Mid-American Gardener: Basil and Mint, Bay Leaf plant and very different types of tomatoes

HELLO TO ALL OF YOU GARDENERS.  WE ARE REALLY GLAD THAT YOU HAVE JOINED US.
WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT DON’T HAVE TO DEAL WITH SNOW, ICE, OR REALLY COLD WEATHER.
WELCOME TO MID-AMERICAN GARDENER.
I AM DIANNE NOLAND, AND I AM THE HOST.  I TEACH FLORAL DESIGN AND LIKE TO TALK ABOUT PERENNIALS AND THEIR USE IN THE LANDSCAPE AS WELL.
LET’S FIND OUT WHO IS HERE AND HOW INTELLIGENT THEY ARE.
YOU CAN DIRECT—WELL, THEY WILL NOT TELL YOU, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THEY ARE INTELLIGENT BE AND YOU CAN DIRECT YOUR QUESTIONS TOWARDS THEIR EXPERTISE.
LET’S START FIRST WITH YOU, CHUCK VOIGT.
>>I AM CHUCK VOIGT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CROP SCIENCES AT UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
MY SPECIALTIES ARE VEGETABLES AND HERBS.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATED.
I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP TO A QUESTION THAT WE DEALT WITH LAST TIME.
A FELLOW THOUGHT HE HAD A PROBLEM WITH SELF-SOWING PURPLE BASIL.
WE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION IT WASN’T BASIL, BUT PERILLA, ANOTHER HERB IN THE SAME MINT FAMILY.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURE WE ARE SHOWING, THE ONE ON THE LEFT, AS YOU LOOK AT IT, THE SHINIER ONE IS PURPLE BASIL.
ONE THAT IS DULLER WITH MORE VEIN TRACKS IS PERILLA.
THEY BOTH HAVE SQUARE STEMS, AND YOU CAN KIND OF SEE WHERE IT WOULD GET CONFUSING.
IN ACTUALITY, IT LOOKS MORE LIKE COLEUS THAN PURPLE BASIL.
IT IS USED A LOT IN ASIAN COOKING, PARTICULARLY SOUTHEAST, AND CHINESE, THEY WRAP IT IN SOCHINI, MY FRIEND DEL TUCKER HAS DONE THE BIOCHEMISTRY ON IT.
YOU PROBABLY DON’T WANT TO EAT A LOT OF IT, BUT AS AN HERB, FLAVORING IT IS NOT SUCH A BAD THING.
IT COULD BE TOXIC TO LIVESTOCK IF THEY GRAZE ON IT.
IT IS A PERNICIOUS WEED.
SO IF YOU ARE GOING TO GROW IT, KEEP IT CUT BACK SO IT DOESN’T FLOWER AND DROP SEEDS ALL OVER THE PLACE BECAUSE THEY ARE REALLY HARD TO CONTROL ONCE THEY GET GOING.
>>SO IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING SELF-SOWING IT IS NOT PURPLE BASIL.
>>NO, MORE THAN ONE OR TWO SEEDLINGS THAT MIGHT SHOW UP, PROBABLY NOT PURPLE BASIL.
>>THAT WAS GREAT WE COULD FOLLOW UP AND SHOW ACTUAL PICTURES TO SOME OF THE VIEWERS.
I LIKE THE COMMENT ABOUT PERILLA LOOKING LIKE A COLEUS.
I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT.
>>THEY HAD THE WHOLE THING WHERE THEY CAME OUT WITH MAGILLA PERILLA.
THERE WAS A BIG ARGUMENT WHETHER IT WAS PERILLA OR COLEUS.
PEOPLE WHO PUT IT OUT ARE ADAMANT IT IS A PERILLA.
EVERYBODY ELSE IS PRETTY SURE IT IS A COLEUS.
LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
>>THERE IS SOME DISCUSSION IN THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD AS WELL.
OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING UP ON THAT FOR US, CHUCK.
NOW, LET’S GO TO YOU NEXT, HI.
THIS IS KAY CARNES.
>>I AM KAY CARNES, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY MASTER GARDENER.
MY SPECIALTIES ARE ALSO VEGETABLES AND HERBS AND SEED SAVING AND PARTICULARLY HEIRLOOM VEGETABLES.
