Why can't I grow spinach?
organic_mamag
15 years ago
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farmerdilla
15 years agoshebear
15 years agoRelated Discussions
HELP! Why can't I grow an avocado tree from seed!?
Comments (35)I have been looking at propagation from stem cuttings, and it seems that it is superior to the seed method because you get a genetic clone and it grows into a fruiting tree in four years instead of 10. There appears to be a group of people who use pieces of aloe vera plant to stick the stems into before burying in soil. Apparently, it is a natural root hormone. I definitely am going to try it because I have aloe vera growing in my yard, and I don't want to search for root hormone and shell out money when I have a potentially equivalent product at home. I also already have two grafted avocado trees. They are small, and I had already cut back the Fuerte, but I still haven't pruned the Mexicola Grande. I might use that pruned leader as a test. The Mexicola Grande would probably make the best root stock for grafting, anyway....See MoreWhy can't I grow broccoli?
Comments (9)Correct, frost doesn't bother broccoli. They normally go in in mid April in zone 6A. When I lived in Massachusetts many years ago, peas were planted on Patriots Day (April 20). Here I plant them long before that. Lettuces will also do better sown quite early--early to mid April. And spinach can go in as soon as you can work the soil. Many people sow it in the fall for earliest spring growth. Only tender veggies need to wait until after frost....See MoreSo why can't I grow cilantro in my yard?
Comments (11)Once either soil or air temperatures, or both, are around 75 degrees, cilantro starts getting ready to bolt. I used to work really hard to keep it going longer, but got tired of trying to fool Mother Nature (by mulching heavily, growing it in fairly heavy shade, keeping it very well watered, even using shade cloth to keep the ground around it cool). Nowadays I just grow cilantro during the cool season, and grow either Culantro or Papalo (similar flavor to cilantro but they thrive in the heat) in the warm season. It is relatively easy to grow indoors under lights, but I'd just as soon have Culantro or Papalo in the ground outdoors instead of growing it indoors. Rick, Other than the fact that it is a cool-season plant, the only other reason I can think of that might explain why growing it can be challenging for you is that maybe your soil is too acidic, or much too alkaline. Cilantro is happiest in soil with a pH of 6.2 to 6.8 so in soil that is strongly acidic or strongly alkaline, it might not do well. Cilantro reseeds in my compost pile, and none of the wildlife eat it, so I rarely have it in the garden proper any more---I just wait for it to pop up around the compost pile. I do think that dehydrating brings out a bitter quality in it. Sometimes I leave it out of the salsa when I make it and can it, and then I just chop up fresh cilantro and add it to a jar after we open that jar. I think it tastes better than way, so probably the heat of the canning process also impacts the flavor....See MoreI can't seem to grow anything. Why?
Comments (14)Well, don't feel pregnant! I've had really good years since I've been back in FL and I've had really bad years! I was using Jungle Mix and they shut down. I went back to Miracle Gro potting mix and I got bugs...bunches of bugs and it killed my plants. Stink bugs were the worst, then someone released the cudzu bugs (they weren't supposed to, but they did). It ate every legume in sight, the stink bugs suddenly disappeared, most of my insect problems went away temporarily. I live surrounded by forest in a low lying area that occasionally floods. So, bugs are a given. I started sitting out containers for the frogs to grow in and they go to town on those bugs! I learned that most of my gardening has to be where it's shaded from the afternoon sun or they cook in the summer. During the winter, it doesn't matter where they are. I also learned that I absolutely have to have mulch covering. And "Back To Eden" on youtube is a good place to find out about that. But be aware that if you use mulch you have to increase nitrogen because as the mulch breaks down, it uses a lot of nitrogen. It will decrease your watering immensely! And if you have water like mine, that's a good thing! Another thing, find out what kind of water you have. I just got back my results on a water test. Calcium/Ca 20.70 ppm Magnesium/Mg 7.07 ppm Hardness mg/L 80.73 Iron/Fe 2.70 Manganese/Mn 0.00 Sodium/Na 533.94 Chloride/Cl 929.42 Suspended Solids 4.00 PH 4.10 EC 2.85 Total Carbonates 0.00 I believe the Sodium came from weed killer my ex-neighbor used to use on the fence line. I'm not sure. But I know our irrigation water got worse gradually. That's why I had it tested. I have to call my Extension Agent tomorrow and see what he suggests I do. Because of the high Sodium, seed starting is going to be a bear!...See Morepetzold6596
15 years agocorapegia
15 years agoglib
15 years agocorapegia
15 years agodavid52 Zone 6
15 years agoretiredprof
15 years agoaubade
15 years ago
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