Your gardening questions answered

colorful-bunch-of-flowers-and-bees-picture-id121635360.jpg

What to look for on Smart Talk, Wednesday, April 24, 2019:

Spring has sprung, the sun is shining and flowers are in bloom. That means it’s time to plant those fruit and vegetable gardens. April showers might bring May flowers, but they also bring Smart Talk‘s annual gardening show.

Mother Nature has brought Pennsylvania plenty of rainy days this year, but it looks like the sunshine and warm temperatures may be here to stay. Peak blooming season has already begun for many trees and flowers, with May weather providing the best soil conditions for planting seeds. Pennsylvania is in 5, 6, and 7 USDA plant hardiness zones, and the best vegetables to plant in these zones include corn, cucumbers and squash.

Untitled design - 2019-04-24T091317.743.png

Scott LaMar trying the dandelion petal cookies, and enjoying it.

Erica Jo Shaffer, nursery manager at Highland Gardens in Camp Hill, appears on Smart Talk to answer your questions about growing, maintaining and planting flowers and trees in your garden.

Untitled design - 2019-04-24T091300.948.png

Erica Jo Shaffer

Do you have any questions for Ms. Shaffer? Email them to smarttalk@witf.org. And don’t forget to send us a photograph of your colorful flowers, plants, or trees and so that we might post them on WITF’s Facebook page.

Untitled design - 2019-04-24T091237.199.png

Dandellion petal cookies with a wild violet jam and a wild violet on top

Untitled design - 2019-04-24T091250.994.png

Roasted dandelion root Chai tea

Pat, a listener in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, says that, “Last year, I mulched with hay. Most of my veggies were fine, but the squash and cantaloupes rotted before harvest. Was this just my garden or did the excessive rain affect everyone?”

Untitled design - 2019-04-24T095740.484.png

Pat from Chambersburg’s garden affected by the excessive moisture.

Lisa, a listener in Hershey shared a picture of her corn crops from last year. She says, “I grew corn last year, and some kernels were cloudy and formed uneven rows on the cobs. What did I do wrong?”

Untitled design - 2019-04-24T100012.223.png

Lisa’s corn crop