Ask the Gardner

[Iron Mike]

It is the beginning of Sept. and my pumpkins have turned orange. Does this mean they're done or will they still grow some? I was hoping to harvest them in about 6 weeks, but don't want them to rot on the vine either. This is soooo my last year for pumpkins.

I'm guessing you could find out here:

http://www.pumpkinnook.com/

[MJZiggy]

Hey, thanks! I had no idea you could store them that long.

[Little Whiskey]

I don't know the answer there MJ. I planted two apple trees last month. I water them on the schedule the instructions say to and there holding there own. Its been hot this past week and there lookin kinda puny. I hope they make it. This is also my first year planting and tending to a garden. Its been an experience to say the least. But I'm learing This is a cool thread though.

jeffro, i've got a buddy that has quite a large orchard. he has been farming apples since he was knee high to a grasshopper. if you have any specific questions about your apple trees let me know and i might be able to get you answers from an expert.

[MJZiggy]

Remember, if you're gonna do any planting, now is the best time for trees and shrubs and a great time for perennials as well. The garden centers also have their sales on now so you can get decent discounts before seasons end.

[Partial]

I am thinking about getting a plant to grow in my room. I was thinking citrus is thats possible. Any thoughts on this issue?

[Badgepack]

[MJZiggy]

That's a perennial, right?

[Scott Campbell]

It was 80 here earlier this week. Today it snowed briefly. But not cold enough to take out the vegetable garden - yet.

[MJZiggy]

I'm still hoping to get a few more things out of the garden. For some reason, I'm still getting cantaloupes and if we do get frost, there'll be lots of fried green tomatoes at my house.

Partial, if you want citrus, you have to make sure you have a good flourescent light source for it or you may run into problems in December. If you want something you can ignore a little bit there is a plant called a ZZ plant that I have and I water it maybe once a month and have it where it doesn't get a whole lot of light and the thing loves me for the neglect.

[Partial]

I'm still hoping to get a few more things out of the garden. For some reason, I'm still getting cantaloupes and if we do get frost, there'll be lots of fried green tomatoes at my house.

Partial, if you want citrus, you have to make sure you have a good flourescent light source for it or you may run into problems in December. If you want something you can ignore a little bit there is a plant called a ZZ plant that I have and I water it maybe once a month and have it where it doesn't get a whole lot of light and the thing loves me for the neglect.

is it possibly to grow citrus fruit in wisconsin indoors during the winter and outdoors during the summer?

[MJZiggy]

That would take grow lights, heaters, and more skill than what I possess.

[Partial]

That would take grow lights, heaters, and more skill than what I possess.

oh, skip that. How about a good smelling plant?

[MJZiggy]

You could try some herbs if you have a sunny window. Mint smells good and makes a nice tea, or you could try thyme, oregano or basil. Rosemary smells great, but I have never been able to keep it alive so couldn't tell you how to do it. Otherwise you can look to some of the indoor flowers...and I saw some ornamental peppers at the garden center today that looked pretty cool but they didn't have a scent that I noticed.

[MJZiggy]

Now that you have me thinking about this, you might try lavendar, calming kinda cool looking and your gf will likely love the smell. If you give it enough light it will bloom, but if it doesn't, the leaves smell great too.

[Green Bud Packer]

if you have a window with southern/western exposure you could grow a lemon tree indoors/outdoors in wi.i've seen it done.