May Lotito

I checked on my trees and was horrified to find borer holes in four of my American persimmon trees. The barks seem discolored all around and the deepest holes are 5 inches at least. I am afraid these trees are gone.

I basically grow goji as a primocane berry bush. I wouldn't say it's the best way because the previous year's twigs aren't dead, yet they aren't producing either. Removing them takes away nutrient so I put back more biochar and wood ash to compensate. I'd like my goji to grow taller and bigger each year if possible. I have seen pictures of established bushes growing like a wall, pruned with a hedge trimmer.

Here are a couple posts on my efforts to deal with the situation. Welcome to share your pictures and methods.

https://permies.com/t/80/163796/Ideas-Trellis-Gardening#2393733

https://permies.com/t/218922/Training-seedling-goji-tree

Hi Rachana, I've heard if successful stories of protecting figs with heavy mulching and tarp wrapping. Wish you have a bounty crop this year! Even keeping just a few inches above ground would make a big difference. The dormant buds will grow back quickly while restarting from the crown delays the development by weeks. Here is the fig bush after the erratic winter and recent crazy temperature roller coaster: going from 75F to 15 back to 90 in a week. Bigger branches actually die back above the mound of dirt. I am expecting that over time with the branches getting thicker they will be hardier too.

I planted a row of American pillar arborvitae several years ago from 6" starting plants. Oaks and Eastern red cedars are the most prevailing tree species around so no wonder the arborvitae are doing well too. They have grown to very 10 ft tall while remaining narrow. I'd like to have more for wind breaking and privacy screening purposes. The patent has expired a few years ago so it's legal to grow them by asexual propagation. However, there seems to be few examples of rooting conifers in general. Has anyone successful grown coniferous trees from cuttings? What media to use? And how long does it take to root? Thanks!

When chayote starts blooming, the female flowers appear first, and the male flowers open in a week or so. Those early female flowers have no pollen available for pollination and they will abort. That's normal and just wait a few days. If you see both male and female flowers blooming and still no fruit, check if there are pollinators visiting. It can take a while for them to come. Try hand pollinating with a brush in mid morning when the success rate is the highest. Good luck.

I have native field pansy (Viola bicolor) in the back yard. The tiny flowers bloom at the same time as tiny bluet and henbit in early spring.

I've never seen the first plant but the inflorescence indicates it's a cruciferous. So I got out my Texas wildflower book and one description matches:
Lepidium montanum, or mountain pepperweed, also known as pennycress. Leaves and seeds are edible and taste peppery.

I am happy to report back that the several clumps of garlic I transplanted last winter are doing well. They have more room to grow deep roots and some are ready for harvesting as green garlic, well advanced of those remain crowded.

I restarted new plants from cuttings again. They started blooming in November last year and stalled a bit. The newer leaves felt stiff and new flower spikes ceased to extend. Since boron deficiency is a chronic problem in my garden and compost and potting mix made from local materials tend to be have low levels of B. I supplemented a bit to see the response and they all got back to normal. I will keep on monitoring the new growth after the flush of bloom is over. African violet can live for years with super long neck without a problem.

Welcome to Permies! I got my original squash from an etsy seller from Baltimore or DC. Look up "prickly chayote" and maybe there are sellers in your area. I am not sure how different is the climate in NE. My growing season is from May to October and I start harvesting in September. Late harvested chayotes can be stored in the fridge till mid to late February, in time for indoor sprouting and transplanting.