Dead arm management
 
Once these fungal diseases appear, careful pruning is needed to prevent them from spreading. Infected limbs should be cut at least 12 inches below any noticeable infection, and cutters should be dipped in a household cleaner between each cut to prevent the spread of disease. Infected plant material should be thrown in the trash and not composted. Fixed copper sprays or fungicides may also be needed.
 
How to prevent dead arm
 
Moisture is nearly always a contributing factor to fungal diseases. Make sure your sprinklers are not hitting vines or tree trunks.
 
Pruning for good air flow will help prevent these and many other diseases. Plants susceptible to Eutypa dieback should be pruned in summer, rather than during dormancy. This allows wounds to dry and heal before fungi can enter.
 
Contrary to popular opinion, do not use sealants on your vines or trees after pruning. Sealants seal moisture in, creating a protected environment for fungi to grow unseen until it’s too late. Let a callus form naturally instead.

Before we learn about the growing particulars of this new plant, let’s see why we would want it in our landscape.
 
Also known as melon pear, pepino melon, or pepino dulce, fleshy sweet cucumbers (Solanum muricatum) give us the best of both worlds, melons and cucumbers. Like other nightshade plants, they are sturdy and can produce for several years. However, commercial growers tend to treat them as annuals. Because sweet cucumbers are sensitive to handling and long-term storage, we are unlikely to see them in stores any time soon.

​That’s why you might want to grow them at home. Let’s find out how.

Now, how can a hybrid be accidental?
 
It ends up that, back in 1881, James Harvey Logan decided to create a better blackberry. He crossed a couple of local varieties and waited to see what would happen. Then, some nearby raspberries got into the act when Logan planted the offspring of his first experiment. This additional genetic information created not one but two new cultivars: the ‘Mammoth’ blackberry and the loganberry.
 
These perennial members of the Heather family look like blackberry bushes, but the fruit is dark red, more like a moody raspberry, and longer. Other raspberry-blackberry hybrids have been developed, including boysenberry, dewberry, nessberry, olallieberry, Santiam blackberry, tayberry, and youngberry.
 
What makes these plants so popular?
 
Most people agree that berries are delicious. But berries don’t always ship or store well, making them excellent choices for the home garden.
 
Like other brambles, loganberries are canes. Each plant will produce an average of 10 semi-upright stems which can be trained along a fence or trellis. In their first year, these primocanes focus on leaf and root development. Flowers and fruit occur in the second year on floricanes. After a cane has produced fruit, remove it at ground level.
 
Loganberry plants protect themselves with soft spines that can itch, so gloves are a good idea. If you prefer a thornless version, you can always try the ‘American Thornless’ variety. Or if a natural barrier to unwanted intruders would be helpful, a loganberry wall might be a delicious option.
 
Mature loganberries are red, but they are generally harvested while still purple. Each loganberry bush can produce up to 18 pounds of fruit annually and may live for 15 years.
 
Loganberry plants are propagated from cane cuttings and layering. They perform best in USDA Hardiness Zones 6-10. Space your loganberry plants six feet apart. They prefer full sun, though afternoon partial shade is acceptable.
 
Loganberry plants are rugged and tend to be more disease-resistant than many of their cousins. But they are susceptible to several fungal diseases, including anthracnose, Botrytis fruit rot, powdery mildew, raspberry leaf spot, rust, and spur blight, as well as crown gall and Phytophthora root rot. Avoid these diseases by providing good drainage and airflow. And be sure to remove mummies right away.
 
Common loganberry pests include aphids, dryberry mites, raspberry cane maggots, raspberry beetles, crown borers, root weevils, sawflies, and slugs and snails. As tempting as it may be to sprinkle salt around your brambles to protect the fruit against slugs and snails, don’t do it.

​Table salt may be great on that baked potato, but it does terrible things to your soil and garden plants. Instead, monitor your plants regularly for signs of infestation and infection to be the first to enjoy those luscious big berries as soon as they are ready!

