Q: I would like to grow creeping fig to give the brick on our house a more "aged" look. Is there any problem with this? — Susan Williams
A: I'm not a big fan of fig (or ivy) growing on a wall. The vine provides cover for insects, and sometimes animals, which can invade the house. The evergreen leaves shade the wall, but they also trap moisture, which can lead to mildew, rot or brick deterioration. The creeping vine tips can grow under wood and vinyl siding and loosen it. My neighbor has creeping fig growing up the brick and across the lintel of her three-car garage. It looks great when it is green, but January cold killed most of it this year.
Q: My pepper plant has very crinkled leaves. Could you tell me what's going on? — Lisa Wall
A: Four things can cause distorted pepper leaves: sucking insects (aphids, whiteflies), cold soil, excess moisture and herbicide damage. If you don't see insects underneath the leaves, my bet would be on cold soil and excess moisture. We had plenty of both in May. As the soil warms up, I think your peppers will grow normally.
Q: Your vegetable book says that some gardeners soak okra seeds in pure bleach for five minutes to speed up sprouting time. Won't that hurt the seed? — David Preston,
Barnesville
A: Like you, I was doubtful, so I did a test recently. I did four treatments: seed soaked in bleach for five minutes, seed soaked in bleach for 10 minutes, seed soaked overnight in water and no treatment at all. To my surprise, the seeds soaked in bleach and in water sprouted more readily than those given no pretreatment. From now on, my okra seeds get an overnight bath before planting!
Q: Why is my 'Lady in Red' hydrangea blue? The flowers were red when I bought it but now they are blue.
— Kim Brown, Lawrenceville
A: The flowers of 'Lady in Red' are normally pinkish-white, but they turn more lavender if the plant is grown in acid soil. Most Georgia soil is acidic, so that explains why yours has turned blue. Combat acidity by adding a cup of garden lime around the plant every year until the original shade of red is reached.
Q: I love to eat green crabapples, but the trees aren't around anymore. What type of tree grows the fruit that is big enough to eat? — Sherry Smith
A: Technically, crabapples are apple trees that bear fruit less than 2 inches in diameter. Although many are grown for their flowers, some are enjoyed for their sour fruit. 'Dolgo' has plum-size fruit. Also consider planting 'Callaway' or 'Whitney.' Truthfully, most of the fruit we call crabapples are just small, sour apples from a runty tree, not a named variety available at a garden center.
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