Ask the green thumb

A gardening expert digs into and answers your homegrown questions.

By Ann Wied
Brookfield, Wisconsin

Pest in the Onions
Q: My onions once grew well, but now the tops start dying when the plants reach 4-6 inches tall. When I pulled them up, I saw what looked like a tiny grub. What should I do?
—D. Delul, Massona, New York

A: That little worm could be the larvae of the onion maggot, a common pest. One way to fight back is to rotate veggies within your garden so you’re not planting onions (or leeks, shallots, garlic or chives) in the same place year after year.
As with any garden pest, you’ll first want to check with a reliable source to make sure you’re on the right track in identifying and treating it. I like the informative “Vegetable Growing Guide”
on the Cornell University Cooperative Extension’s Web site (connect at www.countrywomanmagazine.com/links).
I think you’d find it helpful.

Lilac Won’t Bloomlilac
Q: I planted a dwarf lilac several years ago, but have been disappointed with it. Instead of blooms, I get lots of leaves. Why won’t it flower?
—Beth Taticek, New Berlin, Wisconsin

A: Without more details, it’s tough to say what’s causing your lack of flowers. For the first few years after lilacs are transplanted, they put their energy into developing their root system instead of flower development.
That could be one reason, but check to see if the variety is hardy where you live. Flower buds of early-flowering varieties can be damaged in a late freeze.
Also, is your plant in full sun? Lilacs grow best with 6 hours of direct sunlight, and tend to flower poorly, if at all, in partial shade.
Because lilacs set their flower buds in summer to bloom the next spring, pruning in early spring can result in cutting off flower buds. The best time to prune your lilacs is right after flowering before it sets its flower buds for next year. Also remove old dried flower heads to encourage good flowering next year.
Finally, do you heavily fertilize your lilac? Too much nitrogen can result in too much shoot growth and no flower


Ann Wied, our guest garden expert, is the Consumer Horticulture Educator for the UW-Extension in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. She teaches gardeners of all ages through workshops, hands-on gardening programs and presentations. Ann has a bachelor’s degree in horticulture and agriculture journalism.

Photos: HTTP://WWW.BLUEHILLCOUNTRYGARDEN.COM (lilac) Paula Cartwright (photo of Ann Wied)

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