to remove a damaged or broken limb. Fall pruning leaves the tree’s pruning scars susceptible to pests, diseases, and winter damage. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Fall—or after the plant has dropped its leaves and gone dormant—is a good time for a "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/fruit-trees-alive-fertilizer","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"light feeding with fertilizer"}]},{"type":"text","value":" or a top dressing of compost. The roots will remain active and absorb nutrients, and the plant will be able to use the nutrients in the spring. Remember to not apply excess amounts of fertilizer, as many fruit trees are already aggressive growers, and too much fertilizer can cause excessive growth the following spring. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Learn more about pruning apple trees with this video: "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/pages\/how-to-prune-an-apple-tree-in-late-winter-and-early-fall-video","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"How To Prune An Apple Tree In Late Winter"}]},{"type":"text","value":" "}]}]},"question_title":"Q: Is it true that you shouldn’t fertilize or prune your fruit trees in the fall?"},{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"From J.R. ","italic":true}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"A: The first step would be to snug all those "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/grow-tubs","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"grow bags"}]},{"type":"text","value":" up against the house, preferably in a shady spot under an eve. That’ll make controlling the winter moisture easier. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Next, you want to insulate around the pots. You can use foam board, a bag of leaves, cushions from your outdoor furniture—whatever you can do keep the cold and wind off those pots. You can even throw pine boughs over them."}]}]},"question_title":"Q: How can I best protect my bulbs planted in grow bags on my second-floor deck?"}]
[{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Tara from Zone 8","italic":true}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"A: When you're preparing your beds for planting, always add a light dose of fertilizer. I like to use "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/onions-alive-fertilizer","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Onions Alive!"}]},{"type":"text","value":" or "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/root-crops-alive-trade-fertilizer","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Root Crops Alive!"}]},{"type":"text","value":" if I have them, or at the very least, a light touch of nitrogen that'll help the plant get off to a good fertile start. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Planting time is the next thing you need to consider. In Zone 8, you have a pretty wide window. For your biggest bulbs, the best time to plant would be from late October through November. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Variety selection is also important. You did well by planting softneck garlic because they tend to do better in the warmer zones. But you can also grow hardnecks. You're on that border where you can grow hardnecks in the porcelain group, like "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/garlic-hardneck-music","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Music"}]},{"type":"text","value":" or "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/great-lakes-garlic","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Great Lakes"}]},{"type":"text","value":". Once you have your variety selected, always plant the largest cloves: Larger cloves will give you larger cloves. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Spacing is also important. You don't want your garlic plants too close because then they compete for the food, water and light. For larger heads of garlic, I like a 6 in. spacing and mulch right away to keep moisture levels consistent and keep winter weeds down. Then water them right when you're finished planting so those garlics initiate rooting quickly. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"The following spring, when plants start to actively grow, you can feed them again. You can use liquid or granular food, whatever you have. And if you're watering a bunch, you'll be leaching that fertilizer out quicker. So, you could split your fertilizer applications up through the season. After that, through the summer, just keep it weeded and watered. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Finally, if you're growing hardneck garlic, cut the scapes off. The scape is the flower stem that comes up at the top and it'll curl. I cut mine off pretty quickly because I like to eat them. A lot of people eat them. And the longer you leave it on, the harder and woodier and more unpalatable it will be. If you leave them on for the life of the garlic, it cuts way down on the size of your bulbs and cloves."}]}]},"question_title":"Q: The softneck garlic I planted last year grew into perfectly formed but VERY small bulbs. I didn’t have any pest problems. What did I do wrong? "},{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Denice and Jeff in Zone 7","italic":true}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"A: This is a common question right now. First, don't be too anxious to bring in or protect these pots. Let them experience several light freezes so it sends the plants into dormancy. The apple tree in particular will lose its leaves. Blackberries are sometimes more reluctant. After they've gone into dormancy, you can bring them into an unheated garage, as long as you’re able to move the pots. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"But make sure you keep an eye on the watering. You won't have to water them all the time, but when they're in the garage, they're not getting any outside rain. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"The other thing you can do is pull them up against the side of your house and seal them in with leaves to protect the pots. You really don't want the roots’ base in the pots to freeze. A shady spot is best because you don't want that winter sun cycle. You know: The freezing and thawing that really contributes to tissue death in the plant. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"If these pots are too big to bring in, and you have them out in the garden, you can dig a hole and set the pot down in there. And that will be particularly good for the apple or the blackberry. But sometimes they're a little less hardy. You may want to take it out of the pot or tip the pot over and just cover it with leaves—I’ve done that with fig trees and it works great. Be careful doing that with young apple trees, though, because rabbits love to eat the bark. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"You can wrap the blackberry bush with some fabric and then cover it with leaves, to make sure it has just a little protection. And just make sure they're staying watered through the winter."}]}]},"question_title":"Q: We have apple trees and thornless blackberry plants that grow in pots. What do we do with them in the winter?"},{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Ruth in Zone 9","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":" "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"A: In Zones 8-10, you don't really have to do much winter protection. You might want to mulch for soil retention. And if they’re newly planted plants, mulching would be good for preventing frost heaving. You want to wait until the plants are dormant, and that requires them to get frozen several times. Usually where I am in southern Ohio, that would be December or late November. It all depends on the weather. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"When the plants are finally dormant, you can use 2-4 in. of straw for mulch. Just spread it out over the bed, nestle it in around the plants, add a little bit on the top of the plants. If you want, you can also use a frost blanket. You just open it up and lay it out over your patch and pin it down. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"For strawberries in containers, in Zones 8-10 they’ll be fine. In colder zones you should protect them by putting them in your unheated garage or something like that. Just keep them out of inclement weather. "}]}]},"question_title":"Q: How do I winterize my strawberry plants?"}]
[{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Elizabeth from Zone 7","italic":true}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"A: A good place to start is with perennial "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/herbs","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"herbs"}]},{"type":"text","value":" like "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/parsley_seed","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"parsley"}]},{"type":"text","value":", "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/sage-plant","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"sage"}]},{"type":"text","value":", "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/rosemary-plant","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"rosemary"}]},{"type":"text","value":", and "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/english-thyme","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"thyme"}]},{"type":"text","value":". Annual herbs like "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/basil-seeds-plants","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"basil"}]},{"type":"text","value":", "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/dill_seed","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"dill"}]},{"type":"text","value":", and "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/coriander-cilantro-plant","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"cilantro"}]},{"type":"text","value":" are also very easy. In the leafy green category: "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/chard","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"chard"}]},{"type":"text","value":", "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/lettuce-seed","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"lettuce"}]},{"type":"text","value":", "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/kale","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"kale"}]},{"type":"text","value":", and "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/collards-top-bunch-pkt","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"collards"}]},{"type":"text","value":" fit the bill. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"On to fruiting vegetables: "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/peppers","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"peppers"}]},{"type":"text","value":", "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/tomato","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"tomatoes"}]},{"type":"text","value":", "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/summer_squash","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"zucchini"}]},{"type":"text","value":", "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/okra-seed","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"okra"}]},{"type":"text","value":", "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/bean-seed","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"green beans"}]},{"type":"text","value":", "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/pumpkin-seed","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"pumpkins"}]},{"type":"text","value":" are all fairly easy. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Easy-to-grow "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/root-crop","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"root crops"}]},{"type":"text","value":" would include "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/garlic-bulbs","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"garlic"}]},{"type":"text","value":", "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/radish-seed","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"radish"}]},{"type":"text","value":", "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/root-crops","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"turnip"}]},{"type":"text","value":", and "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/potato-plants-and-sets","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"potato"}]},{"type":"text","value":". "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"And then on the perennial crop side, "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/asparagus-plants","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"asparagus"}]},{"type":"text","value":" and "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/rhubarb-plants","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"rhubarb"}]},{"type":"text","value":" are very easy to grow. "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/asparabest-asparagus","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"AsparaBest™ Asparagus"}]},{"type":"text","value":" from Gurney's, and "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/kanga-rhu","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"KangaRhu™ Rhubarb"}]},{"type":"text","value":" are great selections. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"As far as fruit: Red "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/raspberry-plants","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"raspberries"}]},{"type":"text","value":" are a great choice. I would go for the shorter-statured red raspberries like ‘"},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/crimson-night","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"Crimson Knight"}]},{"type":"text","value":"’ or ‘Crimson Treasure’. Erect "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/blackberry-plants","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"blackberries"}]},{"type":"text","value":" are a nice easy crop to grow; "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/blackberry-sweet-giant","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"Gurney’s Sweet Giant"}]},{"type":"text","value":" is especially nice and "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/ponca-blackberry","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"Ponca"}]},{"type":"text","value":" or "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/prime-ark-freedom-thornless-blackberry","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"Prime-Ark® Freedom"}]},{"type":"text","value":". And then of course, strawberries like "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/gurneys_whopper_junebearing_strawberry","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"Gurney’s Whopper"}]},{"type":"text","value":". "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/strawberry-plants","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"Strawberries"}]},{"type":"text","value":" are just the easiest garden fruit to grow in your garden. I would also like to include haskaps, or "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/honeyberry-maxines-opus","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"honeyberries"}]},{"type":"text","value":", they’re really easy: you plant them, you "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/bird-nettings","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"protect the fruit from the birds"}]},{"type":"text","value":", and then you pick the fruit."}]}]},"question_title":"Q: I would like plants that are easy to take care of. I have a blank canvas. Where do I start?"},{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Gerald from Zone 7","italic":true}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"For spring planting "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/beet-seed","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"beets"}]},{"type":"text","value":", it's best to wait until the "},{"type":"text","value":"soil warms","bold":true},{"type":"text","value":" to around 50 degrees. Once you make your little shallow furrow and plant your seeds, it's good to "},{"type":"text","value":"cover them with fine soil","bold":true},{"type":"text","value":". You want to break up any lumps, you don't want any twigs in there that would inhibit the seedlings from coming up. Now, if I have "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/100_pure_earthworm_castings","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"Gardens Alive! Earthworm Castings"}]},{"type":"text","value":", I like to sprinkle that in the furrow and cover them with like a quarter inch of the worm castings, and that allows that seedling to pop up freely, and it gives you the little extra boost of fertility."}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"The other big important factor is keeping the seed bed "},{"type":"text","value":"evenly moist","bold":true},{"type":"text","value":" while they're germinating. You don't want it to dry out and form a hard crust on the surface, because it makes it hard for the seedling to come up. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"For my late summer fall crop, I'll often put "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/polythene_grow_tunnel","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"shade cloth"}]},{"type":"text","value":" or "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/super-light-insect-barrier","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"insect barrier"}]},{"type":"text","value":" over the planting bed. That keeps the soil temperature a little cooler and helps keep the soil moist."}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"You also want to be "},{"type":"text","value":"mindful of insects","bold":true},{"type":"text","value":". Thrips and cut worms can cut off and eat those little seedlings before you even see them, so you might have that issue in your garden. You just have to be mindful of that. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"And finally, as an alternative, you can "},{"type":"text","value":"start your seeds indoors","bold":true},{"type":"text","value":". I start mine in our "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/gurneys_seed_starting_kit","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"Gurney's seed\nstarting kit"}]},{"type":"text","value":". Just sow 2 to 3 seeds per plug, and grow them inside "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/jump-start-light-system","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"under lights"}]},{"type":"text","value":" for about 4 to 5 weeks. Then plant them out in your garden."}]}]},"question_title":"Q: How do I get beet seeds to germinate?"},{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Cherlynn from Zone 6","italic":true}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Well, Cherlynn, it sounds like your place is Wild Kingdom. I know the feeling, I have the same problem. The best defense against animals is "},{"type":"text","value":"exclusion","bold":true},{"type":"text","value":". What I do at home: I have a "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/deer_stop_netting","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"deer fence"}]},{"type":"text","value":" around my whole garden, and then at the bottom of the deer fence, I put chicken wire all the way around, and secure it to the ground with "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/staples-fabric","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"landscape staples"}]},{"type":"text","value":". This keeps the animals, small animals, from getting in and going underneath the fence. They're crafty, these animals."