By Jennifer E. Beaver
True confession: I spend way too much time wandering the web reading gardening stuff. Sometimes I actually pick up useful information. I’m passing some practical tips on to you.
Every spring, my geranium, petunia and Million Bell buds get neatly drilled right through the center, destroying all hope of flowers. This is the work of tobacco/geranium bud larvae. After they turn into caterpillars, they chomp on the rest of the plant. To get rid of these pests, I’ve been gardening by the moon. About a week after a full moon, right before the larvae hatch, I spray with BT (bacillus thuriengensis). A biological control that only affects caterpillars, BT is also works on tomato hornworms. Spray every week or two, depending on the infestation.
Ever get frustrated by a dark patch on the end of your otherwise perfect tomato? That’s blossom end rot, and it’s caused by deficient calcium. Crumble an eggshell into the planting hole to prevent it.
In June, the roses that looked so beautiful in early spring get kind of funky. Our warm days and cool nights encourage powdery mildew, which disfigures leaves and blossoms. Mix up one part skim milk to nine parts water, shake, and spray. This actually boosts the plant’s immune system. Resist the urge to use whole milk or to monkey around with the water/milk ratio— you’ll make it less effective.
Grubs and slugs dining on your garden? Put a few cucumber slices in an aluminum pan. This creates a scent undetectable to humans but offensive to pests. Another reason to grow cukes: They help prevent hangovers and headaches thanks to B vitamins and electrolytes. Eat a few slices after your next margarita binge. Perhaps a cucumber daiquiri?
Need a practical gift for a roll-up-your-sleeves gardening buddy? Check out The Small Budget Gardener by Maureen Gilmer. I just finished my review copy and found it full of money-saving advice, such as how to get good deals on expensive tools at yard and estate sales, what size plants deliver the most bang for your buck, how to build fences and other structures from found objects, using plants around your home to reduce energy consumption, how to propagate plants so you don’t have to buy them, and lots more. If you’re looking for a pretty coffee-table book, look elsewhere. If you want immediate, usable ideas about how to save money in the garden, and how to use your garden to save money, this one’s a winner.
Jennifer E. Beaver, a Wrigley resident, is a master gardener and author of Container Gardening for California.
