My peppers have little tiny green bugs on the tips of the plant. What are they?

These bugs are called aphids, sucking insects which are born pregnant.Unfortunately, peppers and aphids seem to go hand-in-hand. The best control is to start out with a clean, weed-free growing area. Secondly, during the growing phase, spray with Safers Soap or Trounce every two weeks for a constant control. Ensure that you rinse the spray off the plant the following day or damage may occur over time.

My tomatoes and/or peppers have a sunken soft black spot on their bottom. What is it?

Blossom end rot is the name of this problem, brought on by one or a combination of these factors:

~Insufficient calcuim in the soil

~ Excess nitrogen, magnesium, potassium, or sodium has been applied as a fertilizer. This interferes with calcium absorption.
~ Very wet or very dry conditions interfere with the uptake of calcium.
To reduce the possibility of blossom end rot maintain soil pH around 6.5. The lime in our soil adds calcium but it cannot be absorbed by the plant unless the soil is less alkali. Watering with rain water will help as it is neither alkali nor acidic and adding sulphur to the soil will reduce alkalinity. Avoid drought stress and wide fluctuations in soil moisture by mulching or watering consistently. To avoid moisture stress apply enough water to wet all the soil in the root zone when the soil is dry several inches down, depending on the pot size.

What annuals bloom late in the season?

Good annuals for late summer flowering are zinnia, cosmos, cleome,salvia, sunflower, and morning glory.

My plants are so leggy, long, and spindly. What can I do?

Cut or pinch the soft tissue of the plant’s main stem, removing up to 50% of the overall plant’s height. Increase the light availability if inside the house. Fertilize the plant with an all-purpose fertilizer following the instructions for that particular fertilizer.

I have what look like little white flies covering the underneath leaves of my fuchsia. What are they?

As the description of the insect implies, they are known as white flies. From egg, larvae, pupae to adult, they reside on the underneath portion of the leaf. If a small infestation is present, even a quick manual wiping off will control the problem. Total removal of the leaf or leaves during the egg, larvae and pupae stage is the easiest. Yellow sticky strips attract and catch the adult. Use of the chemicals such as Trounce or Safers Soap as per label directions coupled with the above manual control may work. Many beneficial insects like lacewings and ladybugs feed on whiteflies. Care must be taken when applying pesticides so as not to inadvertently destroy good insects.

I have a fuchsia that has little berry-like structures forming on the tips where the flowers used to be.What are they?

The berry-like structures are the seed pods, which form after the flowers were pollinated. It would be best to remove the pods to send all the energy into more blooms. Pinching or cutting off can be easily done.

I planted my annuals yesterday during the day; today, they are like limp little noodles. What’s happening?

This may be transplant shock. Transplanting on a cool or overcast day, avoiding the hottest part of the day to do the actual planting would be less stressful on the young plants. Watering the plants thoroughly with a final soaking in with a high phosphorous fertilizer would cushion the roots protecting them from their new surroundings.

I woke up this morning to find white, droopy leaves on my petunias. What’s wrong?

Frost may have touched them; typically a papery, thin, white leaf structure is synonymous with frost damage. If the whole plant has toppled over it may be too late to revive. If it’s just the leaves it will regrow but protect the plant from future frost damage by using a frost blanket. This sort of damage may also be from too much heat or too little soil moisture; be sure to evaluate the situation. .

How do I prepare my soil for planting annuals?

In the spring, before planting, turn the soil of your beds to a depth of 6-12” (15-30 cm). Loosen heavy clay soil by adding peat moss and/or compost and zeolite. You can also add slow release fertilizer like Vigoro Pink (8-12-16). Rake bed smooth and you’re done!

How do I look after my plants before I plant them?

If you are unable to plant your bedding out plants the day you purchase them make sure to water them well and place in the shade. If frost is expected, keep indoors in a well-lit location and water as needed. The ideal planting time would be a cloudy evening but if you have to plant on a sunny day water immediately after planting. Also, be sure to use a rooting fertilizer like Plant-prod 10-52-10 or Plant Start 5-15-5.

How often should I water my hanging baskets?

There are a number of factors contributing to the rapid drying of hanging baskets – size of the pot, the exposure to wind, air, and sun, and the tendency of hanging plants to get root bound. Because of this, hot days can be a real problem; you may have to water 2-3 times per day. Normally simply water when the soil is dry to the touch. There are water-conserving soils available which can help reduce the amount of watering. The addition of zeolite can also help as it will lock in moisture. Both of these products only help the soil conserve moisture; on hot days you will still need to check the soil often.

When is the best time to water plants?

Ideally watering should be done in the early morning. This lets the plants soak up water thoroughly. Watering in the afternoon, especially during hot weather, can cause damage to the plant leaves. Water can sit in drops on the leaves, effectively acting like little magnifying glasses and burning the plant tissue. Watering late in the day allows the water to sit over night and can promote disease and/or fungus problems like powdery mildew.

What is the best date to plant my annuals?

In the Calgary area we have a notoriously unpredictable spring. Because of this we generally recommend that you plant your annuals on the first weekend of June. If you purchase them before this date please follow the above instrucions regarding keeping bedding out plants alive in their containers.

How much fertilizer should I use on my flowers and how often should I fertilize?

This depends on the type of fertilizer you are using. As a general rule liquid/water soluble fertilizer can be applied every 2-4 weeks. There are specific annual fertilizers available that encourage blooming. Look for a high middle number (15-30-15 or 10-52-10). You can also use Smartcote slow-release granular fertilizers designed for annuals and hanging baskets. Simply turn fertilizer into the soil when you plant. Other granulated fertilizers are available and can last up to 3 months, though occasional supplemental fertilizing with a water-soluble fertilizer is recommended.

What does deadheading mean and is it important?

Deadheading is the process of removing spent flower heads from the plant to encourage further blooming. The seeds would form where the dead flowers were if they were pollinated and the plant would focus most of its energy towards seed production instead of flowering. Removing dead flowers also helps reduce the risk of diseases such as Botrytis.

What would be the best annuals for cut-flower gardening?

The most popular flowers for cut-flower gardening are as follows: snapdragon, calendula, cosmos, gypsophila, sweet pea, zinnia, celosia, aster, sweet william, sunflower, and bachelor’s button. Cut the flowers early in the morning and immediately place in lukewarm water. Cut off all the leaves below the waterline to reduce bacterial and odour problems.

I heard on the news that we are going to have a frost and I have planted my annuals already. What can I do?

The best defense against frost on tender annuals is waiting to plant until either the May long weekend or the first weekend of June. However, we do live in Calgary and the weather can be quite unpredictable. Covering your annuals with blankets or frost protection products like Remay fabric will certainly help. Obviously, if it is in a container bring it indoors for the night. Take care not to use plastic coverings if you can help it. If it is unavoidable definitely keep the plastic from touching the leaves of the plant.