Pelargonium Violareum, Growing From Cuttings

Question from Zane:
I have 200 plants Pelargonium Violareum, I never grow them. Can you tell me more information about these plants? I would like to know about soil, moisture, about propogation with making cutings. Thank you before!
Answer from Pat:
Pelargonium violareum is native to rocky hillsides in South Africa, tends to grow rangy and blooms mainly [...]

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When To Plant Annual, Perennial, and Biennial Flowers From Seeds

Question from Brandon:
Please help! My wife and I, as inspired by your book, are setting in motion our plan to start our fall planting by starting seed in August. We’re planning our beds for cool season flowers, but we are having a giant disagreement about warm season blooms. Here’s the question: [...]

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How to Prevent Blossom End Rot on Tomatoes, and Best Temperatures for Setting Fruit on Pepper Plants

Question from Ramon:
I am new to gardening and this is only my second year. My first year was hot peppers and tomatoes. The hot peppers did great that year but the tomatoes, I found out later, that I was over watering. This year I went to deep watering every other day and the tomatoes are [...]

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When to plant tomatoes for fall/early winter harvest

Question from Lewis:
I wanted to know when to plant tomatoes and what kind of tomatoes for a late fall, early winter harvest.
Answer from Pat:
The best time to plant tomatoes for summer use is in March, but this year our temperatures have been cool along the coast and cool temperatures can lead to bud drop [...]

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Squash

Question from Peggy:
Plant starts to grow a squash about 2-3 inches nice shape and color then the tip turns yellow. After that the whole thing turns yellow and dies. Planted in 5 gal plastic pots with bottom cut out, and sunk down about a foot with drip and hose watering. Soil [...]

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Runner Beans Have Stopped Growing

Question from Ramon:
Hi Pat, I planted my green bean seeds in early May. They sprouted in the first 2 weeks and seemed to be growing just fine. At the end of June it seemed like they just stopped growing, with the biggest plants only 6 inches tall. I live in Riverside Ca. and the weather [...]

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Is Cape Honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis) Toxic?

Question from Sandy:
Need to know if cape cod honeysuckle is toxic or not-want to put in exotic bird cages for them to perch and/or eat on(parrots-amazons,macaws,cockatoos)do not see it listed on toxic sheets for birds,tortoises ectc and can not find the answer on internet sources that I have tried. Please help me solve this question. [...]

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My mission in the Kalu Yala

Question from Chris:
My name is Chris Garcia, I am not a beginner gardner but I am definitely not at your level yet. I am on a mission to gain as much knowledge as possible regarding organic gardening, I am seeking an internship of sorts in Panama to work on a new sustainable community called [...]

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Root Rot and Wisterias

Question from Judy:
My Wisteria – 9.5 years old — just stopped growing and leaves began yellowing and drying. I cut back some wood that had not leafed out and it was dead. When I looked up these conditions, it said it could be Cotton Root Rot. Have you ever seen [...]

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Terr-O-Vite vs Organic Fertilizers

Question from Dave:
Your book recommends the use of Terr-O-Vite for so many things. I live in Thousand Oaks and can’t seem to find it. I don’t even see it on the internet. Can you recommend a source to buy it, or can you recommend a suitable available replacement?
Answer from [...]

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Compost Pile Too Hard to Turn Over

Question from Mara:
When I try to turn the dirt over in my compost pile, the pitch fork just gets stuck, and I can’t turn the soil. It seems like there are small roots keeping the dirt from being loose. I have to pull really hard to get it up. I started the pile last summer, [...]

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Suggestions re Flowering vine or hedge as divider

Question from Diane:
I live in middle of Los Angeles (Hancock Park red clay soil) and have cyclone fence between new neighbors and my yard. Old divider was eugenia hedge now removed. East/south facing so sun most of the day. Think Jasmine, potato vine, wisteria would get too thick. Any other suggestions? [...]

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Yellow Leaves Falling off Honeysuckle, Citrus, and Other Plants

Question from Joan:
Every year my honeysuckle grows full with lots of blooms but after that most of the leaves turn yellow and fall off. Why
Answer from Pat:
Let’s begin with a blanket answer: The first thing that comes to mind with any plant, not just honeysuckle, having yellow leaves that drop off and fall to [...]

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Organic Snail Control

Question from Tressa:
I love your month by month gardening book and have read it almost cover to cover.
My problem is armies (literally of snails) I live in Claremont, Ca. (new Pomona not San Diego) in the foothills and have snail attracting ground covers which I can’t easily remove. I have tried every organic [...]

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