Question: I have three varieties of dry beans planted, and the leaves of one of them, Vermont cranberry, look like they have some sort of virus or other disease. Other varieties right next to them (black coco and silver cloud canellini) look fine. Can you give me an idea what it might be and whether […]
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Question: Fire ants have moved into our yard over the past couple years. I’m hoping you might be able to recommend a control method that is safe to use in food gardens and around kids and pets. They have overrun my strawberry mound. Answer: Liz Stanley, Horticulture Community Education Assistant Fire Ants (Myrmical rubra): For […]
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Question: I have several blueberry bushes that are developing reddish/purple leaves and berries throughout the summer. This affected the berry bushes last year as well. I am struggling to diagnose the cause and come up with a remedy so I’m hoping to get some guidance. I have had some suspicion of fungal disease and have […]
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Question: I have a hummingbird feeder which I fill with sugar water. Lately there have been some small bees or wasps (looks like a fly with skinnier wings, maybe a flying ant) eating the food from the feeder. Can you tell me what they are and how I can rid of them safely? Wondering if […]
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Question: We have quite a few stone fruit trees/shrubs in our yard, including sour cherry bushes, apricots trees, and plum trees. This past spring the blossoms on these shrubs and trees browned, and many of the younger branches died. We only got a fraction of the fruit that we usually do, but the fruit that […]
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Question: What is getting into our garden and eating these young cornstalks? Answer: Marjorie Peronto, Extension Educator It looks like damage from a critter, perhaps a woodchuck, who sits on its haunches and eats the stalks, making a mess and leaving evidence. If you do not have fencing around your garden, I suggest you consider […]
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Question: My somerset seedless vine (about five years old) now has berries and they are getting some fatal disease. They start with a brown spot, then it progresses to a brown bullseye, then half the berry shrivels, then the whole thing is mummified. I suspect this is black rot, yet again, even after cutting back […]
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Question: Last year, I bought some bee balm from a vendor at the farmers market and planted it. It is growing well, but it has magenta “stains” on the stalks. The lower leaves are turning yellow, and there are some white and yellow spots on some of the upper leaves. The spots eventually turn brown. […]
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Question: I just planted some organic cucumber seedlings in my garden, and immediately noticed holes in the leaves. I inspected the plant, and can not see any bugs. I submitted a photo. Can you tell me what it is? What I can or can not do about it? What can I do to prevent it […]
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Question: I planted Jacob’s Cattle bush beans. They germinated well, but now have brown spots on some leaves. I do not see any insects on the leaves. Can you tell me what is causing the brown spots, and the best way to help the beans? Answer: Kate Garland, Horticultural Professional Our team agrees this appears […]
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