Pepper weevils (Anthonomus eugenii) are specialists. These beetles are not interested in other members of the nightshade family, so your eggplants and tomatoes are safe, for now. But your chili peppers, jalapeños, sweet peppers, and tomato peppers are not.
 
Like your peppers, pepper weevils prefer hot weather. Native to Mexico, these pests have moved northward with the changing climate as far as Canada and the Netherlands. How they got across the ocean is anyone’s guess, but probably on infested fruit.
 
Adult pepper weevils are only 1/6th of an inch long, black, brown, or gray, with bent antennae and a long, curved weevil snout.
 
Pepper weevils eat flower and leaf buds, which can put a serious dent in your pepper harvest. Making matters worse, female pepper weevils cut holes in developing buds, lay an egg in each one, and then plug the hole with bug poop. When the egg hatches, the larva burrows its way to the center of the fruit, growing and pooping until it reaches a pupal stage. As adults, they continue feeding on the fruit on their way out and then start the cycle again. Females produce nearly 350 eggs in their very short lifetime.

Zucchini, melons, and several other cucurbits offer the added bonus of producing edible flowers. But it's important to know which flowers are male and which will produce the fruit you planted for in the first place.

​If you stuff all your male zucchini flowers with cream cheese and breadcrumbs, there may not be enough pollen available to pollinate the female flowers. Unless you have self-pollinating plants, that would mean no zucchinis and no chocolate zucchini cake!

In the photo above, you can see one long-stemmed flower bud on the left and one stubby flower bud on the right.

The longer stemmed bud is male. Male zucchini flowers appear everywhere on the plant and usually before female flowers. They have a distinctive cup at the base, and a knobby, pollen-coated stamen inside the flower. That pollen can be collected for later use, just make sure it doesn't get moldy.

The female bud stem is shorter and thicker, and it does not have the cup-shaped base. Instead, what looks like a stem is a (potential) baby zucchini.

Female flowers tend to stay near the middle of the plant, though not always. 

After the flowers open, pollen from the male flower has to come into contact with the female flower's pistil. This usually occurs thanks to pollinators, such as honeybees. My indoor windowsill garden requires hand-pollination, which simply means touching flowers repeatedly with a natural bristle paint brush every day that the female flowers are open. Indoor gardening is a lot easier than many people think.

Over the next few weeks, I will be adding photos to show you how the fruit develops.

​Be sure to check back for updates!

Kelp and other seaweeds
 
There are thousands of different seaweeds, and they are all marine algae. Some seaweeds are microscopic, while others, such as kelp, can create towering underwater forests.
 
If you have ever been to a Southern California beach, you know that kelp is slick and abundant. The leaves look like reddish brown lasagna noodles. And as it grows, kelp absorbs pollution.
 
One common pollutant, nitrogen, happens to be the number one nutrient needed by your garden plants. That should make kelp and other seaweeds excellent sources of plant nutrition. But are they?
 
Kelp claims
 
Many claims have been made about the benefits of seaweed in the garden, including the following:

• Early seed germination
• Significant increases in bean and potato crop sizes
• Suppression of blister disease, clubroot, and many fungal diseases caused by Sclerotinia minor
• Extended post-harvest shelf life

 
In one study, fields treated with kelp fertilizer were found to have slightly higher levels of sulfur. Sulfur has been shown to improve the flavor and quality of crops like tomatoes. The problem with all of these claims is that they are based on laboratory studies and some faulty logic.
 
Just because something works under highly control lab conditions does not mean it will work in your yard, or that sellers are providing you with what they advertise.
 
Quality controls matter
 
Before jumping on the seaweed bandwagon, you should know that there can be significant variability on nutrient content. There is no standardization of contents or effectiveness at this time. Also, kelp holds onto other pollutants besides nitrogen. It can contain undesirable heavy metals along with that NPK.
 
