Mesh netting thwarts birds from getting fruit

Here are questions I encountered this past week.

Q: How can I keep the birds from eating my peaches and grapes?

A: Purchase fine mesh bird netting. Small birds can get through most netting. Go online to purchase it. The covering must be large enough to enclose the entire tree and gathered together at the base so the birds can't get in to the fruit. Hold off covering the grapes until birds begin their attack. This way, new vine growth won't be able to grow through the netting, making it difficult to remove and harvest the grape clusters.

Q: How can I get rid of cockroaches in my compost pile? I turn the pile and water it every day. I am adverse to chemicals.

A: Here's when cockroaches are beneficial! They are helping in the composting process. They have no desire to enter your home and if they do, it's only for a short time.

You are watering your compost pile too much. The excess moisture excludes the essential air for composting to work. Reach in the pile to see if it is moist; if so, check later.

Q: Can we plant gourds now?

A: Yes, plant them before July. They're fun to grow. For best results, work lots of organic matter into the soil prior to planting. You can grow these on trellises if you have a small lot.

Q: What are the hard brown spots on the bottom of my green tomatoes?

A: It's a disease called blossom end rot. It's brought on by a calcium deficiency, but it's in our soils. It takes water to free up the calcium and if plants become stressed for moisture, the rot shows up. Blossom end rot usually happens during the initial stages of blossom set and then goes away.

Q: Why haven't my tomatoes set much fruit?

A: It's been very cool. Temperatures below 60 degrees cause flowers to drop. You'll see more fruit setting on now, but when temperatures exceed 90 degrees, blossoms will drop again.

Q: Will my tomato cages hold up my crop of Armenian cucumbers?

A: You bet. You'll be able to see the cucumbers better and harvest them at the right stage of maturity, or about a foot long. Letting them get larger causes them to stop producing, because then they want to become seed producers.

Q: Can we grow dwarf citrus trees in whiskey barrels?

A: Yes, they will last many years, but provide drainage holes prior to planting. Cover the holes with mesh to keep the soil from washing out and to discourage pest entrance.

Use a prepared soil mix supplied by your nursery to plant your trees.

With rapid drainage, you'll need to water more often. Water the trees until it comes out the drainage holes. Keep the soil moist so stave joints remain tight, to prevent water from leaking out the sides.

Since you'll water more, you'll need to fertilize more, because nutrients wash away quickly. Nurseries sell a fertilizer formulated for citrus containing many of the micronutrients these trees need.

Q: How often do I water cactuses?

A: Like all plants, they're opportunists; if water is available, they'll consume it. That's why drainage is so important or root rot sets in. During the first year, water more to establish a new root system and then you can water less often.

Padded cactuses and saguaro types tell you when to water them. Study their pads and ribs. If you see exposed veins and ribs close together, water more.

Q: Is coral plant invasive? I don't want it popping up everywhere.

A: It does self-sow, but I don't consider it invasive.

Linn Mills writes a garden column each Sunday. You can reach him at linn.mills@ springspreserve.org or call him at 822-7754.