Question: I live in Cape Porpoise and have a cold green house. What types of plants can I start at this time of year? Answer: Tori Lee Jackson, Extension Professor of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Androscoggin and Sagadahoc Counties Office At this time of year, days are getting longer and it is very tempting to […]
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Question: Last summer my apple trees produced lots of fruit, but after a cold spell, had lots of bruise like markings. I am wondering what I can do to prevent it in the future. Answer: Liz Stanley, Horticulture Community Education Assistant, Knox-Lincoln Counties Thank you for your question about bruise-like markings on your apple. Without […]
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Question: I planted a Honeycrisp apple tree last summer and the leaves curled about a month later. It’s in a southeast open location and gets plenty of sun and water. The soil is sandy with rocks about a foot below and the ground slopes slightly. I want to know if the rocks below could be […]
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Question: I am interested in planting a living fence around my yard to keep my chickens and ducks in and predators like neighborhood cats and dogs out. The fence are would be shaded by conifers in a forested area. What would be a good species for a living fence? Answer: Liz Stanley, Horticulture Community Education […]
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Question: Our neighborhood is accessed by a dirt road about 1/2 mile in length that is densely flanked by old woody overgrown brush, branches of which reach in toward the road bed and can scratch vehicles coming and going. We are looking for advice on hard pruning to discourage growth, how much, what time of […]
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Question: I’m hoping to offer a take-home craft/activity kit in April where kids will get small flower pots and a few flower seeds to plant at home. However, I know nothing about flowers or gardening in general. I didn’t want to buy seeds and accidentally introduce a plant that is bad for Maine. In general, […]
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Question: I have very satisfactory success growing all the vegetables I want to grow except beets, carrots, and parsnips. These vegetables take far longer to develop a swollen root than they should, and never get to a good size. I am an organic gardener, and my soil tests are good in all areas except iron, […]
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Question: I am interested in making Wattle fencing/hurdles around my backyard and am hoping for any insight as to what trees/plants from Maine would be best to use. I have read that in England they use Hazel and Willow and am wondering what would be the closest to those that exist naturally here. It is […]
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Question: I want to challenge myself and my sons, together with their families, to grow popcorn this spring. Any suggestions on the type that will grow best in Southern Maine? Also, what would the best variety to grow in a container on a deck? We don’t have large garden spaces so are limited in that […]
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Question: I grow cucumbers and tomatoes indoors and can not feel if the surface is dry. The digital meter did not give a percentage and websites go from 10 to 80%. The problem is wilt and powdery mildew, both do better at 30-35% with treatments, but plants are slow growing at that level. Answer: Lynne […]
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