Common Questions And Answers About Home Gardening

Q. I know I'm supposed to plant summer squash after the last spring frost. When should I plant winter squash?

A. Plant winter squash the same time you plant summer squash, after the last spring frost. Since winter squash varieties take longer to mature (about three to four months), they should be harvested in late summer or early fall.

Q. What lettuce grows best in Alabama and when should I plant it?

A. There are four types of lettuce; leafy, bibb, cos or romaine and head. The leaf lettuce varieties require the shortest number of days to harvest and are best for a spring garden. Some varieties of leafy lettuce are Arugula, Salad Bowl, Oak Leaf and Red Sails. Fall is an ideal season for all lettuce types.

Q. How can I avoid blossom end rot on tomatoes?

A. Blossom end rot is not a disease. It is a physiological disorder caused by a calcium deficiency in the plant. The precautions you can take to avoid blossom end rot include making sure pH is between 6 and 6.5; and applying fertilizer based on results of a soil test; using mulches to conserve moisture; and watering plants only when needed, usually about one to two inches a week.

Q. Will marigolds prevent rootknot nematodes from invading my garden?

A. The French marigold, tagetes patula, has helped reduce rootknot populations when used as a trap crop. A trap crop is planted in an area where nothing else is growing. This practice reduces nematodes. However, nematodes still prefer vegetables such as tomatoes, as a host plant instead of marigolds. One drawback to planting marigolds in the garden is they attract other destructive pests such as spidermites into the garden that can be hard to control.

Q. Will squash cross-pollinate with other vine crops such as cucumbers or cantaloupes?

A. No. Squash will cross-pollinate with other squashes, but not other vegetables. If squash cross-pollinates with other varieties such as zucchini, you must save the seed and plant it again next year to have a plant that yields fruit with characteristics of both.

Q. Why should I control weeds in my garden and how can I do a better job at it?

A. Weeds are not only unsightly in and around your garden, but they can be damaging as well. Weeds can harm your garden by: competing with vegetables for nutrients and water; harboring disease pathogens and insect pests; and producing more viable weed seeds.

Weeds around the garden are just as harmful as those in the garden. To wage war on weeds in your garden, heed these suggestions:

• Kill existing weeds, especially perennial weeds such as bermuda grass and nutsedge with a non-selective herbicide such as RoundUp before planting.
• Mechanically remove the weeds by using a hoe or a tiller and rake them out of your garden.
• Apply pre-emergence herbicides or weed preventors on the soil surface. Apply herbicides after the soil is prepared to prevent weeds from growing.
• Use mulches. A few excellent ones to try are pine straw, shredded newspaper, chopped leaves and grass clippings (if not treated with lawn herbicides).

Ask your county Extension agent for a circular on garden weed control.