It’s time for geraniums, marigolds and petunias to thrive
Near the end of May all the summer annuals such as geraniums, marigolds and petunias will thrive outdoors in the ground. Finally, all the real heat-loving plants such as tomatoes, basil and coleus can be hardened off and safely spend the night outdoors. Plant the seeds of beans, corn, cucumbers and squash if you have been patiently waiting for warm weather. Don’t forget that if you hill up the ground or plant in raised beds the soil warms sooner for earlier germination.
Q. My lettuce plants looked good when I planted them, but now I see that the lowest two leaves are brown. The rest of the lettuce leaves look healthy and green. Why is this happening? P.S. I did watch many of your YouTube videos and it says nothing about brown lower leaves on lettuce. G. Email
A. No worries, the lettuce is just trying to turn over a new leaf—literally. The first leaves that sprouted are those two on the very bottom of the plant, and once the top growth gets growing the new foliage replaces the old. When foliage turns brown you can pull it off as it is no longer making food for the plant and dead foliage attracts slugs and snails. Hope you are harvesting your lettuce leaves often as the more you pick the more you will get.
Q. Do I need to stake or use a tomato cage to grow tomatoes? I seem to remember my grandfather letting tomato plants sprawl all over the ground in his Spokane garden, but my husband insists I need a tomato cage. S.P., Buckley
A. No, tomatoes do not require staking to grow but some of the large sprawling varieties (they are called “indeterminate” types) will flop to the ground and the fruit and foliage can rot in our cool, moist climate. There are also compact (determinate) tomato plants and the dwarf patio tomato plants that can hold themselves upright with little help. For maximum tomato harvest, plant the sprawling, indeterminate varieties and use a sturdy staking system—often, a traditional tomato cage is not tall enough. You can put in four stakes around each plant and corral the stems with twine. More important than anything else in Western Washington is that you provide a sunny, hot spot for your tomatoes. Up against a hot South or West facing wall under the eaves to keep the leaves dry is best.
Q. Help! My lovely fuchsia basket is wilting and the blooms have fallen off. I do water every day and the soil is nice and moist. It is hanging in a very shaded area. Can this plant be saved? D.S., Tacoma
A. I am going to use the clue “I water every day” to solve the mystery of your wilted fuchsia. Hanging baskets need a lot of water but often early in the year they have not filled the pots with roots just yet and too much water can cause root rot. A wilted plant is sometimes the sign of too much water as the roots sit in constantly wet soil. Another clue is the deep shade. Plants grow more slowly and need less water in deep shade. Make sure the drainage hole is not blocked (poke a stick in and wiggle it around) then move the plant out where it can get warm morning sun for a couple of weeks. Cut back the fuchsia plants by one third if the leaves continue to wilt but do not add water until the soil feels dry two inches down. Do not fertilize a wilting plant. If you don’t see signs of new growth in 10 days then give your plants a death with dignity and bury them in the compost pile or yank the fuchsia plants out of the container and plant them into the ground. Fresh soil can be a fresh start for over watered plants.