I BROUGHT A BAY TREE TONIGHT.
THIS IS PRETTY COMMON HERB, AND I THINK PROBABLY MOST PEOPLE HAVE USED IT.
I KNOW DIANNE WAS TALKING EARLIER ABOUT PUTTING IT IN SPAGHETTI SAUCE.
LEAVES, YOU CAN PICK THE LEAVES OFF AND FLAVOR SAUCES AND STEWS AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS WITH THAT.
IT IS A TREE, AND IN POTS
IT WILL GET PROBABLY FIVE FEET OR EVEN MORE.
THIS IS A VERY YOUNG ONE.
YOU CAN PROPAGATE THEM BY STEM CUTTINGS, UPPER FOUR INCHES OR SO.
WHEN YOU DO CUT THE TOP OFF, THEN THAT FORCES THE SIDE LEAVES TO BRANCH, AND YOU GET MORE HERBS.
IT DOES VERY WELL IN POTS.
IT IS NOT HARDY OUTSIDE, SO THAT’S WHY I HAVE SOMETHING GREEN IN MY HOUSE.
IT DOES TEND TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SCALE, AND BOB CAN PROBABLY TALK MORE ABOUT SCALE THAN I CAN.
>>DOES IT WEIGH A LOT?
>> (LAUGHING).
>>SCALE INSECTS, I KNOW!
(LAUGHING).
>>ALSO, IF YOU HAVE NEVER HAD THE LEAVES FRESH, IT IS A MUCH MORE COMPLEX, WHOLE DIFFERENT—YOU GET VANILLA AND CITRUS AND FLORAL, ALL OF THAT KIND OF GOES IN THE AIR AND VOLATILIZES.  YOUR LUCK WITH THE SAVORY, AS EVERYBODY KNOWS A BAY LEAF, IF YOU NEVER EXPERIENCED IT FRESH, HAVING A PLANT IS THE BEST WAY TO DO IT.
>>THAT’S THE MOST WITH A LOT OF TYPES.
>>HOW TALL DOES THE BAY GET, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS GREENHOUSE?
>> OH, IT GETS 14 FEET UP TO THE TOP OF THE GREENHOUSE, AND WE WHACK IT BACK.
>>IT DOES NOT FREEZE.
THIS IS NOT A COLD, HARDY PLANT.
>>THEY ARE HARDY IN ZONE 8 TO 10.
>>OVERWINTERS BETTER THAN A LOT OF THE TENDER PERENNIALS.
>>YEAH, IT DOES.
WE LIVED IN NEW ZEALAND AND HAD A LEMON TREE, WALK OUT OF THE FRONT AND GET LEMONS FOR TEA, AND FRESH BAY LEAFS.
>>THAT’S REALLY NICE.
WE HAVE THE LUXURY OF BEING ABLE TO BRING IT IN THE MID-AMERICA AREA.
DO BRING IT.
ROSEMARY IS A LITTLE PICKIER.
>>ROSEMARY IS TOUGH.
>>THANK YOU FOR BRINGING GREEN THINGS.
>>I WAS DESPERATE!
(LAUGHING).
>>APPRECIATE IT.
I AM LOOKING NEXT TO ME HERE, THIS IS DR. BOB SKIRVIN.
TELL US WHO YOU ARE FIRST.
>>MY NAME IS BOB SKIRVIN.  I TEACH HORTICULTURE AT UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
AND I ACTUALLY RETIRED FOUR, FIVE YEARS AGO.
BUT I STILL TEACH THERE.
MY SPECIALTY IS FRUIT CROPS.
BUT TONIGHT I WANTED TO BRING SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
I GOT SOMETHING I WANT TO SHOW YOU.
I ASSUME EVERYBODY KNOWS TOMATOES ARE AWFUL AT THE GROCERY STORE.
THEY ARE RUBBER PRETTY MUCH.
THEY ARE GETTING BETTER.  THEY ARE WORKING ON IT.
THIS YEAR I WISH I SAVED A LOT MORE TOMATOES THAN I DID.
BUT IN THE STORES, AND I WON’T SAY WHO IT IS.
I WON’T SAY SAM’S CLUB AND ALDI’S, ONLY PLACE I SEE THESE THINGS FOR SALE.
>>GOOD YOU DIDN’T SAY IT!