While it is unlikely to occur in your packaged seaweed fertilizer, you should know that rotting seaweed produces a lot of hydrogen sulfide, which is a highly toxic gas that causes diarrhea and vomiting.
 
And we do not yet know how much or which type of seaweed actually benefits our plants. More research is needed.
 
Bottom line, most seaweed extracts are very diluted forms of fertilizer. And they are expensive. Until quality controls are in place, you can get better results with a lab-based soil test and regular fertilizer treatments.

Frogs make up nearly 90% of the world’s amphibians, but they are in trouble.
 
According to Wikipedia, one-third of all frog species are threatened with extinction. More than 120 species have gone extinct since the 1980s, and genetic mutations are increasing. Considering frogs are significant players in the world’s food web, we can all do them a favor by making room for them in our gardens.
 
Adding a frog pond might be more than some gardeners can manage. But you can probably create a moist, private area with protective branches and plants to help native frogs hide from garter snakes, pets, and human activities. Consider a bird bath or other shallow water container at ground level.
 
If you come across a frog in your garden, it is best to leave it alone. Most amphibians carry Salmonella bacteria and should not be handled.

It’s a great way to have fresh herbs, even if you live in an apartment. And the space above the lights makes the perfect spot for drying those herbs!

UPDATE (March 7, 2025): The rate at which my hydroponic herbs are growing continues to impress me. And the basil leaves are the biggest I've ever seen (and delicious)!

Mistletoe management
 
If mistletoe appears in your landscape, early removal of affected limbs can save the host plant.
 
Traditionally used to treat arthritis, epilepsy, infertility, and countless other maladies, we now know that mistletoe berries are toxic and should never be eaten.

Quince trees are deciduous, so they don’t have much to offer in winter, but they do need chilling hours to produce fruit in spring. If you grow quince in a container, you can easily move it to a secluded outdoor corner of the yard if the container has wheels. These trees produce downy gray twigs and lovely pink or white blossoms in spring.

How to grow quince
 
These plants prefer hot, sunny summers and slightly acidic soil. They can be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9. They are not frost tolerant but can withstand temperatures as low as -15°F. Your quince will benefit from a little wind protection, too. You can grow quince in your yard or in a container. But they generally do not grow true to seed, so you are better off investing in certified pest- and disease-free bare root stock. You may also use cuttings or layering, if you know someone who has a healthy quince tree.
 
While quince is self-pollinating, they are more productive when more than one tree is present to provide cross-pollination.
 
Quince varieties
 
There are several varieties of quince to choose from. The following are a few of the more favorites:

• ‘Champion’ has fruit that tastes a bit like lemon.
• 'Cooke’s Jumbo' grows springtime white-pink flowers and large fruit.
• 'Jumbo' bears white-fleshed fruit.
• 'Orange' grows fruit with more rounded, orange-yellow flesh.
• 'Pineapple' fruits have white flesh with a pineapple-like flavor and aroma.
• Rich’s Dwarf is a smaller tree that grows 8 to 12 feet with large fruit.
• 'Smyrna' has pink flowers and yellow fruit. 

 
Quince pests and diseases
 
Aphids, codling moths, mealybugs, leafrollers, and scale insects are common quince pests. Fungal diseases, particularly cedar-quince rust and quince leaf blight can also cause problems. You can reduce the likelihood of rust by keeping your quince away from juniper and other conifers.
 
People have been growing quince for nearly 7,000 years. If Neolithic farmers could do it, so can you.

People have been growing safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) for over 4,500 years. It is one of our oldest crops, first cultivated in Mesopotamia, primarily for its oily seeds.

Safflower description

Safflower is a thistle-like plant that grows one to five feet tall from a basal leaf rosette. A central stem emerges, and several lateral branches support abundant, colorful blooms. Those blooms may be orange, red, yellow, and occasionally cream or white. The dried petals are commonly used as an inexpensive substitute for saffron. Each plant may produce anywhere from 3 to 50 blooms, depending on the variety and how it is managed.

