HELP! Why can't I grow an avocado tree from seed!?
David Johnson
8 years ago
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ixus
8 years agofireduck
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Why can't I grow melons? (Pic)
Comments (10)You can continue to guess and guess, but if you haven't determined the quality of your soil, there is one way to know for sure. Get your soil tested by a lab. It's always the first place to start with a garden. You save a lot of time and money in the long run. Check with your state's Extension Service. Each county should have it's own Cooperative Extension Office which provides free publications and information for the asking. They can provide you with soil testing information. Mine was only $9.00, less than the cost of some strictly pH tests, and far more thorough. No guessing at what might need to be added, no money wasted. I also wonder about your soil tilth and friability. It doesn't look like you planted your melons by hilling or mounding. Melons don't like 'wet feet', they prefer plenty of drainage. Here is a link that might be useful: Everything you Need to Know About Growing Melons...See MoreWhy can't I grow a Willow from a cutting?
Comments (16)If you take a cutting in early spring (about this thickness of a pencil or so)), plant directly in the soil, with about 2-4 buds above the soil line and 8-10" below it will root within a couple of weeks. If it must be done when the parent tree isn't dormant, you really need a mist bench for best success. Rooting in water isn't a great idea because then you must get it established in soil. Just start with moist soil. I've rooted thousands of cuttings and willows are among the easiest if done right. Also, it should be mentioned that not all willows root with the same ease. Pussy willows for example, are not as easy (though still easy compared to say, an oak)....See Morewhy can't I grow cosmos???
Comments (21)I just barely cover the seed in the peat pods with soil/peat and keep them moist but not sopping wet. I have the little clear covered greenhouse thingys with a heat mat and lights over them. Cosmos take longer than zinnias to come up. Once they sprout, get them out of there quick so they dont stay too moist and damp off. From there, pot up in a 4in pot with potting mix with extra perlite mixed in. Keep under the lights or if its really warm out/no frost, then you can put it in a shady spot and acclimate to full sun before you transplant in into your garden. Once you have a lot of cosmos and zinnias established for some reason, if the ground is kept watered, they reseed themselves. It helps to mulch with straw or coastal hay etc. I think, initially, birds or squirrels might take some of the seeds but if there's alot of seeds then some make it. I have trouble starting sunflowers too in the garden..they sprout just fine but then something eats them! If I start them in a pot and wait until they are 5 or 6 inches high, then transplant them into the garden, they are fine. You can also try starting the cosmos & zinnias etc in 4 inch pots out in your garden. I started doing this few yrs ago. I put a whole bunch of pots together in a big clear tupperware/rubbermaid tub. There's holes in the bottom. I cover the top with chicken wire. You can water them with your hose sprayer without taking them out, this way. If its still a little cold out, like in very early spring, you can keep the lid on at night instead of the wire....See MoreI can't seem to grow anything. Why?
Comments (14)Well, don't feel pregnant! I've had really good years since I've been back in FL and I've had really bad years! I was using Jungle Mix and they shut down. I went back to Miracle Gro potting mix and I got bugs...bunches of bugs and it killed my plants. Stink bugs were the worst, then someone released the cudzu bugs (they weren't supposed to, but they did). It ate every legume in sight, the stink bugs suddenly disappeared, most of my insect problems went away temporarily. I live surrounded by forest in a low lying area that occasionally floods. So, bugs are a given. I started sitting out containers for the frogs to grow in and they go to town on those bugs! I learned that most of my gardening has to be where it's shaded from the afternoon sun or they cook in the summer. During the winter, it doesn't matter where they are. I also learned that I absolutely have to have mulch covering. And "Back To Eden" on youtube is a good place to find out about that. But be aware that if you use mulch you have to increase nitrogen because as the mulch breaks down, it uses a lot of nitrogen. It will decrease your watering immensely! And if you have water like mine, that's a good thing! Another thing, find out what kind of water you have. I just got back my results on a water test. Calcium/Ca 20.70 ppm Magnesium/Mg 7.07 ppm Hardness mg/L 80.73 Iron/Fe 2.70 Manganese/Mn 0.00 Sodium/Na 533.94 Chloride/Cl 929.42 Suspended Solids 4.00 PH 4.10 EC 2.85 Total Carbonates 0.00 I believe the Sodium came from weed killer my ex-neighbor used to use on the fence line. I'm not sure. But I know our irrigation water got worse gradually. That's why I had it tested. I have to call my Extension Agent tomorrow and see what he suggests I do. Because of the high Sodium, seed starting is going to be a bear!...See Morejctsai8b
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoDavid Johnson
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8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoFrancesco Delvillani
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8 years agoixus
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoFrancesco Delvillani
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8 years agoMichael Krakofsky
8 years agoMichael Krakofsky
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoMichael Krakofsky
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoixus
8 years agoFrancesco Delvillani
8 years agoDavid Johnson
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