>>I DON’T WANT TO PUT ANYBODY—ANYWAY, THEY CALL THEM CUMATO IS S.
THEY ARE HOMELY LOOKING THINGS.
I HAVE SEEN THEM FOR TWO YEARS IN THE STORE, AND I AVOIDED THEM.
I FINALLY COUPLE WEEKS AGO, I BOUGHT SOME.
WELL, LET’S SEE WHAT THEY ARE.
THEY ARE ACTUALLY VERY GOOD, HELD UP VERY WELL.
SWEETER THAN SUMMER TOMATO.
BUT THEY ARE UGLY INSIDE.  BUT THEY ARE VERY, VERY TASTY.
>>OH, THAT IS INTERESTING.
>>KAY WAS SAYING THEY CALL THEM BLACK TOMATOES.
A COMMERCIAL TYPE, AND THEY ARE REALLY GOOD.
HERE.
>>GIVE ME ONE THAT IS ENOUGH FOR—I MIGHT BORROW THIS KNIFE!
(LAUGHING).
>>THEY ARE REALLY GOOD.
REALLY ADVISING HOW GOOD THEY ARE.
NICE TEXTURE.
HELD UP REAL WELL IN THE HOUSE.
>>UMMMM.
IT IS A LITTLE SWEETER.
LOOKS LIKE A BLACK CRIM OR BLACK RUSSIAN.
>>I AM A FRUIT PERSON.
NOT A TOMATO PERSON.
THESE ARE REALLY QUITE NICE.
YOU CAN BUY THEM FOR WINTER TOMATOES.
I AM REALLY IMPRESSED.
THEY ARE REALLY GOOD.
>>I MADE A MESS ON THE TABLE.
I AM FINE!
THANK YOU, BOB, FOR BRINGING THAT IN.
WE REALLY WANT INDOOR.  WE WANT SOMETHING GREEN, HOWEVER WE CAN GET IT.
WELL, WE WANT TO GO NEXT TO A VIDEO E-MAIL SENT IN FROM A VIEWER.
LET’S DO THAT NOW.
>>
>>I THINK IT WENT REALLY FAST!
(LAUGHING) THAT WAS REALLY.
WE WILL RECUE IT AND TRY IT AGAIN.
WE COULD MAYBE DO A REALLY FAST ANSWER.
BUT I THINK WE WILL GET THIS RECUED.
I AM NOT SURE HOW SOON.
SHOULD I GO ON?
I GUESS I CAN GO ON TO A PHONE CALL, AND WE WILL RECUE IT.
LET’S GO TO THE FIRST LINE, LINE ONE ABOUT TOMATOES, ABOUT—HEY, TOMATOES.
>>
>>CALLER: HI THERE.
HOW ARE YOU TODAY?
>> DOING GREAT.
>>CALLER: THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY CALL.
>>YOU ARE WELCOME.
>>CALLER: I AM TRYING TO THINK POSITIVE THAT IT WILL BE WARM ENOUGH TO HAVE TOMATOES AGAIN.
I HAVE ALWAYS HEARD YOU SAY YOU DON’T WANT TO PLANT TOMATOES IN THE SAME PLACE EVERY YEAR.
HOW FAR AWAY DO YOU NEED TO MOVE THEM FROM WHERE YOU PREVIOUSLY PLANTED?
ARE YOU TALKING ONE OR TWO FEET OR ARE YOU TALKING 15 OR 20 FEET?
>> EXCELLENT QUESTION.
AND ALL OF THESE FOLKS OR ANY OF THESE FOLKS COULD PROBABLY ANSWER.
>>DEPENDS HOW MUCH SPACE YOU HAVE TO DO IT.
A FEW FEET WOULD BE BETTER THAN NOT AT ALL.
15 FEET WOULD BE BETTER THAN THREE.
DEPENDS HOW SCRUPULOUS YOU ARE ON CLEANING VINES OUT OF THERE, THAT WILL HELP A LITTLE.
BUT AS FAR AS YOU CAN PRACTICALLY MOVE THEM WOULD BE THE BEST.
THERE IS NOTHING HARD AND FAST ABOUT HOW FAR IT NEEDS TO BE.
IF YOU ONLY HAVE A 15-FOOT GARDEN, THEN FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER IS ABOUT AS FAR AS YOU CAN MOVE THEM.
