Q. I have basil growing in a window pot that I grew from seed. It has been healthy all summer until the last several weeks. It has tiny bugs (I guess) all over it, tan in color. They look like tiny grains of tan rice. I put the pot with the basil in the bathtub…
Squirrels Eating My Filberts
Q. About 4 years ago I planted 13 filbert trees in my yard. This year there looked to be a fair amount of nuts when I left for vacation in mid August. By the time I returned, squirrels had gotten every single nut. Is there some way of getting some nuts for myself? Something that…
Overwintering Pepper Plants
Q. Hi Peter, I had some great peppers this year (no brag, just fact)- jalapenos, serranos, poblanos, czech black, and Blushing Beauties. I really hated to till them under this fall. I understand peppers are perennials back in their own parts of the world. Is it possible to pot pepper plants at the end of…
Training Brambles
Q. In April, I planted new black raspberries (munger variety). They have grown to 8ft with only 2 vines per hill. Should I cut them back to 5ft (like I did the old red plants) or can I trellis them like loganberries. I’m looking for maximum yield. Gary Pedersen – Tacoma, WA A. Munger is…
Controlling Earwigs
Q. Dear Peter: I like to grow sweet corn in my backyard, and at harvest time I always find that earwigs have taken up residence in the leafy coverings of the ears. When picking the corn, in addition to live earwigs, I find many dark particles, which I presume, are earwig droppings. Are you aware…