Each flower is approximately one inch in diameter and produces 15–50 seeds. Some varieties grow as many as 100 seeds. Those seeds are achenes. [Achenes are what you see at the end of each “helicopter” on a dandelion seed head.] Leaves are narrow and serrated and run down the stem. Upper leaves have a spine at the tip, so you may want to wear gloves when working with safflower.

How safflower grows

Safflower is native to arid regions that receive seasonal rain. These herbaceous annuals thrive in temperatures ranging from 82–95°F. They are very drought-tolerant plants, making them an excellent choice for adding color to your landscape without increasing the need for irrigation. They use a deep taproot that may be six feet long or longer to find water for themselves for most of the year. Those tap roots improve soil health and can help reduce soil compaction.

There are summer and winter varieties of safflower. Summer varieties require 120 growing days, while winter varieties need 200 days.

How to grow safflower

Safflower seeds are planted one inch deep. In the wild, safflower seeds germinate during late winter. Seedlings can tolerate temperatures as low as 19°F but planted when temperatures reach 40°F. Keep weeds away from your young safflower plants, as they are not competitive.
​
Safflower grows best in well-drained soil with a pH of 5–8 and needs a fair amount of nitrogen and phosphorus to produce flowers. Check your soil test results before adding anything because too much fertilizer can be worse than not enough.

How cocoa trees grow

Cocoa trees are grown from budding, cuttings, grafting, or seeds. You can also buy seedlings.  Native to the understory of the American tropics, cocoa trees grow best in warm, wet, somewhat shaded locations. [USDA Hardiness Zones 10-12] They cannot tolerate temperatures below 55°F for long.

Cocoa trees do not produce pods until they are four or five years old. They have extensive root systems that thrive in red clay (laterite) soils with a pH of 6.5 to 7.0 and good drainage.

Unlike many other fruiting trees, biting midges (Forcipomyia) pollinate cocoa flowers instead of bees and butterflies.

Pests and diseases of cocoa trees

Most cocoa tree pests are region-specific. In the Americas, the cocoa fruit borer (Carmenta theobromae) causes significant problems, as do rats, squirrels, and woodpeckers. Fungal diseases of cocoa trees include Ceratocystis wilt, frosty pod rot, vascular streak dieback, Verticillium wilt, and witches’ broom. The cacao swollen shoot virus can infect cocoa trees, and mistletoe can drain your trees.

Habitat loss is the biggest threat to modern cocoa trees. Many current growing areas are expected to be unsuitable by 2050. If you can, you might want to plant one today!

How to grow cinnamon
 
You can grow a cinnamon tree indoors pretty much anywhere. You’ll need to live in USDA Hardiness Zones 10-12 for one to grow well outside. These trees prefer slightly acidic soil (pH 6.2-7.2).
 
Depending on the variety selected, your tree may grow 3 to 60 feet tall and 2 to 20 feet wide, so plan accordingly. Your cinnamon tree will need plenty of direct sunlight but can handle some afternoon shade. These trees should be watered deeply and fertilized often when establishing a root system and every spring.
 
You can grow a cinnamon tree from a stem cutting or purchase a seedling.
 
Cinnamon pests and diseases
 
Cinnamon trees are vulnerable to several fungal diseases including types of Diplodia, the fungal pathogen responsible for anthracnose (Glomerella cingulate), and a form of dieback known as cinnamon fungus (Phytophthora cinnamomi).
 
Leaf miners and mealybugs are common cinnamon tree pests. In the tropics, cinnamon butterfly caterpillars and cinnamon gall mites are the primary pests.
 
When cinnamon is cured improperly, many pests are attracted to the fragrant, vulnerable wood. Fumigation with sulfur dioxide is the most common treatment. [I have no idea how much sulfur dioxide remains on our cinnamon once it reaches the store.]