>>AND DIAGONALLY IN THE THIRD AND FOURTH YEARS.
>>GO TO THE CORNERS.
>>I ROTATE MY GARDEN SO THEY GO ABOUT THREE FEET AWAY, BUT I DON’T HAVE THE SAME VARIETY.
EVERYTHING ROTATES AROUND MY GARDEN.
YOU HAVE MORE ACREAGE THAN THE AVERAGE VIEWER.
>>WELL, YES, I DO HAVE A BIG GARDEN, AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD—I AM CARRYING SEEDS IN MY PURSE RIGHT NOW, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING MORE SEEDS!
(LAUGHING) THAT WAS A GOOD QUESTION.
THANK YOU, SHIRLEY, ABOUT TOMATOES.
LET’S GO BACK AND CUE UP OUR VIDEO E-MAIL NOW.
>>HELLO, MID-AMERICAN GARDENER.  I HAVE KIND OF A DOUBLE QUESTION HERE FOR YOU.
AS YOU CAN SEE, MY EVERGREEN IS PRETTY MUCH OUT OF IT.
MY QUESTION IS SHOULD I WAIT UNTIL SPRING AND ALL THE SNOW TO MELT TO PULL THIS OUT?
WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST REPLACEMENT AT THIS POSITION?
IT FACES EAST, SO IT HAS A LOT OF SUN FOR AT LEAST HALF THE DAY.
THANK YOU.
>>GOOD.
WE KNOW IT FACES EAST, AND WE KNOW THAT PLANT IS DEAD.
>> LET’S ANSWER THE FIRST QUESTION.
>>GO FOR IT.
>>WAIT UNTIL IT THAWS OUT BECAUSE IT WILL RESIST LIKE CRAZY IF YOU TRY TO PULL IT OUT OF THE FROZEN GROUND NOW IN THE SNOW.
YOU COULD CONCEIVABLY SAW IT OFF AT GROUND LEVEL IF YOU CAN GET DOWN IN THE SNOW TO DO THAT.
BUT I WOULD SAY WAIT UNTIL MARCH OR WHENEVER THE FROST HAPPENS TO GO OUT.
>>NOW, ANY SUGGESTIONS ANYBODY FOR PLANTS TO GO IN THERE?
>>I THOUGHT OF MAYBE LIKE OAK LEAF HYDRANGEA.
THEY DON’T COLOR UP QUITE AS WELL IN THE FALL IF THEY ARE NOT IN FULL SUN, BUT THEY DO TOLERATE SOME SHADE PRETTY WELL, HAS KIND OF AN INTERESTING LEAF FORM, HAS NICE FLOWER CLUSTERS.
THAT MIGHT BE A POSSIBILITY.
PROBABLY GET, FOUR OR FIVE, MAYBE SIX FEET TALL.
>>IT COULD TAKE THAT HEIGHT IT LOOKS LIKE IT.
KAY, DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA?
>>TWO THINGS I THOUGHT OF, HARDY HIBISCUS, AND THE OTHER THING WOULD BE DAY LILIES.
YOU COULD THROW SOME ANNUALS IN FOR COLOR WHEN THEY ARE NOT BLOOMING OR JUST COLEUS WITH COLORFUL FOLIAGE.
>>NO PERILLA.
>>NO, PERILLA.
>>IT IS A WEED. IT IS A WEED!
(LAUGHING).
>>DID YOU HAVE ANY, BOB?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> SOME OF THE CURRENTS, RED CURRENTS AND BLACK CURRENTS WOULD DO WELL THERE.
THEY ARE QUITE ATTRACTIVE SHRUBS.  YOU COULD PUT GOOSE BERRIES, BUT THEY HAVE THORNS AND MIGHT GET CHILDREN.
THAT’S A POSSIBILITY.
>>I THOUGHT ABOUT ON THE EAST SIDE OF MY HOUSE, I ACTUALLY HAVE SOME SMALLER SHRUB ROSES.
I HAVE SOME OPEN MORE OF THE SINGLE ONES.
I HAD ONE CALLED CHUCKLES.
SOME OF THE SHRUB ROSES, FOTHERGELLA, NICE WHITE BOTTLE BRUSH LOOKING FLOWER.
