Category Archives: Sage Advice

Epsom Salts

Posted on October 23, 2008 by Christy

A gardener wrote in recently asking if Epsom Salts are organic. 

I think we should break this question down into two questions:

1) Are Epsom Salts organic?
2) Are Epsom Salts safe to use in organic gardening?

The short answer to both questions is yes, but for the sake of clarity, I’ll explain a little further.

Microsoft Encarta defines Epsom Salts as the following:

“Epsom Salts, common name for colorless or white crystalline salt (magnesium sulfate hepta-hydrate, MgSO4·7H2O) found in the minerals kieserite and epsomite and in mineral waters. Epsom salt was first prepared at Epsom, England. …
Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Sage Advice | 4 Comments

Singin’ the NPK Blues

Posted on October 8, 2008 by Christy

Another great question came in this week at Ask Gardenerd:

“[I] did the soil test today. Turns out the pH is 6.0-6.5. The N,P, and K were depleted (even paler than depleted). No wonder my cover crop in this virgin soil is defeated. What is your recommendation to get these elements into the soil?”

First of all, I want to raise my hand and testify with you that I, too, have gotten the same test results in my garden at times.  If soil could walk, it would have been the walking dead.  That said, there are many ways to get …
Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Sage Advice | Leave a comment

Sour Blackberries

Posted on October 8, 2008 by Christy

A gardener wrote in recently:

“I have thornless blackberries bushes, but every year the berries are sour. What can i do to sweeten them up?”

I don’t have personal experience with thornless berries, but in my research I found two common answers to this question. 

1) The berry bushes may be old and apparently there’s nothing to be done about it.  Time to get new berries. 

2) It’s important to wait to harvest the berries until they are no longer shiny.  They will have passed from the dark black, shiny stage into a duller black stage and should come right off the vine …
Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Sage Advice | 5 Comments

Green Beetles – What’s the Buzz?

Posted on September 12, 2008 by Christy

Another question came in today:

“Metallic green beetles keep invading my garden–about 1″ long. Green wings with brown edges. Friend or foe?”

Well – I know my Permaculture friends would say that there’s no such thing as a bad insect, but to answer your question in a word: foe.

I’ve watched these little buggers make lunch out of my neighbor’s roses.  They sure love ’em.  They are known as Figeater Beetles with a Latin name of Cotinis Mutabilis.  Here is a
blog entry I found about them:

http://fireflyforest.net/firefly/2008/03/08/figeater-beetle/

The bugs themselves are harmless, meaning they …
Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Sage Advice | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

New Gardener’s Dilemma

Posted on September 12, 2008 by Christy

“I just started gardening recently, so my first garden is full of
mistakes. I was watering my cherry tomatoes every day, until I was told that was way too often.  They didn’t show any signs of being over watered, but I cut it down to twice
a week.  Several of their lower branches have turned yellow or brown and died since I cut down on watering.  What should I do?

Also, my squash and cucumbers haven’t shown much growth in a little while.  I made the mistake of planting them too close together.  I’m also worried that I haven’t given them
…
Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Sage Advice | Leave a comment

What’s a Fig to Do?

Posted on September 12, 2008 by Christy

A savvy gardener writes in:

“My young mission fig tree has very few fruit forming, can I use an organic fertilizer now to encourage more fruit output?”

In general, the best time to fertilize fig trees is in spring and as needed until late summer (which is now for Californians) – so go ahead and fertilize your fig.  Many fig trees don’t require
fertilizing at all, but there may be some conditions that are contributing to your low fig yield:

Fig trees can take up to two years to produce fruit from their planting date. You mentioned that your fig is young, though I …
Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Sage Advice | Leave a comment

White Fly Terror

Posted on August 22, 2008 by Christy

Another great question came through Ask Gardenerd this week:

“We have white flies on our hibiscus trees, and I was wondering if there is a pesticide free way to get rid of them.  The infestation is on one tree, and I don’t want it to spread to the other trees or anything else in our garden. We have dogs, and I don’t want to use malathion or diazinone.  What would be safe to use?Thanks!”

In many cases, your hose is your best friend.  If you have a hose nozzle set on my favorite setting: Kill (read: Jet or Full), you …
Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Sage Advice | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Peach Tree Blues – EM Answers

Posted on August 22, 2008 by Christy

We got a question in this week from a gardener:

“I have a 2 year old white peach tree, and it has peach leaf curl. Is there any natural way to control this? I’ve looked in books and on line and I’ve not found any other way to control it than the chemicals…”

It just so happens that I recently met someone who had a similar problem here in Venice, CA.  What they used to improve the tree’s situation without chemicals is something you may have not heard of before.  I’m just starting to really learn more about it, so …
Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Sage Advice | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

What? No Zucchini!

Posted on August 14, 2008 by Christy

A gardener recently wrote in:

Dear Gardenerd,

My zucchini was extremely prolific until a few weeks ago, now I get a lot of flowers, but they are not turning into zucchini, they just fall off. HELP! What’s the deal with my zuch?

Thank you in advance,
Zesty for Zucchini

Dear Zesty,

I, too, have had trouble with my zucchini this year (yellow crookneck squash and pumpkins as well).  I’ve checked with some other sources and they are experiencing the same thing throughout the U.S.  The problem could be our bee problem.  Not enough pollinators.  While your zucchini may have gotten and rush of them a …
Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Sage Advice | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Water sweet Water

Posted on August 12, 2008 by Christy

A recent addition to the Gardenerd community asked:

“I am wondering what kind of water source is acceptable for organic vegetable gardening. Specifically, I am on a city water supply which contains chlorine and other additives. Should I try to find a garden hose filter (if these exist) or would it be better to use my reverse osmosis system indoors and carry the water to the garden?  Thanks for all your help.”

This is a great question; thanks for writing in.  My opinion about filtering water for the garden is basically that if you can do it, all the …
Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Sage Advice | Tagged | 1 Comment