}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"You can also just individually cage plants to protect them. Or there are many premanufactured crop cages that are easy to install and very effective in the garden, or on your deck or patio."}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"To protect the whole bed, I'll often put hoops over it, and put "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/bird-nettings","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"bird netting"}]},{"type":"text","value":" over it or "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/super-light-insect-barrier","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"insect fabric"}]},{"type":"text","value":". You want to make sure the edges of that are secure, because rabbits and chipmunks, who knows, they can get under there. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Repellents have a limited use in the vegetable garden. Sprays are out because you don't want to spray your tasty vegetables with something that tastes bad. Granular repellents like "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/plantskydd-repellent","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"Plantskydd® Deer \u0026 Squirrel Repellent"}]},{"type":"text","value":" are fairly effective when you sprinkle them around."}]}]},"question_title":"Q: This year rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, and deer loved my garden out of existence. What can I do differently next year?"}]
[{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Robert in Zone 6","italic":true}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"A: If you do, you're cutting into the crown and you could risk killing that plant. The only time you want to cut strawberry leaves off is after the main harvest, where you do what's called "},{"type":"text","value":"rejuvenation","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":". And that’s where you go in and cut the leaves off and thin the plants. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"For everbearing strawberries, there's not much to do now. A strawberry patch, if properly maintained and rejuvenated, can last 10-15 years. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"For the less-diligent gardeners, I recommend buying new varieties every 3-4 years and planting them in a different spot of your garden.\n"}]}]},"question_title":"Q: Should I cut strawberry plants to the ground, or will they continue to produce from old plants? How many years will they produce strawberries? "},{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Matthew in Zone 5","italic":true}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"A: The best time to spray for leaf curl is during the dormant season -- after leaf fall and up until bud swell; you do not want to spray later than bud swell, or you risk damaging the plant. You want a nice, cool, dry period above 40 degrees and under 70."}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Now there are a few products that easily control leaf curl. One would be our "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/soap-shield-fungicidal-soap","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"Soap Shield® Flowable Liquid Copper Fungicide."}]},{"type":"text","value":" What you want to do is get very thorough coverage over the whole plant. And if your infestation has been bad, you will want to do a second application."}]}]},"question_title":"Q: What is the best way to combat leaf curl in peaches and nectarines?"},{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Charles in Zone 7","italic":true}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"A: Imagine it's late winter or early spring, and you're out in the patch in front of your bush. The first thing you want to do is remove the dead canes from the bottom of the plant. The next thing you want to do on the nice healthy canes is trim the side shoots or laterals to 10 in. After that, secure your plant to the trellis. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"In the summer, when the new growth comes up from the bottom, that's your primocane at about three feet. Pinch out the top two or three inches, and that'll make that bush out. And that's about all you need to do. As those laterals grow, you can train them to the trellis."}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Learn More from Gurney’s: ","bold":true}]},{"listType":"unordered","type":"list","children":[{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":""},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/pages\/growing-strawberry-plants","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"How To Grow Strawberries"}]},{"type":"text","value":""}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":""},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/pages\/growing-peaches-and-nectarines","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"Growing Peaches and Nectarines"}]},{"type":"text","value":" "}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":""},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/pages\/how-to-prune-black-raspberry-plants-in-late-winter-or-early-spring-video","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"Watch: How To Prune Black Raspberries In Late Winter or Early Spring"}]},{"type":"text","value":" "}]}]}]},"question_title":"Q: How and when do you prune everbearing black raspberries?"}]
[{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Arlene in Zone 6","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":" "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"A: ","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":"There's nothing wrong; in general, dwarf fruit trees take 2-4 years before they start producing fruit, and standard trees take 4-6 years. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"One thing you might want to consider is holding off on the fertilizer. Excess nutrients, especially nitrogen, cause vigorous growth at the risk of delaying fruit production. This doesn't pertain to you yet—but frost or freeze events at bloom time can kill the flower buds, which will result in no fruit. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Also, poor pollination is another problem with fruit set. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Learn More: "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/pages\/growing-apple-trees","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Tips on Growing Apple Trees"}]},{"type":"text","value":" "}]}]},"question_title":"Q: I purchased two of your apple trees two years ago. They grew extremely tall and fast, but they have never produced any fruit or flowers. They get full sun, fertilizer in spring, and seem healthy. What is wrong? "},{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"L. in Zone 6","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":" "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"A: ","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":"Jade plants are succulents, and they require much less water than your typical foliage plants. So, back off even more on the watering. There are several products on the market that contain an organism that controls fungus larvae. We offer "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/knock-out-gnats-trade-granules?srsltid=AfmBOoq2KpiyKte-N8KKN2DVxXFI9JbmBIlG2ShzPoskAwVDXbJME2em","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Knock-Out Gnats™"}]},{"type":"text","value":", which has this organism. It's environmentally friendly and safe for humans and pets. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":" "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"You may want to reapply your fugus control several times, since you have such a bad infestation, and also treat all your houseplants, even if you think there are no fungus gnats in those plants. "}]}]},"question_title":"Q: My Jade plant is infested with fungus gnats. Yellow sticky tape, letting plant soil go dry before watering, and potato cubes haven't gotten rid of them. Help! "},{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Michael in Zone 8","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":" "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"A:","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":" Like with many apples, you need two different varieties for proper pollination. So with pawpaw, you could have two different seedlings or two different name varieties or a mix of two. But you need two distinct varieties to get good pollination. The only thing you "},{"type":"text","value":"don't","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":" want to do is go out and dig up two plants from the same colony in the woods—they'll basically be identical and will not cross-pollinate. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"One thing I used to do when I only had one plant, is I'd cut branches from a different colony that were flowering and put them next to my pawpaw tree. Then I did get some pollination that way. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"They will do well in the South, with a range from southern Louisiana to northern Florida and all the way up into southern Michigan. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Learn More: "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/blogs\/blog-post\/growing-pawpaw-trees","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"How to Grow and Enjoy Pawpaw Trees"}]},{"type":"text","value":" "}]}]},"question_title":"Q: Do you need two pawpaw plants to grow fruit? Do pawpaws do well in the South?"}]
[{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Margie in Zone 7","italic":true}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":" A: Large, warm-season crops like "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/peppers","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"peppers"}]},{"type":"text","value":", "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/tomato","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"tomatoes"}]},{"type":"text","value":" and "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/eggplant","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"eggplants"}]},{"type":"text","value":" can be started now, and it's important to have a warm growing environment to do so. To achieve that, our Seed Starting Kit—along with a Seedling Heat Mat underneath—helps ensure you get very warm soil temperatures. Quicker-maturing "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/cole-crops","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"cabbages, broccolis and cauliflowers"}]},{"type":"text","value":" can also be started now, along with "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/kale","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"kale"}]},{"type":"text","value":", "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/chard","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"chard"}]},{"type":"text","value":", "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/kohlrabi-seed","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"kohlrabi"}]},{"type":"text","value":", "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/onion-plants-and-sets","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"onions, leeks"}]},{"type":"text","value":" and "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/herbs","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"perennial herbs"}]},{"type":"text","value":",."}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Many perennial"},{"type":"link","url":"flowers","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":" flowers"}]},{"type":"text","value":" can be started now: Hollyhocks, "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/echinacea","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"echinacea"}]},{"type":"text","value":", "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/blackeyed_susan_","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"rudbeckia"}]},{"type":"text","value":", "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/snapdragon-rocket-hybrid-mix","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"snapdragons"}]},{"type":"text","value":" and digitalis."}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"\u003e\u003e For more complete information on "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/seed-starting","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"seed starting"}]},{"type":"text","value":", check out our "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/pages\/complete-guide-to-seed-starting-indoors","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"Complete Guide to Seed Starting Indoors"}]},{"type":"text","value":"."}]}]},"question_title":"Q: What flowers and vegetables can I start now for spring planting?"},{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Terry in Zone 5","italic":true}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"A: Regardless of the option, you'll receive a 2-4 ft. apple tree on a dwarfing rootstock. The rootstock brings the size down so that all the picking, pruning and spraying can be accomplished standing on the ground, and the tree will produce the same full-size delicious fruit as a standard size tree. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"The deluxe package has pelletized calcium for enhancing fruit quality. It also has a bag of starter fertilizer and gentle tree ties to tie the tree to a stake, along with a tree guard that you wrap around the trunk to keep animals from chewing on the bark."}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"\u003e\u003e Shop "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/sweet_sixteen_apple_tree","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"Sweet Sixteen Apple Trees"}]},{"type":"text","value":" "}]}]},"question_title":"Q: I'm looking at a Sweet Sixteen apple tree. What is the difference between a 2-4 ft. Reachable tree and a 2-4 ft. Reachable Deluxe tree?"},{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Carol in Zone 8","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":"\n\nA: I like a balanced, mild and slow-release fertilizer, preferably made from natural inputs."}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Conventional is fine too, but go easy on conventional fertilizers. Natural fertilizers boost the microbial community in the soil, so you feed the soil that in turn feeds the plant. Our "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/fruit-trees-alive-fertilizer","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"Fruit Trees Alive!"}]},{"type":"text","value":" is a great example of this: It has all your major and minor nutrients, plus molasses and humates"},{"type":"text","value":" ","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":"to help stimulate microbial activity. You can also top-dress with compost and\/or woodchips—that will help the process as well."}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"\u003e\u003e Shop "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/plant-foods-and-fertilizers","title":null,"target":null,"children":[{"type":"text","value":"All-Natural Fertilizers"}]},{"type":"text","value":" "}]}]},"question_title":"Q: What's a good granulated fertilizer for established fruit trees?"}]
[{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Melissa in Zone 6","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":" "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":" A: Here's some quick math to help you calculate your seed coverage: "}]},{"type":"list","listType":"unordered","children":[{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"This seed blend recommends 9-18 lbs per acre. "}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"For a quarter acre, that comes to 2 ¼ lbs to 4 ½ lbs of seeds. "}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"So that would be 9-18 of our ¼-lb bags of seed. "}]}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"You can plant on the lighter side if you want a more natural display of blooms, and it makes it a little more affordable. Or you can go on the heavier side if you want a denser display of blooms. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Shop","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":" ","bold":true,"italic":true},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/gurneys_beneficial_bug_blend_","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Gurney's® Benefical Bug Wildflower Seed Blend","italic":true}]},{"type":"text","value":" and other pollinator-friendly ","italic":true},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/wildflower-mixes","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Wildflower Mixes","italic":true}]},{"type":"text","value":" "}]}]},"question_title":"Q: I have a quarter acre I want to seed with Gurney's® Beneficial Bug Wildflower Seed Blend. You offer ¼ lb packages. How much will I need to seed this area?"},{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Gary in Zone 8","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":" "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"A: I recommend a 50% peat or peat-based soil mixed with 50% pine or small pine bark. This is important for the good drainage you need for blueberries. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Also, I would recommend a granular fertilizer geared to acid-loving plants, like our "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/blueberries-alive-fertilizer?variant=51622024315252\u0026p=0580742\u0026utm_content=0580742\u0026utm_source=google\u0026utm_medium=cpc\u0026utm_campaign=GU%20-%20PMax%20-%20SHOP%20-%20RE_ENG\u0026gad_source=1\u0026gad_campaignid=19309277953\u0026gbraid=0AAAAAD_Ht-2nouqnIeoeC1spMIHL1LhL6\u0026gclid=CjwKCAjwhqfPBhBWEiwAZo196kY2s0OFcNezOKoRJRfzLgVdk3nNPr2tsjuD8j-RfHu7STQd9dgUvhoCnlYQAvD_BwE","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Blueberries Alive! Fertilizer"}]},{"type":"text","value":". In addition, since you'll be watering so much, you'll be leaching a lot of nutrients out of that good, well-draining soil, I'd recommend a liquid, acid-based fertilizer at least once a month. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"And if you don't want to mess around with mixing your own soil, try our "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/gurneys_blueberry_success_mix","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Blueberry Success Mix"}]},{"type":"text","value":". Just pour it in the pot and you're ready to plant. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":""},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/kabluey_blueberry_","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Shop Ka-Bluey® Northern Highbush Blueberry Plant","italic":true}]},{"type":"text","value":" and ","italic":true},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/blueberries-alive-fertilizer","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Blueberries Alive! Fertilizer","italic":true}]},{"type":"text","value":""}]}]},"question_title":"Q: I ordered two Ka-Bluey® blueberry plants. I’m going to make my own potting soil, what ingredients do I need?"},{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":" Cecilia in Zone 7","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":" "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":" A: For "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/junebearing_strawberries","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Junebearing strawberries"}]},{"type":"text","value":", coming out of the winter you can trim off the brown and dead leaves above the crown. The main trimming comes after your harvest. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Trim all the leaves off above the crown. Then the runners—I think what you're referring to are runners that are crowding the pot—you can trim off individual runners. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"For "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/everbearing_strawberries","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"everbearing strawberries"}]},{"type":"text","value":", all you really have to do is trim off excessive runners. Overwintering options would just be like for your regular strawberries. If you can, build a little structure and just put straw or frost protection over it—you're in Zone 7, so it shouldn't take too much. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Shop ","italic":true},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/strawberry-tower","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Grow Tub® Strawberry Tower","italic":true}]},{"type":"text","value":" and ","italic":true},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/grow-tub-tiered-strawberry-planter","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Grow Tub® Tiered Strawberry Planter","italic":true}]},{"type":"text","value":" ","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":" "}]}]},"question_title":"Q: I am growing my strawberries in a grow tower. How often should I prune the strawberry leaves to prevent overgrowth? How can I winterize the grow tower outdoors?"}]
[{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Dave in Zone 7","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":" "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"A: Dave, start with proper nutrition. Get a soil test to see where your soil is. "}]},{"type":"list","listType":"unordered","children":[{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Then select "},{"type":"text","value":"resistant ","bold":true},{"type":"text","value":"varieties like this "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/tomato-buffalosun-hybrid","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Buffalosun"}]},{"type":"text","value":", or Ruby Dawn, or "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/gurneys_ruby_monster_vff_hybrid_tomato","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Ruby Monster"}]},{"type":"text","value":" are a few Gurney’s has, but you want to look for resistance to late blight, early blight, and septoria leaf spot ("},{"type":"text","value":"a common fungal disease","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":"). "}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Next, practice crop rotations. If your garden's big enough, plant in a different area every year. This will help with the build-up of diseases in one area."}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Next space your "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/tomato","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"tomatoes"}]},{"type":"text","value":" is far apart as you can in your garden to give them the best airflow possible. Don't plant them next to something tall like corn or sunflowers. They need good airflow to evaporate the dew and rain off them. "}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Get rid of any weeds. There are several weeds related to tomatoes that can transmit diseases too. "}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Mulch is great for a variety of reasons, but it keeps rain from splashing on the soil, that splashes soil up into the plant, which sometimes can carry these soil-borne diseases. "}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"If you do start getting some infections, usually it starts from the bottom and works its way up, so remove lower leaves. "}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Don't mess around with wet foliage when your tomatoes are wet. There are some preventative sprays like "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/soap-shield-fungicidal-soap","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Soap-Shield® Flowable Liquid Copper Fungicide"}]},{"type":"text","value":" or "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/garden-sentinel-biofungicide","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Garden SentinelTM Organic Broad-Spectrum Biofungicide"}]},{"type":"text","value":". They're very environmentally friendly. "}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"When the season is over, remove all your plant material, all your tomatoes, peppers and eggplants and potatoes, get them all out of the garden. "}]}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Shop Gurney’s","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":" ","bold":true,"italic":true},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/tomato","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"tomatoes","italic":true}]},{"type":"text","value":" and ","italic":true},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/pest-and-disease-control","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Gardens Alive! all-natural pest control","italic":true}]},{"type":"text","value":" "}]}]},"question_title":"How can I prevent the fungus that attacks my tomatoes EVERY year?"},{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Christine in Zone 7","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":" "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"A: Christine, I used to suffer this malady myself. "}]},{"type":"list","listType":"unordered","children":[{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Once you plant that seed or plant, immediately cover it with insect fabric, the "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/super-light-insect-barrier","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"lightweight insect barrier"}]},{"type":"text","value":". This will keep the adult moths from laying their eggs on the stem. "}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Next, you can spray the stem. There are several environmentally-friendly products, like something that has Spinosad, and all you have to do is spray the stem. ("},{"type":"text","value":"Spinosa is derived from fermented soil bacteria, creating an effective and natural insecticide a highly widely used in organic gardening to control pests without harming beneficial insects.","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":") "}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Another thing I've been doing the last several years that shows promise is I "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/plant-supports","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"stake the zucchini plant"}]},{"type":"text","value":", and keep tying it up, so it's just straight up and down. There's anecdotal evidence that the borers don't like that. "}]},{"type":"list-item","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Also, the borers only have a few broods every year. So you can keep planting, like once a month plant another batch, and just keep going like that. I do that anyway, regardless of borers. "}]}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"If you practice these things you’ll have much better luck. