February Questions Answers

Q. The Hollister city trees in my neighborhood are full of mistletoe, which unfortunately has transferred to my Modesto ash in the backyard. What is the best way to get rid of mistletoe?

A. Mistletoe, although useful during the holidays, is actually a parasitic plant. Heavily infested trees are weakened and can be more susceptible to insect and disease problems. Since mistletoe weighs branches down, affected branched often break off in storms or high winds. If your mistletoe is high up in your tree, you’ll need a professional tree trimmer to cut out the affected branches.

There is a spray called Olive Stop that can be sprayed during the flowering stage. However, you have to spray at precisely the right time and, utilizing a hose-end sprayer, you probably will only be able to spray around 20 feet into the air.

Q. I have a problem growing onions. I can’t seem to get them to make bulbs. They just grow and make seeds. Can you help?

A. I suspect that you’re starting with onion sets instead of onion seed. You might try to start with onion seed. Sets are in their second year of growth and since onions are biennial, their natural tendency is to go to seed. Sets that are an inch across or larger are especially prone to bolting and going to seed. Also, weather could be a factor. If they are exposed to either prolonged temperatures below 50 degrees or short periods at 30 degrees, they will got to seed before forming a bulb. If you stick with onion sets, be sure to plant them in late winter when the chances of that kind of weather are slim. Q. We are growing artichokes and they have ants all over them. Help. Also, when do I stop watering garlic and pull them from the ground?

A. Ants usually means another problem, namely aphids. Aphids are actually herded by ants as the ants protect the aphids from other predators. In turn, the ants receive a sweet sticky substance from the aphids called honeydew. You can spray for aphids and ants using either a mild solution of diazinon or a (strong solution) of insecticidal soap.

As for garlic, stop watering garlic when the foliage starts to fall over. When this happens, go ahead and lift the entire plant out with a garden fork (do not pull). Air-dry bulbs, cut off most of the the tops and roots.

Go To Page: 1

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic