Temperatures can cut tomato harvest

Q: Why are my tomatoes not producing? They were fine until recently.

A: Perhaps it is the high temperatures. Temperatures above 90 degrees (or below 60 degrees) can keep tomatoes, eggplants and peppers from setting fruit.

Q: Can I cut off a limb from one side of my Japanese maple and graft it to the other side of the tree trunk where a limb is needed?

A: While broken limbs can sometimes be repaired, the venture you are describing would not be successful; the limb sounds too large. Contact your county Cooperative Extension office for more detailed information about grafting procedures and limitations.

Q: Can pesto be frozen?

A: Yes. Pesto can be frozen for use in the winter when fresh basil is not available. A good idea is to put pesto into ice cube trays, freeze it and then place the cubes in freezer bags and put them back in the freezer until you need them. Pesto cubes are much easier to use than a large block of frozen pesto.

Q: What do the three numbers like 5-10-15 or 8-8-8 mean on a bag of fertilizer?

A: The three main plant nutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). The numbers indicate the percentage by weight of nitrogen, phosphate (a form of phosphorus) and potash (a form of potassium). A 100-pound bag of 5-10-15 fertilizer has five pounds of nitrogen, 10 pounds of phosphate and 15 pounds of potash. Other nutrients may be in the fertilizer, but they are listed separately.

Q: The leaves on my cilantro have gotten thin and threadlike. What is wrong?

A: Nothing is wrong. Your cilantro is going to seed. The leaves change from broad to thin as the plant undergoes this process, which is triggered by hot weather. After it flowers and sets seed, the plant will die. There is nothing you can do about it but enjoy the lacy white flowers when they appear and collect the seeds to start a new crop in the fall or next spring. You can also use the seeds in the kitchen. They are called coriander and are used as a spice.

Q: I sowed carrots but never got around to harvesting them. Anyway, now they are blooming and look like Queen Anne’s lace. Did someone give me the wrong seeds?

A: The familiar root vegetable we eat and Queen Anne’s lace, the naturalized plant that is named and well known for its doily-like flowers are both carrots. Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota) is also known as “wild carrot.” Cultivated carrots (Daucus carota subsp. sativa) are a subspecies of wild carrot. The flowers of both are basically the same in appearance.

If you have questions about services or products regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, write Arty Schronce (arty. schronce@ agr. georgia. gov) or visit the department’s website at www. agr.georgia.gov.