Skip to main navigation Skip to site navigation Skip to content

Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard

Seed Starting and Propagation

What is the white growth found in the seedling soil and is it safe to plant in my garden?

Question: I am a new gardener. I started all my garden plants indoors this year, from seed (about 3-400) and recently, a silvery white fungus or mold is appearing on the soil and spreading to the soil of all my starts. At times it looks like silver threads and other times just a lite silver […]

Should I put my squash seedlings on my glassed porch until it’s time to plant outside?

Question: I have a question about how to care for seedlings while waiting for the weather to get warmer so I can plant outside. I have some butternut squash seedlings that aren’t ready to plant outside yet because of weather, but are showing their true leaves and are 6-8” tall. I have some smaller Moonflower […]

Why are my tomato seedlings drooping and the leaves curling?

Question: I am a first time gardener starting tomato seedlings inside. My seedlings are three weeks old as of Apr 20th. About a week ago they started drooping, leaves curling and some undersides of leaves have turned purple. I have spent a ton of time researching online and received every answer under the sun. Soil […]

How long should it take for true leaves to appear on tomato seedlings?

Question: How long should it take for true leaves to appear on tomato seedlings? Can I rescue these seedlings? I planted tomato and pepper seeds on 3/1 using an organic seed-starting mix & following the instructions of your excellent seed starting video. I placed them on a heat mat. Within 4 days, the tomato seeds […]

Can you propagate Clethra from suckers? If so, when is the best time to do so?

Question: My questions is about transplanting suckers from a Summer Sweet Clethra shrub. I have a source of suckers from an established shrub that needs to be pruned in the spring because it is taking over the bed. It does not leaf out until June. I wonder if I could separate and dig up some […]

Can I plant Forget-Me-Not seeds now for next year’s blooms?

Question: Can I plant Forget-Me-Not seeds now for next year’s blooms? Will they survive the winter? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Special Projects Assistant Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica) is technically a winter hardy biennial, but is often grown as an annual. However, because it is such a prodigious self-sower, once planted it often continues on in successive generations […]

What is causing my beet sprouts to disappear?

Question: I have planted beets multiple times this season, with very little success. What happens is this: I plant the seed (Detroit Red) and a week or so later the little sprouts poke through the soil. I keep them watered, but over the next week or two, almost all of them disappear. I have a […]

How late can I plant peas for a fall crop and expect to harvest any?

Question: How late can I plant peas for a fall crop and expect to harvest any? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Special Projects Assistant The planting calendar from MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners) recommends August 1 for a planting date for fall crop peas. Keep an eye on them toward the end to protect against early frost. […]

Has the rainy weather prevented my seeds from germinating?

Question: Since the constant rains stopped, I have tried to replant crops that were ruined with no success. I have planted lettuce, beans, and peas several times with no germination (visible, anyway). Now, I find a lot of my neighbors have had the same problem. My garden was never under water, but we did have […]

Can you propagate a young crab apple tree with branches that were broken off?

Question: We have a four foot tall crab apple tree in our backyard. Some kids were running around and accidentally sat on the tree breaking off three sizable branches. Can I put the branches in water to root/start new trees or what can I do to save the branches and the tree? Answer: Jonathan Foster, […]

1 2 3 4 Next »

Top