IT SHOULDN’T BE TOO TALL, MAYBE FOUR FEET OR SO, BEAUTIFUL ORANGE FALL COLOR.
ALMOST LOOKS LIKE A VIBURNUM.
LOOKS REALLY PRETTY.
IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH SPACE, TRY ALL THESE SUGGESTIONS.
MIGHT WANT TO DO SOME REPETITION.
>>MIXED.
>>THAT’S WHAT WE LIKE TO SAY WHEN WE CAN’T DECIDE.
MIXED BORDER.
TOM HAS A QUESTION FOR US ON LINE TWO, IS THAT RIGHT, APPLES?
LINE TWO.
>>CALLER: YES.
>> WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION?
>>CALLER: MY QUESTION IS I HAVE BEEN GROWING RED DELICIOUS GIANT APPLES.
I HAVE BEEN GIVING THEM TO A FEW DIFFERENT FRIENDS.
I DIDN’T KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY KIND OF RECORD OR ANYTHING SET UP.  MY LARGEST APPLE THAT I GOT WAS SEVEN AND A QUARTER POUNDS.
>>THAT’S A BIG APPLE!
(LAUGHING).
>>WOW!
>>DON’T STAND UNDER THE TREE!
(LAUGHING).
>>I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY.
I AM SURE—THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT DO THAT.
I WAS IN MY CLASS, SOMEBODY WAS ASKING ABOUT CARROTS.
THE WORLD’S LARGEST CARROT IS 5.6 POUNDS OR 7.6 POUNDS.
I AM SURE THERE ARE IDIOTS OUT IN THE WORLD THAT KEEP TRACK OF ALL THAT STUFF.
>>YOU MEAN STATISTICIANS.
>> IT IS FUN TO GO TO THE INTERNET AND SEE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE KEEP TRACK OF.
I DO THINGS THAT IS CRAZY.
>>HE IS GOING TO REPORT NOW THAT THE LARGEST APPLE HE KNOWS IS SEVEN AND A QUARTER POUNDS.
>>THAT’S A BIG APPLE SPEAKING OF WHICH, I HAD THIS QUESTION, THE QUESTION HERE.  YOU.
>>YOU CAN HOLD IT.
YOU CAN HANG ONTO IT BECAUSE WE WILL ANSWER TOM AND ONE MORE TOM, STAY TUNED THERE WILL BE ANOTHER APPLE QUESTION.
>>A QUESTION ABOUT BIG APPLES I WAS GOING TO ANSWER.
>> IT WILL BE A LOVELY SEGWAY HERE.
THANK YOU, TOM.
THAT’S REALLY—
>>THANKS FOR TELLING US THAT.
VERY INTERESTING.
OKAY, LET’S GO ON TO LINE THREE, AND KATHY HAS A QUESTION, IS THAT RIGHT, LEMONS?
>>CALLER: LEMONS, GOES REALLY WELL WITH APPLES!
(LAUGHING).
>>VERY GOOD.
>>CALLER: MY GRANDDAUGHTER WANTED TO GROW LEMON SEED.
I DID IT THE WAY YOU DO WITH THE BEAN, YOU PUT IT IN PAPER TOWEL WITH WATER IN IT, A BAGGY.
IT IS STARTING TO SPROUT.
I AM NOT QUITE SURE WHAT I DO WITH IT NOW.
I DON’T PLAN ON KEEPING IT AND MAKING IT A HUGE LEMON TREE.
BUT I’D LIKE TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT SUCCESSFUL FOR HER.
CAN YOU GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT OF ADVICE ABOUT THAT?
>> WHAT I WOULD DO IS SEE KAY’S LITTLE TREE RIGHT HERE, PUT IT IN A POT LIKE THAT, PROBABLY COULD START IN SMALLER POT AT FIRST.
ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN YOU TRANSPLANT FRUIT TREES OR CUTTINGS, OR ANYTHING, IF YOU PUT IN A BIG POT RIGHT AWAY, THE LITTLE PLANTS DON’T HAVE ROOT SYSTEM TO GET RID OF THE MOISTURE.
IT STAYS WET TOO LONG AND ROOTS START ROTTING.
YOU START WITH SMALLER POT, AS IT GETS BIGGER, MOVE INTO A BIGGER POT AND BIGGER POT.
