THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 15, 1996 TAG: 9609130078
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G3 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: GARDENING
SOURCE: ROBERT STIFFLER
LENGTH: 111 lines
In a recent column, you recommended Bravo, Dithane or Manzate for tomato wilt, so I tried to get any one of them at seed stores. They did not have them but said liquid copper fungicide at 2 tablespoons per gallon of water would be as good. Four days after spraying, I noticed all the yellow blooms that were on my tomatoes were dead and dried up. Is the spray the cause of that? Should I keep on spraying or what should I do?
Jayhue Armstrong, Manteo, N.C.
There are so many different tomato wilts that it is difficult to provide an answer. If you have Southern wilt, which is in the soil, rotating your tomatoes and keeping them out of the old area for four years, is the only solution. The recommendations you quote were for foliage wilts that are not spread through the soil.
The copper could have caused your blooms to dry up and drop off, especially if you sprayed during the heat of the day. We also have had some hot nights, which could cause the problem. Beach extension agent Randy Jackson also warns that copper sprays are hard to find, and yours probably had been sitting around in a bag for several years. When in bags, chemicals can change composition. That could be another cause for your problem.
I never spray tomatoes, because I think the results are not worth the effort. If you do spray, do it only in early morning or evening.
I have a very lovely yellow rambler rose being destroyed by squirrels. As soon as a bud appears, they nip it off. What can I do?
Harriet S. Dunn, Virginia Beach
Squirrels will destroy apples, peaches, tomatoes, sweet corn - and roses. Suggestions from others who have the same problem is to get a squirrel feeder and put it far away from your roses. The other method is to buy a package of Squirrel Away, a hot-pepper compound, and sprinkle it on your rose buds. That should keep them away. Squirrel feeders and Squirrel Away can be found wherever bird supplies are sold. If you spray, you could put Louisiana hot sauce in the rose spray, which should accomplish the same results.
Your reply to Lillian Walker on June 23 brings up questions about a well. I live on Bay Island. Where can I find information on the amount of salt plants can tolerate and where can water samples be tested? If the water doesn't taste salty, is it OK?
Roy Newton, Virginia Beach
Even if the water does not taste salty, it is not OK. It may not taste salty, but it could be too much for plants, said Virginia Beach extension agent Randy Jackson. He suggests you call the Virginia Dare Soil & Water Conservation District at 427-4775. They will test your water for a fee. It's good for gardeners to know that ``salt'' for plants means ``minerals,'' all the minerals in the water. Often there are too much or too many minerals in water for plants like azaleas and camellias. The Water Conservation District and Jackson can provide the help you need.
Do you know a source for Belt A1 plants for Seashore conditions, such as American beachgrass, beach wormwood, etc.? Also possibly Belt 1B - Coastal Sound Bluff Ecosystem and in particular, Black Plum and Rugosa plants. These are for our cottage on Cape Cod. We used to be a distance from the ocean, but a storm caused a rift in our barrier island and now the ocean is practically at our front door. We put in a rock revetment and there is a strip of land (sand with a thin coat of topsoil) between the cottage and the ocean. We and the neighbors limed and seeded it. I have daylilies planted at a higher elevation and plan to put in Euphorbia cyparissias, which seems to do well all over the area. Any help will be appreciated.
Pat McDonnell, Worcester, Pa.
Virginia Tech experts say to look for Pennsylvania wax myrtle, which is tougher than what we grow here. It should grow at Cape Cod. Sources for beach plants include: Atlantic Nursery, 250 Atlantic Ave., Freeport, N.Y. 11520; Curries Nursery, 909 S. Staples, Corpus Christi, Texas 78404; East Marsh Nursery, 7100 Hillsborough Canal Road, Pompano Beach, Fla. 33067; Eastern Shore Nurseries, Box l743, Route 331, Easton, Md. 21601; Allen C. Haskell, 787 Shawmut Ave., New Bedford, Mass. 02746. Also try Pine Barrens Press, 7 Wynnewood Drive, Cranbury, N.J. 08512. They have a seashore plant directory that might list sources for plants.
I live on Crystal Lake and have a low area on the property that floods about 10 times a year. Loblolly (Pinus Taeda), Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus Virginiana) and White Poplar (Populus Alba) prosper in this area, within 5 feet of the water. I have been unable to get a Weeping Willow (Salix Babalonica) to live, after three tries; or a Bald Cypress (Taxodium Distichum), after two tries. The last of these is barely alive. Have you any suggestions?
D. Robert Trundle,
Virginia Beach
Virginia Tech's Dan Milbocker says to make a raised bed above the flood line, plant a willow or bald cypress in that bed, and either will live. He says they will adapt to their wet feet, if on a raised bed, and should thrive.
I want to thank all the good people who sent me seeds. I got 17 letters full of all kinds of flower and vegetable seed. God bless you all.
Irene Small, Hertford, N.C.
Irene is a not-so-young gardener who requested any extra seeds be sent her last spring. As usual, gardeners who read this newspaper always come through with generosity.
My maple tree, nearly 45 years old, is giving me trouble. The tree has leaves and seeds that are falling down. Leaves only go out so far on the limbs, with nothing on the outer parts of the limbs. I will appreciate your opinion.
Edward Bagwell, Norfolk
It appears your tree is dying, limb by limb. Before giving up, call a professional arborist and ask their opinion. You'll need to pay for their services, but it might mean saving your tree.
Can you identify a tree/bush on my property? It grows more like a bush. For the first time since I moved into this property three years ago, it bloomed in the spring. We recently planted two pears and one self-pollinating apple tree nearby. Enclosed is a leaf. Can you help?
Brenda Overton, Portsmouth
Virginia Tech's identification expert say they'd need a sample of the bloom and need to know what color the blooms were. From the leaves, it could be a Rose-of-Sharon, black cherry or a beach cherry. The last named is the strongest probability. 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. by CNB