When to Harvest Apples

If the seeds inside an apple are brown, the apple is ripe. Pick a few test apples and cut them open; if the seeds are brown you can begin harvesting. If the seeds are still white or tan, the apples are underripe--though you can still use them for apple pie! Apple varieties differ in their tartness, but red and golden delicious should be crisp and slightly tart in flavor.

Cross Pollination of Squash and Gourds

Don't worry about separating these plants. The only concern is if you plan to save seed for planting next year. Cross pollination does not affect the current year's fruits--only the seeds. (This might be a concern if, say, you were planning to harvest pumpkin seeds for roasting.) However, if you compost the plants and some of the seeds sprout, you could have some strange gourd/squash mutants growing out of the compost pile! But there's no need to worry about this year's crop.

Gardening in Sand

Till a 6-inch layer of compost tnto your soil several weeks before planting to greatly improve its fertility. Or, build a raised bed and fill it with a combination of purchased topsoil and compost. Mulch plants with organic matter, such as compost, shredded bark, grass clippings, or straw. Continue to add lots of organic matter each year, which over time will not only improve your soil's fertility and drainage, but will also increase its ability to retain moisture and nutrients. Organic matter also provides food for earthworms and microorganisms that help build the soil.