YOU CAN EASY MAINTAIN, NICE LITTLE LEMON TREE IN A POT LIKE THIS.
IS THIS THREE.
>>NO, SIX OR SEVEN.
THE LEMON TREE, AS LONG AS YOU PUT BY THE PATIO WINDOW, THEY WILL ACTUALLY DO QUITE NICELY IN THE HOUSE.
WHEN THEY ARE IN BLOOM, THE SMELL IS WONDERFUL.
ORANGES OR LEMON IS REALLY LOVELY.
I DON’T KNOW IF I HAVE SEEN LEMON TREES, BUT ORANGE TREES HAVE LITTLE BITTY ORANGE WILL COME ON.
>>CALLER: DO YOU HAVE TO USE LEMON, ROOTING POWDER?
>> NO, NOT WITH SEEDLING.
NO, THE SEEDLING.
>>YOU ARE READY.
>>VERY GENTLY PICK IT UP AND PUT IT IN THE SOIL WITH THE ROOT DOWN, AND DON’T PACK IT LIKE, PUT IN GENTLY WITH YOUR FINGERS PACK THE SOIL AROUND THE ROOT, AND IT WILL TAKE OFF AND IT SHOULD GROW.
YOU COULD ALSO, YOU WANT TO TRY AGAIN, JUST PUT THE SEED DIRECTLY IN THE SOIL AND LET IT GERMINATE IN THE SOIL.
>>SIDNEY SAYS THANK YOU.
>>YOU ARE WELCOME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THAT IS REALLY GOOD TO TRY TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT, AND YOU GET WHERE YOU WANT ANYTHING IN THE HOUSE GREEN.  BUT IT TURNS OUT FINE.
WE WILL GO TO A SPECIAL “DID YOU KNOW” THAT PERTAINS A LITTLE BIT TO THE FRUIT QUESTIONS WE HAVE.
LET’S DO THAT NEXT.
DORMANT SPRAYS.
LET’S GO BACK TO OUR PANELISTS AND HAVE THEM ANSWER A SECOND QUESTION.
WE WILL GO TO THE PHONE LINES AFTER THAT.
CHUCK, YOU ARE ON.
>>I HAVE A VIEWER WHO SAYS “I HAVE A GOOD—I HAVE,” WHOEVER MEANS THEY HAD A GOOD CUCUMBER CROP.
MAYBE WHEN THEY SENT IT IN STILL THIS YEAR.
>>NICE FRUIT, ABUNDANT FRUIT.
I GOT LONG CLUBY ROOTS WITH ONE ENDING THINNER THAN THE OTHER.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHY THAT HAPPENS.
THE PLANTS GREW ON TRELLISES, DOES THAT MATTER?
WELL, THE PICTURE I HAVE IS KIND OF CURLED UP NASTY LOOKING ONES WHICH SHOULDN’T HAPPEN ON A TRELLIS.
THE GRAVITY SHOULD MAKE THEM NICE AND RAZOR STRAIGHT.
EVEN SUPPLY OF WATER IS PROBABLY THE MOST CRITICAL THING WITH CUCUMBERS BECAUSE THEY ARE SUCH WATERY FRUITS THAT YOU WANT IT NOT TO BE STANDING IN WATER, BUT YOU NEVER WANT IT TO BE SHORT ON WATER.
SO IF THE WATER FLUCTUATES TOO MUCH, YOU CAN GET THINGS THAT AREN’T TOO EVEN.
POLLINATION CAN BE A BIT OF AN ISSUE AS WELL IF THEY ARE NOT FULLY POLLINATED.
ONE END CANNOT DEVELOP AS MUCH AS THE OTHER.
THE OTHER THING YOU MIGHT TRY IS IF YOU KNOW WHAT VARIETY YOU HAD THIS YEAR, TRY A DIFFERENT ONE NEXT YEAR AND MAYBE IT WON’T BE AS TOUCHY AS THIS ONE WAS.
>>VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU, VIEWERS.
THIS WAS GREAT.
ON TO YOU, KAY.
>>I HAVE E-MAIL FROM A VIEWER THAT IS ASKING HOW WOULD ONE GO ABOUT SETTING UP AN INDOOR GARDEN IN AN APARTMENT WITH WINDOWS FACING ONLY NORTH AND WEST.
WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO MAXIMIZE A GARDEN UNDER THESE CONSTRAINTS?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, YOU WANT TO SELECT YOUR PLANTS FOR THE LIGHT CONDITIONS.
SO FOR THE NORTH WINDOW, YOU WOULD WANT TO SELECT PLANTS THAT HAVE A LOW LIGHT REQUIREMENT.
THE WEST, YOU CAN HAVE PLANTS THAT NEED JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE LIGHT BECAUSE THE LESS LIGHT WOULD BE STRONGER—WEST LIGHT WOULD BE STRONGER.
I DON’T KNOW WHETHER YOU WANT VEGETABLES OR FLOWERS OR JUST GREEN PLANTS.
I ACTUALLY HAVE A BIG POT OF FLAT LEAF OR ITALIAN PARSLEY IN A WEST WINDOW, AND IT IS REALLY DOING WELL THERE.
LETTUCE MIGHT BE A GOOD OPTION IF YOU CAN PUT IN A BIG POT AND THEN YOU CAN HAVE—IT IS COLORFUL AND YOU CAN HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT.
THEN JUST WHATEVER HOUSE PLANTS THAT YOU CAN FIND THAT WOULD—ONE THING YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE IS NOT OVER WATER ANY PLANTS.
THAT’S USUALLY THE MOST COMMON MISTAKE THAT PEOPLE MAKE WITH INDOOR—
I TEND TO IGNORE THEM!
(LAUGHING) I GO THE OTHER DIRECTION!
>>THE OTHER THING I TELL MY STUDENTS, BY THE WINDOW, DON’T LET THE PLANT TOUCH THE WINDOW, YOU GET FROST.
KEEP IT FAR WAYS BACK FROM THE WINDOWS.
>>YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THE WINDOWS ARE NOT LEAKY, A LOT OF COLD AIR COMING IN IT, TOO.
>>THAT WAS A VERY TIMELY GOOD QUESTION.
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND BOB, LET’S HEAR ABOUT THE APPLE QUESTION.
>>GOT THIS QUESTION HERE KIND OF A FUN ONE.
IT SAYS WHAT KIND OF APPLES GROW VERY LARGE APPLES?
(LAUGHING) RED DELICIOUS. WE JUST HEARD ABOUT THE WORLD’S BIGGEST.
BUT SOME FRIENDS SAY IT IS WOLF RIVER AND WOLF RIVER IS A VERY OLD CULTIVAR.
WE USED TO HAVE IT AT THE FARM.
IT WOULD MAKE APPLES AS BIG AS A BURITO.
YOU HEARD THE ADVERTISEMENTS, BURITO BIG AS YOUR HEAD.
ANOTHER AT THE FARM IS 20-OUNCE.
20-OUNCE ALSO IS A VERY BIG APPLE.  WE PLANTED THAT OUT AT THE FARM BECAUSE THE STUDENTS ASKED ABOUT THAT, AND IT IS KIND OF FUN WHEN WE HAVE OUR APPLE TASTING TO BRING IN A GIANT APPLE, THEY CAN TASTE THAT.
I WOULD SAY IF YOU WANT TO TRY ONE, WOLF RIVER OR 20-OUNCE ARE ONES QUITE RELIABLE, AND APPARENTLY YOU CAN GET—BUT ONE MORE THING, ONE MORE THING.
RIGHT NOW, CITRUS SEASON AND A LOT OF CITRUS RIGHT NOW.
A LOT ARE FREEZING.
TERRIBLE WEATHER ALL OVER FLORIDA AND CALIFORNIA.
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF CITRUS DESTROYED.
RIGHT NOW ON THE MARKET, GET IT WHILE YOU CAN.
THIS IS A BLOOD ORANGE.
I DON’T KNOW IF YOU HAVE HAD BLOOD ORANGE.
THEY ARE SOUTH OF FRANCE, AND THEY ARE RED.
THEY ARE COOL.
>>YOU GOT A COLOR SCHEME GOING.
>>I KNOW IT!
(LAUGHING) GET OUT AND TRY THE BLOOD.
THEY ARE REALLY FUN.
THEY ARE TASTY.
>>VERY SHORT SEASON THAT THEY ARE AVAILABLE, TOO.