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Shop Gurney’s ","italic":true},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/summer_squash","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"zucchini and summer squash","italic":true}]},{"type":"text","value":" and ","italic":true},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/plant-supports","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"plant supports","italic":true}]},{"type":"text","value":" "}]}]},"question_title":"It seems no matter what I do, vine borers get my zucchini! What am I missing?"},{"answer":{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Jason in Zone 7","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":" "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"A: Oh, Jason, we get a chuckle out of chitting, so excuse us here. Chitting will help significantly improve your "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/potato-plants-and-sets","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"potato"}]},{"type":"text","value":" stand. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"And just to explain what chitting is: you get your seed potatoes and they have no sprouts. So four weeks prior to planting put them in a warm, dark place, and once they start sprouting (showing little eyes), put them in a bright, cool, sunny location. That will kind of harden those eyes off and they won't get elongated. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"As an alternative, you can just warm the potatoes up real well before you plant them. Not in the oven or anything, but just warm them up at room temperature, and that really has been shown to help, too. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"One customer was worried that their sprouts were black. Well, some potato varieties we offer, the "},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/products\/purple_majesty_potato","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"purple potatoes"}]},{"type":"text","value":" especially, the sprouts will be very dark when you shoot them, so no worries, you'll be good. "}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Shop ","italic":true},{"type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.gurneys.com\/collections\/potato-plants-and-sets","title":null,"target":"_blank","children":[{"type":"text","value":"seed potatoes","italic":true}]},{"type":"text","value":" for your garden","italic":true},{"type":"text","value":" "}]}]},"question_title":"I have potatoes with no sprouts yet. Do I need to chit them before planting?"}]
Dave in Zone 7
A: Dave, start with proper nutrition. Get a soil test to see where your soil is.
- Then select resistant varieties like this Buffalosun, or Ruby Dawn, or Ruby Monster are a few Gurney’s has, but you want to look for resistance to late blight, early blight, and septoria leaf spot (a common fungal disease).
- Next, practice crop rotations. If your garden's big enough, plant in a different area every year. This will help with the build-up of diseases in one area.
- Next space your tomatoes is far apart as you can in your garden to give them the best airflow possible. Don't plant them next to something tall like corn or sunflowers. They need good airflow to evaporate the dew and rain off them.
- Get rid of any weeds. There are several weeds related to tomatoes that can transmit diseases too.
- Mulch is great for a variety of reasons, but it keeps rain from splashing on the soil, that splashes soil up into the plant, which sometimes can carry these soil-borne diseases.
- If you do start getting some infections, usually it starts from the bottom and works its way up, so remove lower leaves.
- Don't mess around with wet foliage when your tomatoes are wet. There are some preventative sprays like Soap-Shield® Flowable Liquid Copper Fungicide or Garden SentinelTM Organic Broad-Spectrum Biofungicide. They're very environmentally friendly.
- When the season is over, remove all your plant material, all your tomatoes, peppers and eggplants and potatoes, get them all out of the garden.
Shop Gurney’s tomatoes and Gardens Alive! all-natural pest control
Christine in Zone 7
A: Christine, I used to suffer this malady myself.
- Once you plant that seed or plant, immediately cover it with insect fabric, the lightweight insect barrier. This will keep the adult moths from laying their eggs on the stem.
- Next, you can spray the stem. There are several environmentally-friendly products, like something that has Spinosad, and all you have to do is spray the stem. (Spinosa is derived from fermented soil bacteria, creating an effective and natural insecticide a highly widely used in organic gardening to control pests without harming beneficial insects.)
- Another thing I've been doing the last several years that shows promise is I stake the zucchini plant, and keep tying it up, so it's just straight up and down. There's anecdotal evidence that the borers don't like that.
- Also, the borers only have a few broods every year. So you can keep planting, like once a month plant another batch, and just keep going like that. I do that anyway, regardless of borers.
If you practice these things you’ll have much better luck.
Shop Gurney’s zucchini and summer squash and plant supports
Jason in Zone 7
A: Oh, Jason, we get a chuckle out of chitting, so excuse us here. Chitting will help significantly improve your potato stand.
And just to explain what chitting is: you get your seed potatoes and they have no sprouts. So four weeks prior to planting put them in a warm, dark place, and once they start sprouting (showing little eyes), put them in a bright, cool, sunny location. That will kind of harden those eyes off and they won't get elongated.
As an alternative, you can just warm the potatoes up real well before you plant them. Not in the oven or anything, but just warm them up at room temperature, and that really has been shown to help, too.
One customer was worried that their sprouts were black. Well, some potato varieties we offer, the purple potatoes especially, the sprouts will be very dark when you shoot them, so no worries, you'll be good.
Shop seed potatoes for your garden
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