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Star Jasmine Not Shining
Problem:
My Star Jasmine vine is about 12 years
old, but has made few new leaves the
past three years. More of the woody vine
is exposed than not. What is the
longevity of this vine? Should it be
replaced? If not old, do you think large
doses of ironite or some other acidic
plant food will cure it? Thanks for your
help.
Carol Stafford
Poteet
Solution:
Before you replace your star jasmine
vine, we recommend pruning it back
rather severely. New shoots should
develop from the base of the plant and,
hopefully, rejuvenate the plant. Also,
it would be wise to apply a good quality
organic fertilizer and perhaps some
compost or pine straw mulch over the
root zone of the plant. Be sure to keep
it well-watered during periods of low
rainfall. Moisture stress can cause the
kind of die-back that you describe and
may be a factor due to the drought we
experienced several years ago.
Protozoa, Please
Problem:
From time to time I like to go to back
issues to refresh my memory. The three
questions I have for you are: 1. Where
can I find fire ant killing protozoa? 2.
Where can I find the 444 tomato? 3. Can
I use the white material that is used to
protect tender plants in the winter to
cover tomatoes throughout the growing
season to keep the stink bugs out?
Audrey Jones
e-mail
Solution:
First of all, we don't think the fire
ant killing protozoa is available
commercially at this time. If you are
looking for an organic product to use on
fire ants, you may want to try one of
the products that contains spinosad.
Spinosad is an organic product formed
from a common bacteria found in nature
that, once ingested by the fire ant,
attacks the nervous system causing
paralysis and death. The 444 tomato
should be readily available across the
state and you should not have any
trouble finding it at a local nursery.
You probably won't have very good
results using the fiber row cover to
control stink bugs. The fabric needs to
be removed when the plants start
blooming because tomatoes are wind
pollinated. Stink bugs are usually not a
problem until after fruit has formed so
the grow web would not be very helpful
in controlling them. For more
information on controlling garden pests
see page 34 of this issue.
Tomatoes for Austin
Problem:
What varieties of tomatoes do you
recommend for growing in the Austin
area?
Stan Friedman
e-mail
Solution:
Several of our favorites are 'Big Beef'
(large fruit) and 'Juliet' (small
fruit). Also well adapted to your Austin
location are 'Celebrity,' 'Better Boy,'
'Bingo' and 'First Lady.'
Organic Thistle Control
Problem:
Is there an organic way to get rid of
thistle?
Mike Million
Richardson
Solution:
Yes, it's called the "hoe." Actually,
our suggestion is a little
tongue-in-cheek, but if you cut thistle
below the bottom leaf with a sharp hoe
it will not grow back.
Pomegranate Source
Problem:
Where can I buy pomegranates or cuttings
of 'Kazake,' 'Nikitski ranni,' 'Al-sirin-nar'
or 'Kara-bala-miursal' that were
mentioned in a recent article in
TEXAS GARDENER? I have tried our
local sources. I have had no results
with National Clonal Germplasm
Repository at the University of
California-Davis.
Mrs. Jack Betts
Flint
Solution:
The Repository at Davis has had so many
requests for pomegranate cuttings they
are limiting requests to nurseries and
commercial orchards. Good news, though:
Richard Ashton, who wrote the article on
pomegranates, has offered to provide
plants to TEXAS GARDENER readers
for a small charge - $3 for cuttings and
$8 for rooted plants, plus shipping. For
more information, contact Richard at
(325) 646-6857.
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