Rosemary and thyme work well at attracting bees
QMy family loves fresh green beans from the garden. We would like to be harvesting them as far into early autumn as possible. How late can I sow bush beans and still expect a harvest?
ABush beans will vary in the time they take from seeding to harvest, but for most varieties, it will work well to make a last sowing around mid-July.
QIs there any way to keep my zucchini bushes from developing powdery mildew in August?
AVarious treatments like diluted milk sprays and a bio-fungicide called Natria
work to a point, but in my experience they don’t eradicate the problem over the long term. I have, however, found an easy way to have vigorous young plants producing zucchinis well into autumn. Make an indoor seeding in early July and transplant when the seedlings have formed a robust cluster of leaves. This second sowing and transplanting, a followup to the usual spring planting, will yield zucchinis on young, perky plants that will continue producing until the weather turns cold.
QWhat are the best herbs for attracting and feeding bees?
AThe thymes in flower are always abuzz with bee activity. The same is true for rosemary, which has a longer period of bloom. Lavender, sage, oregano, mint and chives are more favourite bee plants. Herbs with umbelshaped flowers (cilantro, dill, parsley) are bee magnets.
QMy globe artichoke plants are full of developing buds for eating, but I’ve noticed clusters of black aphids clustered on them and their stems. I fear the fat bulbs are going to be ruined.
AWash them off with a fairly strong jet of water from the hose. This needs to be done every few days to keep the aphids discouraged.
Consider future plantings near the artichokes of dill, cilantro, and/or alyssum, plants that attract and feed the most efficient predators of aphids.