Garden Questions and Answers

Q. My tomato plants are growing great guns, but are starting to spill over and spread across the ground. I know I should buy those wire tomato cages, but I don’t really have room to store them during them during the winter. Are there any alternatives?

A. You’re wise to want to get your tomato plants off the ground. You’ll get more fruit and better looking tomatoes by getting the plants off the ground. Consider simple stakes. They won’t take up as much room to store, and they’re just as easy to use as wire tomato cages. There are also collapsible cages on the market. They cost quite a bit more than the regular tomato cages, but they fold flat for easy storage.

Q. A number of years ago I had a horrible problem with whiteflies on my plants, but they haven’t been bad for some time. Just my luck, they seem to be bad this year. Could you please tell me what to do to get rid of them?

A. You’re correct in your assessment concerning the fact whiteflies haven’t been a problem locally for some time. The county Agricultural Commissioner’s Office was releasing predator wasps that got the whitefly problem under control. Maybe with all the budget cutbacks, the government can’t afford the wasps anymore.

An insecticidal soap spray will work, as will commercial insecticides on the market. Insecticidal soap is much less harmful to the environment and natural enemies, but you’ll have to spray more often than conventional insecticides.

Whatever you spray, make sure to spray at dusk when whiteflies aren’t as active. Anyone who has sprayed whiteflies knows that a white cloud will soon follow as the whiteflies fly about. You can also use sticky yellow insect cards that are used much like old-fashioned fly paper.

Q. Our apricot trees are blighted with gummy, sticky black splits. Can this be prevented?

A. Bacterial canker probably is the cause. It can be controlled with a copper spray when the blossoms first show color, and in autumn when the leaves are dropping. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do at this time.

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