Growing Bell Peppers – Insect infestation

Hi, I have an allotment garden and last season had success growing pepper plants and getting them to flower and fruit but a black bug seemed to burrow into my plants and destroy much of the fruit. Other gardeners at…

Roses and Lily of the Valley Cohabitation?

Can hybrid tea roses survive/flourish in a bed where lily of the valley is spreading? Do I try to plant hybrid tea rose in this sunny location? Is it possible for the roses to thrive surrounded by lilly of the…

Expert Consultant – Companion Gardening vs. Crossbreeding Tomatoes

Dear Toronto Master Gardeners, I’m currently taking AP Capstone: Research , and I’m especially interested in your expertise. I would like to learn more about your work, particularly your article “Companion Planting: A Toronto Master Gardeners Guide”. My experience working…

Mandevilla competition

Hello, I’ve been growing Mandevilla on my south-facing, mid-town Toronto balcony for five or six years now, and am curious about the following: Most summers when I have grown the Mandevilla by itself in a pot (starting it as a…

Onion planting with potatoes

I saw on a recent publication the suggestion to plant an onion with potatoes to ward off a specific beetle. Two questions: 1. Is this appropriate when growing potatoes in a container or just in the ground?; 2. Can I…

Sunflowers Allelopathy and Vegetables

I read with interest your reply to a previous question here: https://www.torontomastergardeners.ca/askagardener/plants-that-will-survive-sunflower-seed-hulls-toxicity/. I planted sunflowers in a part of my vegetable garden and was not able to use it this year. Are there any vegetables that will grow after a…