Question
QUESTION: Reently I planted some onion sets.  They are doing well except one a.m. while inspecting, found some white puddingy stuff growing around the base of the green leafy part of the plant.  Where it joins the bulb - encircling the leaf base.  I scraped it off all 3 of them.

I suspect it is a fungus, but can the onion be harvested and eaten; if not, I will toss.  Is it harmful?  What kind of fungus is it.  I live in Miami, FL and it is hot now.  No rain to speak of, but I water every week on my back patio.  They are in containers in MG Organic pot. soil.

ANSWER: Hi Janet, It sounds like neck rot, a fungal disease.  It's usually associated with too much nitrogen, so be careful fertilizing.  I don't know of any treatment, it just needs better cultural practices.
I suspect the onions should be discarded.
Also, it will stay in your soil, so get new soil.  I would not use a lightweight soil.  Use garden clay and loosen it with a little sand and compost.  Jim

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QUESTION: Thank you for your prompt answer. One more ?.  There are some mustard greens in the same pot, do I have to discard those also.  The onions I will,  but what about my greens?

ANSWER: Hi again, The greens will be fine to eat.  Just wash them thoroughly. Jim

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QUESTION: I have 9 tomato plants, all at varying stages of growth.  Some have borne fruit, some are flowering, some, nothing doing.  Two healthy looking beefsteaks suddenly one day I saw green things moving on them.  Hornworms, which I had never seen before in my life.  Then mites and whitefies.  I use MG organic p/soil and MG tomato fert. I killed worms and sprayed with soap, oil and water. Low and behold, the leaves and stems are now brown and quite dead, and the lower half of the plants are all nude bz I had to cut them off. Now they look like trees.  Leaves at the top but no leaves at the bottom.  Will they sprout more leaves, if I leave them alone?  They look awful.  Or shd I just pull them?  Tomatoes are great to grow but in FL they are a pain with all the pests.

Answer
You have to be very careful with soap and oil sprays on veggies. It is very easy to fry the foliage.  I'd rip them up and start new.  There are better organic options for insect and disease control, so go to your local independent garden center with the first sign of a problem.  Jim