Add calcium to prevent blossom end rot

Q: I have already placed wheat straw around my tomatoes, but I failed to add any lime to prevent blossom end rot. What can I do at this point? — Glynn Jackson, Dallas

A: Blossom end rot is caused by a lack of calcium in immature fruit. Go to a big-box hardware store and look for broken pieces of gypsum wallboard (Sheetrock, etc.) on the floor. Take a few home, pulverize pieces with a hammer, and sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the white powder around each plant. Gypsum contains calcium sulfate, which supplies vital calcium to tomatoes. Do not use Epsom salts on your plants, since magnesium competes with calcium for uptake by the plants.

Q: I have two huge fig trees that produce thousands of figs every year. But, alas, this past winter was brutal on both of them. Leaf growth is very small and stunted on the trees. — Ken Buhmeyer, Marietta

A: I walk over to my neighbor's fig bush almost every day to see how they are recovering from winter. Although leaves are gradually emerging from the branches, I see no small figs. If memory serves, they should be present by now. We'll have to wait and see whether a few emerge or whether this will be a fig-less summer.

Q: I was wondering when I should give up and accept that my Chapel Hill lantana did not survive the winter. Should it have started growth by now? — Ellen Tesoriero, email

A: I think it's a goner. 'Chapel Hill Yellow' was discovered by plantsman Michael Dirr, who theorizes it is a cross between winter-hardy 'Miss Huff' and wide-spreading, but tender, 'New Gold' lantanas. It will sprout new growth at the base after most winters, but January's cold exceeded the plant's cold-tolerating capacity. Buy and plant another one.

Q: My tomatoes are ready for the cages to be put around them. I live near a sawmill. Can I use their sawdust to mulch around the tomatoes? — Glenda Bryant, Banks County

A: A light mulch of the sawdust, no more than an inch thick, should be fine for your plants. However, make sure the sawmill is not working with walnut logs. The sap from walnut tree chips can harm plants.

Q: I have a rain barrel. The water has developed a green film. Is it all right to use it to water my plants? — Brenda Rickman, Bartow County

A: The green film is just algae growing on the nutrients that washed off your roof and into the barrel. The water is perfectly safe to use on plants. If you like, you could add 1/8 teaspoon (or 8 drops) of household bleach for each gallon of water to disinfect it.

Q: Is it too late to put pre-emergent on my yard? — Phyllis Thomas, email

A: Yes, it's too late to stop the germination of most summer weeds (crabgrass, etc). If your lawn is healthy, you can use products that contain quinclorac to control emerged crabgrass. Be sure to use it according to label directions.