Also known as six-spotted leafhoppers, aster leafhoppers (Macrosteles quadrilineatus) prefer cereals and other grasses, such as barley, corn, oats, and rye. They also feed on carrots, celery, cucumber, dill, lettuce, onions, potato, pumpkin and other squash, and radish. Once they have fed on a plant infected with aster yellows, they carry that disease to all the plants they feed on.

Aster leafhopper description

Aster leafhoppers are good at hiding. Before you see them, you may notice tiny insects launching themselves away at your approach. These bugs are only one-eighth of an inch long, narrow, and a dull light green. If you can get ahold of one and take a closer look, you will see that they have six white spots on their heads, but you’ll probably need a hand lens to see that much detail.

Nymphs look like pale, wingless adults. Like their parents, they prefer hiding on the underside of leaves.

Aster leafhopper management

Remove any plants infected with aster yellows to reduce the spread of disease. Aster leafhopper management is tricky. You can use row covers to protect your plants beforehand. You can also use insecticidal soap and horticultural oils to eradicate these pests. Just be careful with those oils in summer because they can increase the likelihood of sunburn damage.

Agarita pests and diseases

Agarita has very few problems. The roots contain alkaloids that inhibit fungi, and It even thwarts deer! Leaf spots and rusts can occur, and agarita is an intermediate host for stem rust, which can cause significant problems for barley, oats, rye, and wheat, so plan accordingly.

Try growing agarita in your landscape for some refreshing summer fruit.

How can twinning be prevented?
 
Select fruit tree varieties suited to your USDA Hardiness Zone and microclimate. Pay special attention to the number of chill hours required to produce fruit. As always, install your trees at the proper depth since healthy trees can protect themselves in many cases.
 
Regular spring and summer irrigation and winter protection will also help prevent twinning.
 
Twinned fruit should be removed as part of your normal fruit thinning as these fruits are more prone to pest and disease problems.
 
If you end up with mature twinned fruit, take a photo and eat it.

Damage caused by red bugs

​Scientists are still learning about which plants are vulnerable to red bugs. Because these bugs eat knotweed and malva, you may be tempted to let them slide. That can backfire in the long run if we learn that many other annual plants and their seeds are vulnerable in a year or two.

​These bugs are extremely prolific, and the balance of controls between pests and beneficial insects (among other things) can be very delicate and easily disrupted. I think we can agree that there has been enough of that already. If you see a red bug, try to catch it and contact your local County Extension Office.

When transplanting, space plants 12” apart. Unlike most herbs, culantro prefers soil that stays moist. Mulching around (but not touching) these plants can help stabilize soil moisture and reduce competition from weeds.

​Culantro is relatively pest- and disease-free. Its umbrella-shaped flowers attract several beneficial insects, such as hoverflies and lacewings.
​
The best reason for growing culantro is its delicious flavor.

Who ever heard of a tomato tree?

Well, it ends up that there is a small tree in the nightshade family that produces tart fruits with the texture of an extra firm tomato. It is called tamarillo.

Fruits may be red (tart) or yellow (sweeter) and contain large seeds.

How to grow tamarillo

You can grow tamarillo from seeds or cuttings. Native to Central America, they prefer a warm climate and need protection from frost and cold winter temperatures.

These are shallow-rooted trees that require regular irrigation. Mulch helps maintain stable soil moisture levels. Since they can hybridize with other members of the tomato family, you may want to plant them at a distance from other nightshade crops.

Tamarillo pests and diseases

Tamarillos are susceptible to tomato mosaic and powdery mildew. Tomato potato psyllids can be devastating, and nematodes can seriously damage young trees. Aphids and whiteflies are also common pests of tamarillo.

While not what you expect from a tomato, a tomato tree might be just what your yard needs!

Chinese okra description

Chinese okra (Luffa acutangula) looks like a cucumber crossed with a zucchini with longitudinal ridges. Flowers are a sunny yellow and beautifully fragrant, especially in the evening. Vines are sturdy and may climb up to 12 feet, making these plants an excellent choice for a pergola, fence, or trellis. ​

How to grow Chinese okra

These plants can be grown in temperatures ranging from 68°F to 106°F. They need lots of sunlight but may benefit from protection from harsh afternoon sunlight that may cause sunburn.

The seeds are large and easy to work with. Many people soak seeds overnight before planting. Plant seeds one-half inch deep, next to something the seedlings can climb, in soil with good drainage. Water deeply each week, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Chinese okra pests and diseases

If it gets too cold, the leaves will darken, and water-soaked necrosis and wilting may occur. Leaf beetles and leaf miners are common pests of Chinese okra. Yellow spot may also occur.

Harvest fruits while young and enjoy the way they soak up sauces. And if your Chinese okra gets too old, you can always let it dry and enjoy a luffa in your bath!

Pests and diseases of the custard apple family
 
Custard apple plants are susceptible to anthracnose, black canker, diplodia rot, and leaf spot. Common pests include mealybugs and nematodes. These plants are considered invasive in many regions.
 
So what about those risks?
 
While most of these aromatic, tropical and semi-tropical plants share similar growth habits, low-branching, large, sometimes fuzzy, leaves, and textured, heavy fruits, they also share a big problem. 
 
The seeds and leaves of these plants contain something called annonacin. Annonacin is a potentially lethal neurotoxin that can cause brain lesions consistent with Parkinson’s disease. The leaves are commonly used in teas and herbal remedies, and regular use can cause severe diseases, including Parkinson’s and palsy, so only eat the fruit.

​Is lemon verbena an effective herbal remedy or not?

​There are numerous claims about the effectiveness of lemon verbena as an herbal remedy for everything from stomach upset, anxiety, and muscle repair to weight loss and joint pain. While claims like these often turn out to be untrue or exaggerated, science is beginning to support at least some of them. The National Institutes of Health published a study concluding that lemon verbena has “promising antioxidant and anti-proliferation effects.” Until we know more about how lemon verbena can improve our health, we can happily grow it at home for other reasons.

How to grow lemon verbena

These plants are drought-tolerant. They grow best in fertile soil with excellent drainage and full sun. Plant seeds, seedlings, or tip cuttings 12-18” apart. In USDA Hardiness Zones 8a-10b, you can grow these plants as perennials. In cooler regions, it can be grown as an annual.

Common pests and diseases of lemon verbena

Aphids, slugs, and snails are the most common pests of lemon verbena. Leaf miners, mealybugs, spider mites, thrips, and whiteflies may also cause problems. Yellow sticky sheets can significantly reduce populations of these pests. These plants also experience root rots, which can be avoided by allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. Other potential diseases of lemon verbena include gray mold, powdery mildew, spotted wilt, and Verticillium wilt. Again, monitor soil moisture levels and avoid overhead watering.

Add this lemony fresh herb to your landscape for years of delicious flavor and showy flowers.

Sugar maples (Acer saccharum) are related to soapberries and lychee. These deciduous hardwood trees create glorious fall foliage before winter sets in. As temperatures rise, trees convert the starches stored over the winter into sugary sap. That sap starts rising through the phloem to feed new growth. That’s where we step in.

Many years ago, in Stafford, Virginia, I opened a private K-12 school called Children’s Academy. We had a silver maple tree on the property, so we decided to try our hand at tapping it. Tapping trees refers to the way we get to the sap. Taps, also known as spiles or cask pegs, used to be hand-carved wooden tubes, but modern taps are metal. Taps are hammered into the tree to reach the phloem, just under the bark, where the sap flows.

