Vegetables

What caused Patterson onions to rot from the top down?

Question: Thrips ruined our Gladiolus entirely. The Patterson onions that were growing nearby looked healthy. We harvested the onions and placed them for storage in the cool cellar. Now it seems, 100% of the bulbs are rotting from the top down. The Ebenezers seem unaffected.  What is the issue? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Community Education Assistant […]

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What are the spots on my bell peppers?

Question: I grow King of the North bell peppers each year and for the last several years, some of them have spots. The spots start from the inside of the peppers and eventually are on the outside skin and form dark rotted spots.  There is no insect damage that I can see, no holes or […]

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What crop can I plant where my bush green beans were?

Question: What should I plant in the bed where my bush green beans – now tired out! – were growing? I would like to have another crop from that space. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Community Education Assistant This is an excellent time to be thinking about squeezing in some fall, cool season crops in the open […]

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Is there a natural remedy for treating Powdery Mildew of Squash and Pumpkin?

Question: I have a yearly problem of powdery mildew on squash and zucchini plants. Use a fungicide from local store but isn’t very effective. Is there a natural remedy that I could mix up to spray on leaves? Should I treat soil this fall with anti fungal? Answer: Frank S. Wertheim, Extension Educator – Agriculture/Horticulture  […]

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What is the best time to plant zucchini and summer squash?

Question: What is the best time to plant zucchini and summer squash? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Community Education Assistant We recommend planting zucchini and summer squash from late May to early July, depending on the season’s temperatures and rainfall. It’s a warm season crop, so it needs warm air, warm soil, and no chance of frost. You […]

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What type of soil should I layer on top of my asparagus bed?

Question: What type of soil should I layer on top of my asparagus bed? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Community Education Assistant Asparagus crowns should be planted in a pre-dug furrow and covered with light, sandy (and therefore well-draining) soil so that water doesn’t accumulate at the roots and shoots can easily penetrate the surface. If the […]

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Why are my raised beds and flower gardens not successful?

Question: Hello, I am looking for an expert to come to my house and tell me what is wrong with both my raised beds and flower gardens. I’ve been trying to have raised beds for six years and am at my whits end. I’ve built a hügelkultur, pulled it all out, added new soil, kept […]

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Can you freeze zucchini and summer squash?

Question: We are overwhelmed with zucchini and summer squash! Can I freeze either or both for winter use in soups, etc? If so, how do I prepare them — just cut up or dice and put in freezer bags, or otherwise? Answer: Rebecca Long, Sustainable Agriculture and Horticulture Professional You can definitely freeze zucchini and […]

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Are cucumber beetles the insects that are killing my squash?

Question: I believe my garden is loaded with what looks like cucumber beetles. They are tiny flying beetles that are in the blossom end of the squash plant. They are killing the blossom and the squash itself. They are eating the leaf in a lace like pattern of tiny holes. They are in the cucumbers […]

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