Fruits
Starting A Vegetable Garden On A Sunny Cow Pasture
Q: We are moving out in the country and I’d like to start a vegetable garden. Our property is on a sunny former cow pasture. I’d like to grow corn, squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, okra, and maybe potatoes. Any suggestions on...
My Fig Tree Stopped Producing Fruit
Q: Early this spring our figs were leafing and had several small fruits. Now, they have lots of large green leaves but all the figs we saw earlier are gone! There are no signs of new fruit. A: It is...
Fruit From My Banana Plants
Q: I get fruit from my banana plants about every other year, contrary to what you said on radio. A: It seems like every time I say a certain thing isn’t possible in Atlanta, someone writes and says “Why, I...
Can I Crop The Top Of My Indeterminate Tomatoes?
Q: If I plant indeterminate tomatoes can I crop the top to keep them from growing tall? A: Pruning an indeterminate tomato to make it bushier is possible but you’ll be fighting Mother Nature. After planting, indeterminate tomatoes grow for...
When To Prune Muscadines
Q: My muscadines have not been pruned but the vines are just about fully leafed out. What do I do at this point? A: It is tough to decide what to do this late in the spring. Flowers have already...
Planting A Haas Avocado Tree
Q: We have successfully grown Meyer lemons and satsuma oranges on the south side of our home. We want to plant a Haas avocado tree. What are your thoughts? A: ‘Hass’ avocado has a bit more cold tolerance than some...
Why Are My Tomato’s Roots Shallow?
Q: I started a drip irrigation system last year in my first vegetable garden. I watered the tomatoes two gallons a day, seven days a week. When I pulled my plants up at the end of summer, I noticed the...
Can I Plant A Pluerry, Cherry And Peach Trees In Georgia
Q: I recently moved from Iowa. I want to plant a standard pluerry tree, a semi-dwarf pomegranate, plus semi-dwarf cherries and peaches. A: It is certainly possible to have a garden full of fruit trees and vines in Georgia but...
I Love Mahonia!
Q: I think mahonia is a beautiful, colorful, and interesting plant! A: The unique foliage and bright yellow flowers in early spring certainly make this a distinctive plant. Spikes of blue berries follow the flowers. Some gardeners don’t like mahonia...
Will Mulching my Peach Trees Slow Blooming?
Q: I have several Elberta peach trees that are growing like crazy but they want to bloom in January. I read that mulching them would keep the soil cold to slow blooming. A: The air temperature around trees is what...
Can I Crop Indeterminate Tomato? Distinguish Determinate from Indeterminate
Q: If I plant indeterminate tomatoes can I crop the top to keep them from growing tall? A: Pruning an indeterminate tomato to make it bushier is possible but you’ll be fighting Mother Nature. After planting, indeterminate tomatoes grow for...
No 10-10-10 for Blueberries
Q: I did some cleaning of leaves from around my blueberry bushes. Since we are about to have rain would it be a good idea to give them a little 10-10-10 so it would soak in well? A: I don’t...
Elberta Peach Blooming Early
Q: I have several Elberta peach trees that are growing like crazy but they want to bloom in January. I read that mulching them would keep the soil cold to slow blooming. A: The air temperature around trees is what...
Killing The Root Of Bradford Pear Bushes
Q: I am trying to eliminate obnoxious volunteer Bradford pear bushes. Is there a way to kill the roots without waiting for regrowth and using weed killer. A: You could dig the roots out, but I’m guessing that’s not what...
Planting Rainier Cherry Trees In Atlanta
Q: I’d like to plant several Rainier cherry trees just to see what happens. I LOVE them. A: So, I see you are a gambler! Sweet cherry trees have a tough time bearing fruit in metro Atlanta. Temperature swings in...
How Can I Prop My Fig Bush Up?
Q: My fig bush was so heavy with figs they pulled the limbs almost to the ground. Can they be propped back up? A: One of the ways that edible fig plants (as well as other species of fig) compete...
How Do We Protect Creeping Fig In The Winter?
Q: We have a wall covered in creeping fig. How can we protect it from freezing this winter? A: Ask at your local nursery if they sell frost cloth. This is a lightweight polyester fabric used to drape over tender...
Difference Between Green, Yellow And Red Bell Peppers
Q: What is the difference between green, yellow and red bell peppers? Dave Baker, Conyers A: All bell peppers start out with green or yellow-green fruit which then progress through other colors to finally end up with red skin. Different...
