THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 1995 TAG: 9509080088
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G2 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: GARDENING
SOURCE: ROBERT STIFFLER
LENGTH: Long : 123 lines
My daughter-in-law just gave me a Mandevilla ``Alice du Pont.'' I hope you can tell me how to care for it.
Arlene Arema, Onancock
Mandevilla is one of the finest summer vines. Keep it in its container and you can overwinter it in the house. If you plant it in the ground, it resents being moved and often won't transfer into the house. Its roots are much like that of a sweet potato. Give it full sun, because it is a native of Chile. Water weekly when rain doesn't do that for you. Put some Miracle Gro in the water, and the plant should give you plenty of blooms all summer. Place it on a trellis, a mailbox post or similar place where it can climb.
I would like advice on this list of fruit trees: Asian pear, Litchi fruit, mango, persimmon, guava, star fruit. Where I can buy them and how well do they grow in our area?
Arnold Ing, Norfolk
The Asian pear and persimmon do great here. Be sure to buy Oriental or Japanese persimmon, which are large and flavorful. Litchi, mango and star fruit are tropical and will not grow in this area. Guava will grow here, but you'll have little fruit, because pollination is a problem and our winters are not to its liking. Bill Adams in his book, ``Growing Fruits and Nuts in the South,'' writes: ``Someone always wants to grow papayas, mangoes, kiwis, dates, lemons, cherimoya, white sapote or some other fruit that is unlikely to survive in the South. Unless you have a conservatory at your disposal, forget it.''
Several local garden centers sell fruit trees; check those first. The best mail-order source is J.E. Miller Nurseries, 5060 West Lake Road, Canandaigua, N.Y. 14424. Its catalog is free.
My zucchini plants, which seem to be growing nicely, are not producing any squash. There are plenty of blooms on the plants but only on regular stems. No zucchini is growing behind the flower. This is the second year this has happened. I am using a 10-12-8 fertilizer and have planted marigolds in the garden to attract bees for cross-pollination. Other vegetables are doing well. Can you give me an answer so I won't have to go another year without home-grown zucchinis?
Janice M. Khorram, Norfolk
The blossoms of most zucchini hybrids are all female when plants first flower, explains Dr. Henry Munger, Cornell University specialist. Male flowers should appear within several weeks and will pollinate the females. Do all you can to attract bees, including not using any pesticides except at sundown. Squash does not set fruit when blossoms are not pollinated, normally by bees. Early in the season, when female blossoms are not pollinated, a deformed miniature squash forms. When this happens, pick the fruit immediately and compost it. Otherwise, it will drain energy from the plant.
Recently you referred to a previous column that was a preventative for black spot, using 1 tablespoon baking soda and 1 teaspoon Sunspray ultra-fine oil. Can you tell me what kind of oil this is? I've looked at cooking oils, garden products, even automotive and suntan oil.
Nancy Hunter, Norfolk
The spray formula you refer to comes from Cornell University, and it keeps getting changed by either them or other experts. The last version I read in Organic Gardening magazine calls for differing amounts, but let's stick with the original, as you described. Abner's Ace Hardware in Oceana and probably other independent hardware stores sell Sunspray oil. Sunspray is a brand name. Any horticultural oil, available in garden centers, can be substituted. Be sure to add a tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap to the solution to help it spread and stick to the leaves.
My problem is poison ivy. Each year, I carefully pull up poison ivy growing in my English ivy, and each year, the poison ivy returns. Is there a herbicide that is effective on poison ivy?
Stephen C. Durrant, Virginia Beach
I called Monsanto, manufacturers of Roundup, to check this reply. They tell me that Roundup, at the rate of 6 ounces to a gallon of water, will kill poison ivy but not your English ivy.
While on the phone with them, I asked about Virginia Creeper, which is a terrible problem around my place. They say to use Roundup at the same rate of 6 ounces per gallon and it will kill Virginia Creeper, which is a problem in many Hampton Roads gardens.
I have mushrooms that come up in my lawn when the weather gets hot. I think there is a rotten tree stump beneath the ground. What can I do to get rid of mushrooms?
N.G., Virginia Beach
Mushrooms almost always grow on organic matter in the soil. You say you believe there is an old stump under the area where they are growing, which means you're going to need to remove that stump to eliminate the mushrooms. Sometimes applying lime helps. You can try that. There is a new product called Hi Yield Consan 20 that is supposed to eliminate toadstools. It is available for $12 by calling (800) 323-2363.
For our upcoming anniversary, I would like to buy my wife, Denise, a comprehensive and illustrated gardening book targeted to this area. Denise's hard-earned results in our yard are impressive. I'd like a book that highlights decorative plants and flowers but also includes vegetables.
Barry G. Davis, Merry Hill, N.C.
I'm sorry my own book isn't yet available, because it is intended to provide the information you request. It is due out in October, but meanwhile, you probably need to buy two books about gardening in the South, covered in a recent review of new books in this section. My suggestions are ``The Southern Heirloom Garden,'' for flowers and ``Commonsense Vegetable Gardening for the South.'' Both are published by Taylor Publishing in Dallas. Any bookstore can order them. If you're interested in native plants, ``Gardening with Native Plants of the South'' is the best, and it too is published by Taylor.
I have experienced birds flying into a picture window, like some of your readers. The birds often killed themselves. Recently we had a cardinal flying back and forth from trees to window. We put up a strip of Mylar tape, hanging in front of the window. It had red on one side, silver on another, like you use on fruit trees. The wind blows the tape, and there now are no birds at the windows. We used the same Mylar last year on our fig bush, and it was the first time in five years I was able to make fig preserves.
Dorothy Miltier, Portsmouth
Thanks for a good suggestion. I'm ashamed I didn't think of that idea first and recommend it to readers. I've used Mylar strips on fruit trees and it does work, just as you say. MEMO: No gardening questions will be taken over the phone. Write to Robert
Stiffler, The Virginian-Pilot, 150 W. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, Va.
23510. Answers will be published on a space-available basis. For an
earlier reply, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Mandevilla is an excellent summer vine and can be brought inside for
winter.
by CNB