Growing Concerns - Prune fruit trees now or later?

Q: I just bought some fruit trees, should I prune them now when I plant them?

A: Container-grown trees that have been in their pots for some time should be pruned only very lightly by removing just broken or poorly placed growth. To encourage strong root growth, cut back the tops of bare-rooted or balled and burlapped trees by about one half or slightly more if the trees are especially tall and skinny.

Q: I am a first-year gardener but I have read and read. I tilled and fertilized and added compost to the soil last fall. Is there anything more I should do before I put my plants in the ground in the next week or two?

A: You sound as though you have prepared well. For best results, I would add more organic matter to the soil now just a week or two prior to planting. Spread compost, aged manure or other bulky organic soil-building materials two to four inches deep on the top of the soil and dig it in to a depth of 12 inches. Let me know what you decided to plant and how your garden grew when summer is over. Call me if you have further questions and good luck I hope you will find gardening as enjoyable as I do.

Q: What is the difference between organic and inorganic fertilizer?

A: Organic fertilizers are made from animal, vegetable or mineral sources such as bonemeal, blood meal, cottonseed meals and rock phosphates. Inorganics are made from treated minerals such as superphosphate, nitrate salts or potash salts or extracted from the air (ammonium forms of nitrogen).

Q: Are plant diseases a big problem in home gardens?

A: I do not think they are usually much of a problem as they are for farmers growing large crops of a single kind. A home garden is more varied, with a greater number of checks and balances to control an outbreak of disease or an insect infestation.

Q: When can I plant radishes?

A: Sow radish seeds as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring, and thereafter in succession until warm weather. Sow late crops in early fall.

Q: I enjoy reading your column each week. Some weeks ago, when writing about kohlrabi, you mentioned you knew of no other way to eat them than raw. I agree they are excellent that way. They are also good with a dip, along with other vegetables.

However, they can be peeled and fried as raw potatoes might be. They can also be peeled, sliced, boiled and served, or you can go another step and cream the cooked kohlrabi as you might with cream peas.

I believe they would add an extra element if chopped and added to a vegetable soup.

These variations were taught to me by my mom who raised many, many kohlrabi in her farm garden each year.

A: Thanks for the info. I am going to try them in some of the ways you suggested especially with dips and in soups.