wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Comments

• [1] Liz from Brooklyn August 08, 2008 - 12:09PM

  what about lead in the soil? how can i get rid of it? can i plant vegetables directly in my garden? what do i do?

  
  
• [2] Karen from Chappaqua, NY August 08, 2008 - 12:10PM

  We have a very wet garden; Westchester wetlands; we grow our veggies in 12' X 4' raised boxes. The lettuces, cucumbers and tomatoes are doing fine, and the peppers have begun to come in, but our zucchini and yellow squash flowered, but did not produce vegetables. Is this possibly because of all the rain, and can we do anything to encourage production?

  
  
• [3] exlege from brooklyn August 08, 2008 - 12:11PM

  my wife and I are looking into sustainable farming in upsate new york. Please ask the guest to comment on the viability (economics) of small scale sustainable farming.

  
  
• [4] Bob Roistacher from Morningside Heights August 08, 2008 - 12:11PM

  We'd be pleased to tell your listeners that we have gardening plots available from the West 111th Street People's Garden, across from the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

  Our website is www.W111StGarden.org. (Be sure to put your contact information in the body of your message to us.)

  
  
• [5] Hugh from Crown Heights August 08, 2008 - 12:12PM

  How does city pollution affect organic growing in the city (runoff, airborne contaminants, heavy metals, etc.)?

  
  
• [6] Carol from Brooklyn August 08, 2008 - 12:14PM

  I have tried to grow mint several times. The plant (from the Greenmarket) keels over and dies within a few weeks of my putting it in the ground. It gets a couple of hours of sun in that spot. I water when needed. I remember in my mother's garden, the mint was so successful that it became a weed. What am I doing wrong?

  Mintless in the Slope

  
  
• [7] Sarah from Brooklyn August 08, 2008 - 12:19PM

  the UMass link Gerard mentioned for soil testing is at

  http://www.umass.edu/plsoils/soiltest/

  
  
• [8] chris from nyc August 08, 2008 - 12:23PM

  I bought some lovely fragrant basil at a local farmer's market but when I transplanted it, it lost all it's fragrance -- any suggestions? Thanks

  
  
• [9] Melissa Draugsvold from Rockaway Beach,NY August 08, 2008 - 12:23PM

  Hey, I am getting rot on the bottom of all my tomatoes! I read this is due to extreme water fluctuation...is there anything I can do to prevent the loss of fruit? Thanks,M

  
  
• [10] chris van dyke from washington heights August 08, 2008 - 12:23PM

  I have a small roof, and have a great herb garden. Two questions:

  1. I can grow every herb except for cilantro. After my first harvest, it grows back thin and weak, then goes to seed. How can I get it as lush and thick as my parsley/basil etc?

  2. What are some vegitables that grow well in boxes and planters?

  
  
• [11] Mary Gutmann from Morgantown, WV August 08, 2008 - 12:23PM

  I have mystery cucumbers on my porch. They are at least 18 inches long, thin, dark green and ribbed with little sharp spines that rub off. They are the best I have ever tasted and I don't know where they came from. They have only tiny seeds, how do I keep the seeds to replant?

  
  
• [12] Karen from Chappaqua, NY August 08, 2008 - 12:23PM

  MILDEW: Fellow Chappaqua resident, this is exactly what happened to my cukes and zukes last summer, when we were sprinkling. Why are you watering this summer? It's raining every damned day!

  
  
• [13] barry from Manhattan August 08, 2008 - 12:26PM

  Use a Drip System with a timer. Saves water easy to set up and you can target the roots, also it runs itself.

  
  
• [14] Karen from Chappaqua, NY August 08, 2008 - 12:27PM

  To Carol:

  Mint needs alot of water. Our mint died after we put a french drain in our front lawn, which was constantly flooded. Try planting your mint in a wetter environment, or water more often. Also -- watch out for imperialistic mint. The mint that we planted in our window boxes invaded and destroyed the oregano.

  
  
• [15] Karen from Chappaqua, NY August 08, 2008 - 12:28PM

  Another suggestion:

  Deer are not the only problem. You may need to run chicken wire around the bottom of your deer fence to keep out rabbits and raccoons. We have an 8 foot deer fence that has successfully protected our garden against deer, but the bunnies were invading until we put up the chicken wire.

  
  
• [16] chris van dyke from washington heights August 08, 2008 - 12:29PM

  Where are community gardens in northern manhattan? I live at 161st between b'way and amsterdam

  
  
• [17] Avery from Manhattan August 08, 2008 - 12:30PM

  Could you talk about indoor worm composting bins? I'd like to start one, but my teenager is concerned that we'll end up with a disgusting mess in our kitchen.

  
  
• [18] Julia from manhattan August 08, 2008 - 12:31PM

  What are the best things to grow in a small Manhattan apartment with decent sunlight?

  
  
• [19] cp from ny August 08, 2008 - 12:31PM

  I've had cucumber beetles all summer. They killed all my cucumber plants and spread disease to my zucchini and squash. I pick them off my plants for an hour every night. It's not enough - what do I do!?

  
  
• [20] Jennifier from Midtown August 08, 2008 - 12:34PM

  what was that comment about not feeding children under 6 leafy vegetables? i didn't quite hear and missed the reason why. (isn't organic ok?)

  
  
• [21] Adele Gallo from Syosset, ny August 08, 2008 - 12:36PM

  We have had a mock orange bush for about 8 years. We have waited and waited for blossoms, even cut back a nearby tree to assure adequate sun. Two years ago we got TWO blossoms! Last year THREE. This year FOUR.

  Is there hope for this bush? I am losing patience.

  Thanks a bunch.

  
  
• [22] Greg Brown August 08, 2008 - 12:38PM

  We live in a heavily wooded area in Putnam County with plenty of deer. We have been using a small strobe light and a portable radio tuned to WNYC aimed at the garden all night. I'm not sure which one the deer don't like more, but they have been staying well away from our garden.

  Greg,

  kent, NY