Submitted by John Steger from Miami, FL

Q: We have a mamey sapote tree, approximately ten years old. It has been flowering the past 2-3 years, but has never borne fruit, just these string-beany looking things. A neighbor just told me that trees that have the 'beans' will never bear fruit. ??!! I've searched the web but haven't found any info regarding this. Can you help? Will the tree ever bear fruit? Here is link to a picture of the tree and a close-up of leaves with "beans": http://faculty.mdc.edu/jsteger/mamey/index.html Thanks! --John S.

Answered 12/08/08 14:55:44 by Georgia Tasker

A: Dear John, I have forwarded the link to your photos to Jonathan Crane, tropical fruit specialist with the University of Florida in Homestead. As soon as I hear back, I'll let you know.

Submitted by Steve Martin from Fort Lauderdale

Q: Can you please advise if any variety of Tree Ferns and the New Zealand Christmas Bush (Pohutekawa)are available in this area. Many thanks Steve

Answered 12/08/08 14:44:04 by Georgia Tasker

A: Cyathea cooperi, the Australian tree fern, is grown by a number of wholesale nurseries in S. Fl.; Blechnum gibbum, the miniature tree fern, is grown by a wholesale nursery in Ft. L. (Black Olive East. I'd call Living Colors Garden Center, affiliated w/ Black Olive East, & see what they have. Ph: (954) 985-8787

Submitted by Billie Symanski from Jupiter Fl

Q: Why do the blooms on my vegetable plants fall off before they produce any vegetables?

Answered 11/19/08 11:32:22 by Georgia Tasker

A: If you are referring to tomatoes, most varieties must have cool nights to set fruit. Now that we are experiencing colder weather, blooms should hold.

Submitted by Debby Martino from Hollywood, FL.

Q: Hi Georgia, I never had a green thumb in my life...6 months ago I purchased a very small basil plant at my local store. I am being told by everyone that they have never seen a basil grow this big & healthy. I give it away to all my neighbors because it keeps growing. I call it... "MY BIONIC BASIL" I am 5"7 it's taller then me. I want to know if I have the largest basil ever? If so, maybe I should contact the "G Book" of records. I have 2 pictures I would like to send you but, there is no way for me to attach it here.Is there an e-mail address I can send you the pic's... ALWAYS, Debby

Answered 11/19/08 11:30:42 by Georgia Tasker

A: Wow. Have you sampled the leaves? Are they tender? You can email me at gtasker@miamiherald.com

Submitted by ralph from zephyrhills fl.

Q: What month should I start a summer garden?

Answered 11/19/08 11:29:03 by Georgia Tasker

A: That depends on what you mean by a summer garden. A vegetable garden in South Florida is grown over winter; annuals for winter are usually planted in Oct./Nov. A summer garden of tropical plants that are sensitive to cold can be planted (usually) in March/April.

Submitted by Claudia from Miami, Fl

Q: We have silver buttonwoods planted along the fence for privacy. They are planted about 2 feet apart from each other. They are currently about 5'-6' tall and I want to prune them. How is the best way to prune in order to obtain maximum privacy? I am aiming for a denser looking hedge.

Answered 10/13/08 16:23:22 by Georgia Tasker

A: Have the plants reached the desired height? If so, keep pinching off the small tips of new growth and this will cause them to grow bushy. Remember to trim the sides at a slope so the bottom leaves stick out a little farther than the top. This will help keep the leaves thick all the way to the bottom.

Submitted by Carolyn Beatty from Terre Haute, IN

Q: When in Georgia we visited several State Parks in northwestern part of the state. I took photos of a lot of flowers and I have one I've never seen before and thought you might know what it is. It was breezy that day and so the pictures aren't as clear as I'd like, but, I think you can get a pretty good idea what they look like. The flowers were growing near a pond. The flower of the stem comes out of the top center part of the leaf and the stem is very thin and the flower isn't very big either and looks cushiony. The flower is an off white with a pale pink accent and is yellow in the center. The thin and short stem was so tiny, I was surprised it could support the weight of the flower. If you have a forum that I can send the two pictures I have, please let me know. Sincerely, Carolyn Beatty

Answered 09/26/08 14:15:47 by Georgia Tasker

A: Carolyn, Sorry to be so tardy answering you. If you have not identified your flowers, sent photos to gtasker@miamiherald.com and I'll take a look.