>>TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
>>MAYBE TWO WEEKS YOU CAN’T.
>>OKAY, VERY FUN.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR GREAT VIEWERS.
WE WANT TO PICK UP A BAY QUESTION ON LINE SIX, AND IT IS BY YOLANDA.
HI, WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION?
>>CALLER: I WAS GLAD TO SEE SHE BROUGHT THE BAY TREE BECAUSE THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY QUESTION WHEN IT CAME ON.  I WANTED TO KNOW ARE THERE DIFFERENT VARIETIES THAT I NEED TO BE MAKING A DECISION ABOUT OR IS THERE JUST ONE THIS.
>>NO, JUST ONE.  YOU JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS BAY LAUREL.
>>CALLER: OKAY.
I’D LIKE TO HAVE IT AS A HOUSE PLANT, BUT WHAT KIND OF TEMPERATURES, LIGHT DOES IT NEED, ARE THERE TIMES OF THE YEAR I WANT TO LEAVE IT OUTSIDE EVEN THOUGH I PUT IT IN A POT THIS.
>>I PUT MINE OUT AS SOON AS THE WEATHER WARMS UP, AND I LEAVE IT OUT ALL THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AND IN FALL AND ACTUALLY UNTIL REALLY COLD WEATHER STARTS.
I HAD THEM OUT ACTUALLY BELOW WHEN IT GOT BELOW 32, AND THEY WERE FINE.
ACTUALLY THAT’S A GOOD WAY TO KILL OFF THE SCALE, IS LEAVE THEM OUTSIDE IN THE REALLY COLD WEATHER.
SO I JUST BRING IT IN FOR THE REALLY COLD MONTHS.
I HAVE MINE RIGHT NOW—I DON’T HAVE A LOT OF LIGHT WIN DO SPACE, SO I HAVE IT IN A SOUTH WINDOW, BUT IT IS A PORCH WINDOW.
SO IT JUST GETS MINIMUM AMOUNT OF LIGHT.  BUT THEY DO REALLY WELL THROUGHOUT THE—
>>YOU WANT TO AVOID CALIFORNIA BAY WHICH SOMETIMES GETS SOLD, NOT SO MUCH AS PLANTS, BUT AS PICK LEAVES.
THAT ONE IS MILDLY TOXIC, AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET THE BAY LAUREL.
>>CALLER: OKAY.
GREAT.
THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT I WANT TO KNOW.
>>I THOUGHT IT WAS SO GREAT, YOU BROUGHT A BAY PLANT WE TALKED ABOUT.
>>GIANT APPLES.
>>I KNOW!
(LAUGHING) VIEWERS ARE EXCELLENT.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.
LET’S GO ON TO LINE FIVE, AND IT IS A CALLER WHO HAS A FLOWER QUESTION.
HI THERE.
DOROTHY, LINE FIVE.
>>CALLER: YES, I WANTED TO GROW ECCHYNECIA FLOWERS.
I GOT A PACKAGE OF SEEDS, AND IT SAYS DAYS TO BLOOM 365.
DOES THAT MEAN IT WON’T BLOOM THIS YEAR.
>>THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF PERENNIALS THAT WILL BLOOM IN THE FIRST YEAR.
RUDBECKIA, BLACK EYED SUSAN, YARROW, SOME OF THE SCABIOSAS, HARD FOR THE PERENNIAL TO PLANT THE SECOND YEAR.
IF IT TAKES 365 DAYS, IT IS REALLY THE NEXT YEAR.
YES, I AM GOING TO SAY MOST PERENNIALS DO FLOWER IN THE SECOND YEAR.
BUT YOU COULD GET A PLANT AND HAVE THAT THIS YEAR AND THEN PLANT YOUR SEEDS AND BE READY FOR IT IN THE NEXT YEAR.
BUT IT IS PRETTY COMMON.
>>THERE ARE SO MANY NEW VARIETIES, NEW COLORS.
>>THERE ARE.
>>IT IS JUST AMAZING.
>>IT IS WONDERFUL.
>>HOW PLASTIC THAT GENOME MUST BE.
>>THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.
I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR WATCHING AND FOR BEING HERE.
WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
>>GOOD TIME.
>>GOOD-BYE.