Q: I have been stung three times by saddleback caterpillars while picking peas in my garden. Please tell me how to kill these things without poisoning myself. — David Skates, e-mail
A: The organic caterpillar-killing products that contain Bacillus thuringiensis (Dipel, Caterpillar Attack, etc.) cause caterpillars to stop feeding immediately. They hang from a leaf and die within a day. It is harmless to mammals and birds.
Q: Upon digging for potatoes, I came up empty — not a spud to be found. They had full sun, great soil, and they were nice plants with blooms. I planted them June 12. ‘Kennebec’ is a mid-late variety, so I figured that date would be OK. — Gina Thwaite, Macon
A: You planted way too late! It's true that 'Kennebec' is a mid to late variety, but that refers to their harvest time, not planting time. Plant white potatoes in spring when soil temperatures achieve 45 degrees. For Macon, that occurs in early March; for Atlanta, two weeks later.
Q: I am growing tomatoes in my garden. Is there any way that I could trim the plant back and pot it for indoor growing through the winter? — Carolyn Parrish, e-mail
A: The tomato won't bear fruit unless you give it very bright light. A normal-size plant would like around 400 watts of fluorescent light, 16 hours per day, in a room kept above 70 degrees. If this seems daunting, I have had success growing indoor tomatoes with an AeroGarden (www.aerogrow.com).
Q: I bought some fountain grass, even though it was labeled as a tender perennial. What is the best way to make sure it comes back? — Nancy Platt, Cherokee County
A: Common purple fountain grass will come back in South Georgia and Florida but not here. Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum' rarely survives Atlanta winters. In contrast, the new P. setaceum 'Prince' has come back, albeit slowly, in my garden for two years running. My guess is that it would do even better if I kept it indoors in a pot while letting the foliage die down in winter. Garden expert Erica Glasener (www.ericaglasener.com) says she's very impressed with 'Prince,' 'Princess,' 'Princess Caroline' and 'Princess Molly' ornamental fountain grasses in the University of Georgia trial gardens.
Q: Is there a variety of boxwood that does not smell? — Barbara Branzovich, e-mail
A: English boxwood, Buxus sempervirens, is well-known to smell like a cat litter box. Asian boxwood, Buxus microphylla, doesn't have the catty odor. Unfortunately, the Asian species does not grow very fast. To remedy that, breeders have introduced English-Asian crosses like 'Green Mountain' and 'Green Velvet.' Other cultivars are available. Go to a nursery and make your own comparison.
Listen to Walter Reeves from 6 to 10 Saturday mornings on WSB-AM (750). Go to www.gardening ingeorgia.com for details on his TV show or visit his Web site, www.walterreeves.com.
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