Submitted by justin from north miami beach,fl

Q: My banana tree has numerous suckers. For best fruit production, how many suckers should be allowed to grow along with the mother plant? How tall should suckers be before they can be transplanted?

Answered 09/26/08 14:14:40 by Georgia Tasker

A: I checked with Chris Rollins, director of the Fruit & Spice Park in the Redland. He says for maximum fruit production (if you were Chiquita Banana, for instance), you would have 1 plant fruiting, 1 plant 1/2 grown and 1 sucker peeping up at the base. You can transplant suckers when they're large enough to have some energy reserves built up in the stem to endure the transplant. Chris says the main thing to look for when selecting transplants is this: avoid taking water suckers. The have paddle-shaped leaves close to the ground with narrow stems. The good suckers are called sword suckers, and have dagger shaped leaves on bulbous, tapering stems. Dig away from the mother plant with a spade or machete; allow the sucker end to dry for a day or two, and plant it at the same level at which it was growing.

Submitted by Carlos from Miami, Florida

Q: I have a large hedge of tall ficus surrounding my house that has been heavily invested by whitefly and thrips. I have personally applied Meritt to no avail, and lately given up and hired a professional exterminator to drench teh roots and subsequently spray the trees. I am wondering if pruning the ficus trees now (about to 1/2 of thier current height) could serve to strenthen the trees. Or, would such pruning weaken the trees?

Answered 09/05/08 14:56:52 by Georgia Tasker

A: Use Bayer's Advanced Tree & Shrub Insect Killer as a drench. Hold off on pruning.

Submitted by Donna Huttenhoff from Weston, FL

Q: I have an established golden dew drop tree that for the last 8-12 months produces buds, few flowers and an abundance of "fruit" golden dew drops. I have pruned, coaxed with fertilizer, but nothing helps. What should I do?

Answered 09/05/08 14:55:42 by Georgia Tasker

A: If your golden dew drop has produced fruit, it has produced flowers first. Try holding back on the fertilizer and see if the flowers won't be more apparent.

Submitted by S. Richards from Miami, Florida

Q: Please tell me where I can purchase grass seed--either St Augustine Floratam or Palmetto, We live near downtown Miami and North Miami. Thank you.

Answered 09/05/08 14:54:26 by Georgia Tasker

A: ST. Augustine normally is sold as sod. The seed does not germinate reliably. Try Opa-locka Garden & Supply305-688-9490 or R&R Garden Supply, 305-885-1168.

Submitted by Sara from Miami, FL

Q: I am looking for a particular grass which is short, thin and thick, almost like a carpet. It is almost impossible for weeds to grow in this grass. My Father planted it in our yard and I recently saw it on the lawn behind Mercy Hospital. When the grass is dry or dead and you step on it barefoot it can feel like a needle. Would you have any idea what type of grass that might be? Thank you. By the way, I truly appreciate all the information you provide and the effort you put forth. I see that it gives you great pleasure.

Answered 08/19/08 15:41:47 by Georgia Tasker

A: Perhaps your father planted a species of zoysia grass, which has narrow, stiff blades that have high silica content. It turns brown in cold winters but greens up quickly when warmth returns. It is aggressive when up against St. Augustine & will outcompete it. One of David Fairchild's plant explorers, C.V Piper, introduced it from the Philippines. Once it becomes established in a flowerbed it's impossible to get out:)

Submitted by Alice from West Plm. Bch, Fl.

Q: I have a large plant of Geraniums. It did very well during the winter months but at this time most of the leaves have dropped which leaves mostly stems. Is this a good time to cut back?

Answered 08/12/08 14:02:44 by Georgia Tasker

A: Geraniums are not well-suited to Miami in the rainy-humid summer season. I'd start over in the fall/winter.

Submitted by Rasha from Egypt

Q: Hi, I want to market Chorisia speciosa but I do not know the international markets that I may export to it, would you please direct me to internet sources that can help me exporting Chorisia (silk floss tree). Thanks a lot for your help

Answered 08/12/08 14:02:00 by Georgia Tasker

A: I'm afraid I'm not really an international market person. However, there is a Tropical Flowering Tree Society in Miami, and you could find the website and start there.

