More recent landscape questions and answers

Horticulture

Cut grape vines

Someone cut my grape vines down. They left only a 1/2 inch. What can I do to save them?

There should be some dormant buds remaining near the soil surface. As long as this vine was not grafted onto a rootstock, new growth of the desired cultivar should be produced this spring.

Michele Warmund
State Extension Specialist
Fruit

Huckleberries

Are huckleberries perennial or annual? I planted some this year and had quite a good crop.

Many people use the common names blueberries and huckleberries interchangeably. However, true huckleberries are in the genus Gaylussacia, which are not commonly grown in Missouri. We more commonly grow highbush blueberries which are in the genus, Vaccinium. Both are perennial shrubs.

Michele Warmund
State Extension Specialist
Fruit

High tunnel tomato

What are the best tomato varieties to grow in a high tunnel?

Many people find 'Florida 91' and 'Mountain Fresh Plus' to be excellent tomato varieties for high tunnel production. Both produce high yields of six to eight ounce fruit and have semi-determinate vines that be grown on short stakes using the weave trellising method.

David H. Trinklein
Division of Plant Sciences

'Show Me' tomato

Where can I buy 'Show Me' tomato seeds, or what replaced this variety?

Unfortunately, 'Show Me' tomato is no longer available from seed companies. I suggest you try 'Big Beef' as a replacement. It is an All American selection noted for large, "meaty" fruit and high amounts of disease resistance.

David H. Trinklein
Division of Plant Sciences

Raw organic matter in potted plant

I have two jasmine plants. I changed the soil and used the same pots. As a first layer I put some soil then green leaves, banana peels and onion peels. I covered this with soil, pruned some of the roots and planted my jasmines. Now the leaves are drooping and the plant started drying from the tips. What has gone wrong?

My guess is that the roots of your jasmine plants were injured or killed by the by-products of decomposition of the raw organic matter you incorporated into the growing medium when you replanted. Most potting media available commercially contain ideal blends of amendments and additional amendments should not be used. When mixing one's own medium never add organic matter that is not well decomposed to the medium.

I would immediately remove the plant from its present pot and repot it using only a commercially available medium. If the root still are alive the plant might recover if you keep water stress from it for the next couple of weeks while the roots try to regenerate. If the roots are dead I'm afraid you have lost your plant.

David H. Trinklein
Division of Plant Sciences