Gardening Q&A

July/August 2022 California Bountiful magazine

 

As a California Bountiful reader, you have the opportunity to get your seasonal gardening questions answered by gardening expert Pat Rubin. Here are a few questions from our readers.

Everyone tells me to use mulch and add compost. What's the big deal with that?

It's the absolute best advice you can get and the best thing to do for your garden. Compost will add nutrients to your soil so your plants grow better, produce more and are resistant to disease and insects. Mulch will protect your soil. It conserves water, discourages weeds from growing and gives the garden a tidy appearance.

Should I fertilize my garden in August?

It depends on what plants you want to fertilize. If it's your summer vegetables and flowers, then I'd say go ahead. If it's the shrubs and trees in the garden, I would recommend against it. The growing season is coming to an end, and fall and winter are fast approaching with low temperatures and possible frosts. Fertilizing encourages new growth and winter chills can damage that growth. If you feel you need to fertilize, I would use a weaker solution than the directions recommend. Some plants, like citrus, especially if grown in pots, need fertilizer most of the year. Look at the label on your fertilizer package.

May/June 2022 California Bountiful magazine

 

As a California Bountiful reader, you have the opportunity to get your seasonal gardening questions answered by gardening expert Pat Rubin. Here are a few questions from our readers.

When is the best time to harvest my oregano and rosemary?

First, grow them with as little water as possible. This gives the leaves a stronger fragrance and flavor. Harvest them just before the plants bloom. The best time to pick the leaves is in the morning. You can strip the leaves from the stems and put them in a paper bag, or dry the entire stem of leaves. It's best to dry them in a cool, dark place. Once the leaves are dry, put them in an airtight container. Don't crush the leaves until you are ready to use them. They'll retain their flavor better this way. Label the jar with the type of herb and also the date.

I didn't get my vegetable garden started last April. Is it too late?

Absolutely not. You might want to buy starter plants instead of planting from seed to get a quicker start, but it's really not too late to start things like cucumbers, squash, beans, carrots or beets from seed. Most melons and pumpkins need a long growing season, so buy starter plants from the nursery. It's also not too late to get another crop of radishes or salad greens.

March/April 2022 California Bountiful magazine

As a California Bountiful reader, you have the opportunity to get your seasonal gardening questions answered by gardening expert Pat Rubin. Here are a few questions from our readers.

I have slugs in the garden and my neighbor has snails. What do we do?

The most benign ways to control snails and slugs is to go out at night and pick them up. You can also put a small circle of ash or diatomaceous earth around the plant. Snails—and slugs—don't like to touch either. The ash is very dry for them and the diatomaceous earth has sharp edges.

You can leave out small cans (like tuna cans) filled with beer and they will crawl into the cans. Of course, there are commercial products available, but read the labels first to make sure they are safe if you have pets or small children.

I planted basil and tomato seedlings, and suddenly they bent over and were dead. Why?

It sounds like "damping off." It's caused by a fungus that thrives in cool, wet conditions and usually affects young seedlings. There is no cure; the seedlings cannot be saved. I find seedlings like tomato and basil are more susceptible to this when planted too early. Unfortunately, you're going to have to start over.