Submitted by sharon hine from miami, fl

Q: I have a bird of paradise that has been growing for several years, located in full sun and appears to be very healthy, yet has never flowered??????????

Answered 08/12/08 14:01:12 by Georgia Tasker

A: The birds are picky and can be hard to flower. They like a lot of fertilizer, and I found on two of my own specimens this year that they like to have the crowded centers thinned, allowing light and air in.

Submitted by Jennifer from Miami, Florida

Q: We just moved to a new house that has some very large old avocado and mango trees on the property. They seem to be fairly dormant and there was no fruit on the trees this year. What is your best advice for coaxing these trees back into fruiting? Thank you! Jennifer

Answered 08/12/08 14:00:07 by Georgia Tasker

A: I'd seek an arborist to evaluate whether they need pruning, especially the avocado which can be broken up easily in hurricanes. Then, I'd put the trees on a regimen for increasing soil minerals: 8-2-12 with 4 percent magnesium fertilizer, three times a year. (If the trees bore heavily last year, they may be taking some time off for good behavior.)

Submitted by Anya from Miami Shores, FL

Q: I posted this on a yahoo group I host. I quickly received a response from a member in Phoenix that she is observing dead honeybees on her patio every morning and she just installed the mercury-containing energy-saving light bulbs a few months ago. Do you think there's a correlation: Posted: I've lived here 15 years and never seen this before. Yesterday morning and this morning I've found dozens of dead honey bees on the landing at my front door. I have jasmines in bloom that may be attracting them to the area. My yard guy and I were brainstorming and we're thinking maybe the mercury-containing "energy efficient" light bulb in the front may be to blame? Probably not, but it's the only change I've made in the last year to my front yard. I have an organic yard and have a natural pest control company - not saying something they're using might not be to blame, since they use natural chemicals to kill insects like termites, roaches, fleas and the like. They haven't been here for a treatment in months, however. Is anybody else finding lots of dead bees in the morning? I'm cc'ing this to the USDA rep in Homestead for comment. I've collected several dozen of the dead bees. A friend who is an ecologist with IFAS in Broward is coming by this afternoon and she'll take some bees to the honey bee scientists in Broward.

Answered 07/14/08 15:48:28 by Georgia Tasker

A: Let's see what the bee scientist finds. Bees are in deep trouble all over the country.

Submitted by Mirtha from Longwood, Florida

Q: We live in Central Florida, but like the South Florida landscape. The front yard includes Queen palms, African irises, variagated liriope, and bougainvilleas we're hoping to train against the porch's arches. There's a viburnum hedge between our house and the neighbor's. We want to plant a privacy hedge along a six-foot chain link fence on either side of the front of the house. The hedge can't be too deep because of limited space by the garage/driveway side, but must remain thick. Can you recommend a hedge that will fit the bill? Thanks!

Answered 07/03/08 16:10:09 by Georgia Tasker

A: You might investigate nandina, camellia, and azalea. You can keep shrubs pruned, but still have color with the last two; nandina has beautiful red berries.

Submitted by Judy Segal from Homestead, Fl

Q: Since we've been having these overcast rainy days I moved my vandas from the front porch overhang to the yard for more light and moisture. The yard men came earlier than expected, before I could remove the vandas, and the chopped off the ends of some of the roots on them. Will these regrow and what can I do to help them. Also, do I have to be concerned now of fungus or bacteria or pests attacking the open wounds on the roots? Thank you for your attention. Judy

Answered 07/03/08 16:03:48 by Georgia Tasker

A: Just last Sunday I pruned the roots on my vandas. I cut out all the dead roots and trimmed back the long ones. They will branch, and hopefully give more vigor to the plants. If you are nervous about fungus entering through the cuts, you can apply Captan as a paste. It probably isn't necessary.

Submitted by alec rosen from south miami, fl

Q: Hi, i would like to start a small vegetable garden, but i am concerned about the summer heat killing my efforts to grow tomatoes or other things any suggestions

Answered 06/26/08 12:45:48 by Georgia Tasker

A: Summer heat will get the best of your vegetables, along with fungus and bugs. Vegetable gardens are grown over the winter months here. However, you can grow a few crops such as cherry tomatoes, garbanzo beans, okra and more. Check out the online garden calendar and you will find more suggestions.