Maple description

Most of us are familiar with hand-shaped, pointy maple leaves. These trees can get quite large, growing 80 feet tall or more. The bark is a lovely pale gray. The greenish-yellow flowers do not have petals. Instead, they grow in several panicles, clustered together, usually after 30-55 growing degree days. The fruit grows in winged pairs that most of us called ‘helicopters’ because they spin as they fall. Those fruits are called samaras, and they contain maple seeds.

Other maples

Sugar and black maples (Acer nigrum) are the primary sources of maple syrup, but our silver maple did well enough. Other maples, including our silver, have lower sugar levels and produce a cloudy (but still delicious) syrup. Norway maples are quickly taking over suburban streets because of their ability to withstand air pollution and weather fleck better than sugar maples. Unfortunately, they are not good sources of sap. One way to tell which maple tree you have is to look at the sap in a leaf petiole. Sugar maple sap is clear. Norway maple sap is white.

How maple trees grow

Maples love cold winters and are best suited to USDA Hardiness Zones 3-5. They take 30 years to reach seed-bearing age and live 200 years or more. These trees are very shade-tolerant. They are best planted as saplings in the spring or fall in well-draining soil. They prefer slightly acidic soil but can grow in soil pH levels of 5.0—7.0.

Have you ever heard of galangal? I saw it used on an episode of Chopped and had to learn more.

Imagine ginger crossed with horseradish, black pepper, and a little pine. To me, that sounds like a perfect addition to stir-fry. Even more intriguing, the fragrant flowers, glossy leaves, tender shoots, and cardamom-flavored berries are also edible.

Galangal is a rhizome that looks a lot like ginger but has more of a peppery bite. It is a popular ingredient in many Asian dishes and you can grow it at home. Not only does galangal make a tasty ingredient, but it is also an attractive grass plant.

Galangal is a member of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae) and a close cousin of turmeric. Before you jump on the galangal bandwagon, you need to know that four different plants go by that name:

• Black galangal (Kaempferia galanga)
• Chinese ginger, fingerroot, or (another) lesser galangal (Boesenbergia rotunda)
• Greater galangal (Alpinia galangal)
• Lesser galangal (Alpinia officinarum)

All of them are edible, but we are only discussing the Alpinia galangals here. 

​Lesser galangal has a more bitter pine flavor, while great galangal has a more medicinal ginger flavor. Under ideal conditions, greater galangal can grow 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Lesser galangal is smaller.

Plant rhizomes when the soil is warm. Cover them with 3 or 4 inches of soil. Space plants 12-18 inches apart. They will need good drainage and partial or full sun exposure. If you have scorching summers, your galangal may need protection from the afternoon sun to prevent sunburn damage. Use a one-gallon or larger container for potted galangal.

​These plants need plenty of water in the early stages. Soaker hoses are an excellent tool for watering galangal. Mulching around your galangal will help the soil stay moist without becoming soggy. How you feed your galangal will depend on where it is being grown. An inexpensive lab-based soil test can tell you what you need to feed plants growing in the ground. Container-grown galangal will benefit from light monthly feedings of fish emulsion or other balanced fertilizer.

Galangal pests and diseases

When ginger stalks turn brown, they are dead. Cut them off and add them to the compost pile. When galangal stalks turn brown, it is often a symptom of too much or too little water. Chlorosis or dull leaves may indicate insufficient nutrients. 

The most common pests include aphids, root borers, grasshoppers, and spider mites. Beneficial insects and the judicious use of Bt can eliminate most of these pests. Severe infestations may require the use of spinosad. Prevent root rot and rust by avoiding overhead watering and ensuring good drainage.

​Harvest your galangal by digging up the entire plant, removing what you want, and replanting the rest. Instead of tamping down the soil, which damages valuable root hairs, “mud in” the replanted part. You will want to harvest before the rhizomes become tough. And be sure to save some for replanting.

As a bonus, research has shown that eating galangal increases alertness, improves focus, impedes caffeine crashes, and may provide anti-inflammatory protection. And hummingbirds love galangal.

How’s that for a stir-fry?