Question: What are the best blight resistant tomatoes for our Maine climate? Answer: Pamela Hargest, Horticulture Professional I wouldn’t say there is one tomato that has the best blight resistance since there are several factors to consider, such as what’s available to you locally. If you plan on purchasing tomato seedlings locally, I’d recommend connecting […]
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Question: I have decided to grow potatoes in half whiskey barrels because my garden soil has wire worms in it and is not good for growing potatoes. If I plant them in the barrels, what kind of soil should I use? What should I fertilize them with? Compost? If there is a way to get […]
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Question: How can I get an insect identified? Answer: Pamela Hargest, Horticulture Professional You can mail in a sample to our lab. Here are instructions for how to do so: https://extension.umaine.edu/ipm/submitting-insect-specimens/
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Question: What is a responsible way to get rid of invasive ferns in your lawn? Answer: Rebecca Long, Sustainable Agriculture and Horticulture Professional I suspect the reason you have ferns and Canada-mayflower, Maianthemum canadense (which is actually native to Maine and therefore beneficial for pollinators and wildlife!) encroaching on your lawn is a combination of things; the […]
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Question: We would like to grow a variety of sunflowers, from the tall ones like Burpee Mammoth to shorter ones like Santa Lucia as well as smaller multi-stemmed which we can put in vases at an event. We’d like the flowers at the stage where their yellow ray petals are in best appearance (i.e., ornamental […]
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Question: Last season, leaves on some of my rhododendrons show notching that may be due to root weevils. What stage of growth are weevils at now and what is effective treatment for this stage? Answer: Katherine Garland, Horticulturist Our entomologist shared that it’s either the Black Vine Weevil or the Raspberry Weevil doing the damage. […]
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Question: When is it safe to plant perennials in Bangor? Answer: Katherine Garland, Horticulturist Hardy perennials, meaning plants that will survive our winters, are safe to plant anytime the soil can be worked. In Bangor, this is typically sometime in early to mid April depending on weather. This helpful resource offers a very succinct overview of […]
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Question: If I am planting a few seeds that are heirloom and also planting some that are not heirloom, will this affect the heirloom seeds? I am not planning on planting the the same species of plants. Answer: Abi Griffith, Horticulture Community Education Assistant If you are planning on saving seeds from these heirloom plants, […]
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Question: Can I transplant peonies now? Answer: Katherine Garland, Horticulturist The best time to transplant peonies is in late August or early September. Unlike most perennials, they should only be divided or transplanted every 10 years or so and often don’t need to be transplanted or divided for decades. Be sure to use a sharp spade […]
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Question: We are looking for advice as to when is the best time to transplant tomato seedlings into our UNHEATED 50-ft tunnel. We are in Androscoggin County (5b). Answer: Abi Griffith, Horticulture Community Education Assistant Generally, you can transplant tunnel tomatoes about a month earlier than you would do field tomatoes. So if your seedlings […]
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