R.G.E FAQ?

[Dee Jay]

I've been lurking for a while now, but I was wondering if there was a faq for this news group and where I would find it. I'd like to avoid asking the redundant questions....much thanks....DJ

[Frogleg]

AFAIK, there is no FAQ for rge. For specific questions, you can always go to Google groups and wade through the wrangles. As for asking a FAQ, go right ahead. People do it all the time. No, you can't grow tomatoes in the shade. Yes, you can use last year's seeds. How many zucchini plants should you have for 2 people? One-half.

[Bill]

Soil problems: More compost. Under. Over. Throughout. Blossom End Rot: Add calcium. Even out the watering. Wait for it to go away. Pests: Encourage predators. Discourage habitat. Get used to them. Diseases: Compost tea. Discourage habitat. Get used to it. Squirrels: Cats Cats: Dogs Dogs: Mountain Lion Mountain Lion: Game Warden Game Warden: Ugly daughter Ugly black bugs on (insert name of plant here): Post picture online. Yellowing of leaves: too much this, not enough that, wierd disease, season end. Bragging: No known cure.

[Dee Jay]

Should I just add my compost directly to the soil at the base of the plant before watering? I've got a compost pile going, but I'm afraid to apply it incorrectly.

lol

Thanks, DJ

[Bill]

Don't be. So long as your compost is pretty much 'finished', apply away. The only caveat I can think of at the moment is to apply and maintain a thick layer, not even bothering with a thin one. If you can't put at least an inch or more over the whole garden, put two inches or more over the area you can.

In the fall, turn this mulch into the dirt with a fork, spade or tiller and apply a fresh mulching to cover the soil over the winter. In the spring, turn the fall mulch into the soil, plant and apply a fresh layer of compost as a mulch.

If this cycle is kept up continously, unless your soil is already perfect, your soil will be dramatically better in just a year or so. Dramatically.

But don't take my word for it. On a non-work night, go to

and use 'compost' as a search topic.

Bill

[simy1]

Indeed I got huge zucchini this year. Huge. you guys can't touch my zucchini. Here is my contribution.

Pressure wood as bed sides: go ahead and try it, we need to build a statistics. slugs: sluggo. pick them off at night with a flashlight. voles: predator urine. rabbits: fence underground. groundhogs-deer: live wire. mulch: as much as you can except for discourage habitat above. lettuce: spring. No guarantees in other seasons. spinach: fall. vine borer: slit vine, pick eggs. herbs: full sun. veggies in part shade: greens.

[SugarChile]

How about:

Caterpillars on dill, parsley: plant extra, they turn into swallowtails. Caterpillars on brocolli and cabbage: hand pick, use Bt with discrimanation. Bees: If you're not allergic, calm down and encourage them. Wasps: They eat a lot of larvae. Try and calm down. Giant green caterpillars on tomatoes: Handpick. If they have small white eggs on their backs, leave them alone. Weeds: Mulch

Cheers, Sue