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Chrysanthemum, Garden Mum (Dendranthema x grandiflorum) | Today's Featured Plant Chrysanthemum, Garden Mum (Dendranthema x grandiflorum)
Read the full profile of this plant . | | Q&A: Cracks in Tomato Fruit Question: What causes cracks in the tomato fruit and what can I do to prevent them?
Answer: Tomatoes need a regular supply of water to thrive and produce healthy fruit. Cracking can result because they are stressed for water. It also occurs more frequently in the western US because of hot sun and dry conditions. How often to water depends on your soil's characteristics. You want to keep it uniformly moist, but not soaking wet, to a depth of 12 to 18 inches. Mulch over the soil helps keep moisture levels even. You can also try providing the plants with afternoon shade. Choosing a smaller tomato variety can help significantly, because they mature faster and don't develop cracks as easily. The big beefsteak type tomatoes are more likely to crack before they mature. Also, try some varieties that are labeled as crack resistant. | | Q&A: Watery Butternut Squash Question: Our butternut squash grew into gigantic squash. Naturally we were very pleased with the result until we tasted them. They were watery and very stringy. We left them on the vine until the vines died but not until the first frost. Were these just a bad variety or did we do something wrong?
Answer: A big problem with winter squash is that gardeners have difficulty in determining the best time to harvest them. Butternuts are ready in 85-105 days depending on variety, but should be left on the vine until the skin is hardened. Most often, gardeners allow them to stay until frost threatens. They should then be allowed to "cure" for another week or 10 days in the sun. Cover the fruit if frost threatens. This curing sweetens the flesh and toughens the skin for storage. When picked immature they are usually watery and poor in flavor. Flavor is also better after some cold weather, but remember they are not frost-hardy. Butternut should have lost all its green color and turned a distinct tan before being harvested and cured. | | Tip: Overwinter Rosemary To over winter rosemary move containers indoors before a freeze. Place under grow lights turned on for 14 hours a day, keep soil moist enough to prevent it from drying out, and prune off any broken or diseased branches | |
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To over winter rosemary move containers indoors before a freeze. Place under grow lights turned on for 14 hours a day, keep soil moist enough to prevent it from drying out, and prune off any broken or diseased branches |
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