Gardening Daily Tips
For You
Friday September 11, 2009 |
Pine, White (Pinus strobus) | Today's Featured Plant
Pine, White (Pinus strobus)
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Q&A: Growing Mint Indoors Question: I recently purchased silver mint, ginger mint and peppermint plants, potted them in containers for indoor growing, and placed them in a south-facing window. Though they are perennials, will they flourish year-round if kept indoors? What can I do to keep them healthy and maximize their aroma?
Answer: In a very bright sunny window they should do fairly well, although they will do better if allowed to summer outdoors. Mint prefers a moist, well-drained soil with a good fertility level. Keeping the room temperature fairly cool and maintain good humidity and air circulation. Pinch them back to keep them compact; otherwise they'll get leggy and spill over the edge of their pots. Their aromatic oils tend develop best when the plants are grown outdoors, where they have a good living soil and are subjected to the elements. Some varieties are stronger-scented than others. Enjoy your mints! |
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Q&A: No Fruit on Reliance Peach Tree Question: Two years ago I purchased a 'Reliance' dwarf peach tree. It is planted in my back yard and receives a fair amount of morning sun, though tall maples and oaks block the afternoon sun. The first year, I had 3 or 4 fruit that were awful (very hard and molded before ripening). This year, I don't have any fruit at all. What can I do to help my tree produce fruit?
Answer: It sounds as if your tree may not be getting enough light because of the tall canopy. The fact that you did get fruit the first year and they molded before ripening is another indicator that you don't have enough light. Depending on how it's planted, it may also be trying to compete with the large trees' roots for nutrients and water. Also, 'Reliance' peaches will never be quite as soft as a southern peach.
It evidently is still a young tree, so it may not be mature enough yet to produce a lot of fruit. Another possibility to having no fruit is that you may lack insect activity during the blooming period. Your tree is self-fruitful, but it still needs pollinators to be active when the tree is in bloom. If your tree had lots of flowers but no fruit, I'd suspect that either the blossoms were killed by a late cold snap or there weren't enough pollinating insects around. When weather is cold or rainy, honeybees are reluctant to fly, and that sometimes spells disaster for fruit tree crops. Encourage pollinators to visit your yard by planting a variety of flowers.
To improve your chances for fruit, make sure the tree gets plenty of water and is fertilized once a year in the spring with composted manure, compost or a general garden fertilizer. If possible, you might consider pruning out some of the canopy to let in more light or even moving the peach tree to a sunnier spot. |
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Tip: Root Prune Root prune trees and shrubs to be moved this winter or spring. Dig 1 foot into the soil around the drip line of the plant cutting some roots. This forces other roots to grow and increases the chance for survival. |
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-- From the ArcaMax editors |
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