University of Maryland: Garden Q&A
Photo courtesy of How Stuff Works
Q: I’m trying to fit more in my vegetable garden this year. Can I grow melons on a trellis?
A: Try muskmelons. (These are often called cantaloupes, but true cantaloupes are rarely grown in the U.S.) Sprawling melon vines typically gobble up garden space but, on a trellis, seeds or transplants can be planted a mere 3 feet apart and trained upward.
Choose a variety that produces smaller fruit. When fruits swell, their weight will need to be supported by a sling. Use a fairly open-weave fabric that will drain and dry quickly, such as cheesecloth or old nylon stockings.
Q: How do I water my bonsai? The pot is an 8” x 6” oval, 3”tall, with a saucer attached so tightly to the pot side I can’t pour water into the saucer.
A: Bonsai are watered by pouring water on the soil or by immersing the entire pot in a tub of water for a few seconds. Because you want to avoid salt accumulation in the soil, the immersion method is good to use periodically because it flushes out salts. Watering with rain water or distilled water avoids salts.
Water requirements vary by plant species. Call us for information about water needs for your particular bonsai. Overwatering that leads to root rot is the most frequent cause of bonsai death, but with a drainage hole in your pot you should be able to avoid that.
Indoor heat may dry out surface soil quickly. Spritz or water surface soil when it dries. Water deeply and often enough so that the container’s weight does not feel light.
