Explore Plants

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
    
 

Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Wednesday - June 13, 2007

From: Iron Station, NC
Region: Southeast
Topic: Non-Natives, Edible Plants
Title: Mulching vegetables with straw
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I have a small garden with 4 different veggies, tomatoes, hot peppers, squash & cucumbers. which plants is it OK to put straw under? which plants will straw hurt the stalks or other possibilities? thank you

ANSWER:

Our focus and expertise here at the Wildflower Center are native plants of North America. Although many garden vegetables have been cultivated from native plants, they are now very different from their 'wild' cousins. Your best bet for vegetable gardening information is from your North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. On their web page they have a wealth of information on growing and caring for a large number of garden vegetables. You can also contact the Lincoln County Center of the Cooperative Extension Service for specific information about gardening in your area.

 

 

More Edible Plants Questions

Information about Citrus mitis
June 26, 2008 - I was given a Citrus Mitis plant. It has beautiful white flowers and delicious looking tiny oranges.everyone in my office is asking if they're edible?
view the full question and answer

Native Fruits for Texas Hill Country
March 31, 2009 - Can you recommend a species of blackberry for San Antonio or any other fruit that will be compatible in my garden? (mostly Hill Country Native, thanks to Ladybird). The local store has raspberries, bu...
view the full question and answer

Gardening books for Austin and Central Texas
June 09, 2008 - Hi, I'm looking for a book for my wife. She is a beginning gardener here in Austin. Do you know of an ideal book or two that covers vegetable gardening and gardening in general in Austin/Central Tex...
view the full question and answer

Edible native plants for Camp Wood, TX
November 01, 2012 - We live northwest of Camp Wood, TX in the uplands, so our soil is shallow with caliche and limestone beneath and is clay-like with the typical higher pH. Are there any native trees, bushes, vines, or...
view the full question and answer

Edibility of non-native garlic sprouts from Brancburg, NJ
March 12, 2013 - I have regular garlic in my refrigerator. It had sprouts growing out of it so I put it in a cup of water. Now that the stems are large enough to put in food, my question is.. Is that part of the garl...
view the full question and answer

Smarty Plants's Facebook profile Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.

Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends.