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  1. OaklandCityFarmer

    Book Recommendation

    I received this book as a Christmas gift. Very informative!Well valued for the price too.
  2. OaklandCityFarmer

    Park Seed Company

    Yeah, I've really never been too happy with the few orders I have placed with Park in the past. Thanks for the update.
  3. OaklandCityFarmer

    fig cuttings

    I've had luck propagating fig through most of the year. Let's count that as a blessing. Usually try and do it early fall after the last round of figs have given and that's when I'm usually pruning the trees any way. Fortunately figs are relatively *easy* to propagate and you shouldn't have...
  4. OaklandCityFarmer

    Tomatoes-early late

    Typically yes, heat tolerant or resistant varieties will set fruit in hot weather. Also- in areas of low humidity (as well as high) some plants will drop fruit, I know Cherokee Purple, Box Car Willie and Brandywine, on your list, will fare rather well in either situation and are great varieties...
  5. OaklandCityFarmer

    rolly pollies

    For the most part pill bugs won't do too much harm. Enough of them could do some damage to the roots or base. If you're too worried about it, remove the mulch around the base and let them dry out a bit.
  6. OaklandCityFarmer

    Something in the stems of my zucchini plants

    All very good suggestions so far. I've used the radish around the base to help deter squash vine borers. I would use the cut away method as described above. Also, make sure you keep mulch away from the base. If the cut away method the BT (or BTK) would work using a syringe. A small piece...
  7. OaklandCityFarmer

    SO wilty! Do our vegetables need more water or something else?

    It sure has been hot lately! My first guess is it's just the heat. Root damage can cause the problem if something is digging around also squash vine borers can be the culprit. Look for wood shaving looking pieces near the base of the vine or dark spots this maybe a sign of vine borers.
  8. OaklandCityFarmer

    White aphids?

    They are probably white flies (probably Bemisia argentifolii). They can cause heavy damage by sucking sap out of tomato plants and they can also spread diseases (like wilts and mosaics). Insecticidal soap usually works well to control them. A good lady bug population will also help keep them...
  9. OaklandCityFarmer

    pumpkin surgery

    This may be a little too late but here goes anyway. Yes, I have heard of people using the cut and bury method you described. I assume you'd need to establish the root before cutting though. In the meantime you may be able to inject some Bt into the vine to try and get rid of the squash vine...
  10. OaklandCityFarmer

    what causes 'beaks' on sides of tomatoes?

    Pat- I do know that we have had some pretty strange looking tomatoes when the temps dip lower than around 50 degrees. We've had the 'beak' before on many different varieties so it's hard to say if there is one that is particularly susceptible. Since we only grow maybe 2 or 3 hybrid varieties...
  11. OaklandCityFarmer

    sling for melons

    I second the panty hose method suggested by punkin works great! Great job on growing melons!
  12. OaklandCityFarmer

    Contolling diamond back moth larva?

    Just as for most caterpillars a dose of Bacillus thuringiensis or Bt can usually help with some control. An application (it's usually sold under Foray or Dipel) every 10-14 days can help keep them at bay. It's completely organic and basically gives the buggers a nasty disease that eventually...
  13. OaklandCityFarmer

    When are choke cherries ripe?

    They get a dark red almost black color when they are ripe so it sounds like your are just about there. Squeeze a couple as long as they are slightly soft and not hard they should be ready. As far as harvesting, just pick? I don't know of any particular way of picking them. ;) Recipes. Sorry...
  14. OaklandCityFarmer

    Grape plants, wil they live?

    They should come back assuming that the basal stem did not die off completely, which I'm guessing it probably did not. Removing completely dead parts from the plant should help bring it back as well. I would recommend to you that you try and water at the base and not on the leaves since most...
  15. OaklandCityFarmer

    Growing Grapes

    It is possible. However grape seeds need a cold period before they will germinate. Putting them in your fridge for a few months will help. After that plant them and they should come up. Depending on the variety and other factors they may not be true to the fruit you ate but who knows...
  16. OaklandCityFarmer

    Italian Ice Tomatoes?

    Unfortunately no, Italian Ice does not produce viable seed from sets. One of those ways that Burpee and other seed co's like to stick it to us.
  17. OaklandCityFarmer

    FINALLY enough tomatoes for a meal!

    Well that's nice to hear Pat. Nothing like a meal of tomatoes! :P
  18. OaklandCityFarmer

    SQUIRRELS!

    Coyote urine might work a little better. The spray may give a slight taste to some produce but a good washing before eating and not spraying a few days before harvest might be okay. Basically take a bunch of peppers, a head of garlic, a whole onion and chop. (in somewhere well ventilated and...
  19. OaklandCityFarmer

    SQUIRRELS!

    *Sometimes* pepper/garlic/onion sprays can work pretty well against most munching pests. You might want to try and put out some peanuts or other nuts or seeds to try and ward them off? The trap and dispatch elsewhere method works pretty well. Coyote or fox urine (that is commercially...
  20. OaklandCityFarmer

    Bee experts? What kind of bees are these?

    I really can't make an educated guess as to the species of bee the first one is. I can't remember that many details from my Entomology studies (I was more interested in butterflies and moths). The second however, is definitely a species of hover fly (or drone fly). I'm guessing Eristaline sp...
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