Gardening Q&A

My zucchini is misshapen this year—sort of narrow at one end and normal at the other. What happened?

It's the weather and the water. When temperatures fluctuate from the mid-80s to well over 100 degrees, it's hard for people to regulate our intake of water, much less our poor plants living outside 24 hours a day. Once the temperatures settle, the plants will produce properly shaped zucchini.

I accidentally sprayed some of the plants in my garden with an herbicide. Can they be saved?

I've done the same thing myself. If it's an herbicide that acts through the leaves and takes the substance down to the roots, you're in luck because you have a bit of time to reverse what you've done. Immediately and thoroughly wash the foliage of the plants you sprayed. Give them plenty of water during the next week or so, and wait. Either it worked or it didn't, and there's nothing else to do.

I added compost last year to my vegetable garden beds. Do I need to do it again?

Yes. My rule is every time I take a crop out of the garden, I add compost. It only lasts a few months and the benefits far outweigh any inconveniences. My favorite is composted chicken or turkey manure. Sometimes it has a bit of an odor, but if you mix it with your garden soil, you'll get rid of any odors.

I planted basil last year in March, and the plants sort of dried up at the base and fell over and died. What happened?

It's a disease commonly called "damping off." It is most common early in the gardening season. It's a sure sign you're planting too early. Contributing factors are high humidity and poor air circulation. The most commonly affected seedlings in my garden have been tomatoes and basil. I find if I wait until the temperatures begin to warm before planting, and the ground is a little warmer, I don't have any problems with damping off.

I have clay soil and want to plant a couple of trees. The soil still seems pretty slick and thick. Is it OK to plant now?

The answer is no. Clay soil is nutritious soil, but it's very dense, and in winter the problem is worse because of the rain. Try to wait until the soil is drier. Mix compost with the soil before putting it back into the planting hole.

We cut down several trees and had the debris chipped. Can we use it in the garden?

I love this sort of material as mulch to protect the soil. It keeps moisture in, prevents weeds from growing and gives the garden a tidy look. However, you cannot mix it into the soil. As the chipped material breaks down, it uses nitrogen in the soil. As a result, that nitrogen is not available to your plants. Keep the chipped mulch on top of the soil, not in it.