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Showing 8731 - 8760 of 20172 comments
Sweet Potato (also Kumara) 07 May, Jonno (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
There is no reason why you couldn't save and plant the small tubers. They may not grow much in the cooler weather and you would need to ensure the soil is well drained so that they do not rot. Sweet potatoes are mostly grown from cuttings for ease and speed.
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Sweet Potato (also Kumara) 18 May, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I live in Bundaberg (summer low 20's to low 30's C and winter low 10's to low 20's C - does get down to 4-6 a few nights)- now the sweet potato capital of Aussie. Sweet potatoes are planted all year round here. Quite often we see people in a sweet potato patch picking cuttings or runners to plant a new block of SP. I haven't seen the runners but I think if you plant it and keep it watered it will start making roots in a few days. Plenty of SP being planted now.
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Rhubarb 06 May, Kevin Spencer (Australia - temperate climate)
Rhubarb sold inshops has long stems. Mine has shorter, thicker stems and large leaves. Do growers place boards either side of plants to make the stems grow longer?
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Rhubarb 07 May, Lily Martin (Australia - temperate climate)
I believe they grow rhubarb in very little light which makes the stems long.
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Rhubarb 07 May, Giovanni (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Rhubarb can be very variable. I have seen both short and long stemmed rhubarb in the shops. I have also seen some with mostly green stems and some that are deep red for their full length. As most rhubarb is grown from seed, and there are also a number of different varieties, this variation is inevitable. at a house where we used to live the soil was very rich and we had thick, deep red stems that were about 600 mm (24") long. We shifted to another town with a slightly different climate and soil that still needs improving more and the stems are still a good colour but not as long.
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Rhubarb 08 May, Kevin Spencer (Australia - temperate climate)
Thank you for the comments. I live in an area with heavily leached soils and a deficiency at least in iron. I will try using volcanic rock dust and trace elements and see if that makes any difference.
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Daikon (also Japanese radish, Lo Bok) 05 May, Gareth Lusty (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Here is a Giant White Radish (Raphanus sativus) https://duckduckgo.com/?q=daikon+radish+picture&t=h_&ia=images (Couldn't use your link, Gareth - Ed.)
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Sweet Potato (also Kumara) 05 May, Don Latham (Australia - temperate climate)
HI, I'm near Kingaroy in Qld and my sweet potatoes have started to flower. I first grew them in a soil pile in the paddock, but didn't tend to them much and the kangaroos ate the leaves and vines as they were the only green plant around. I harvested some great tasting tubers and moved them to a proper garden bed closer to the house. I have also grown Kent pumpkins in the same bed with them, the pumpkins are almost finished. The sweet potatoes have grown long vine runners and now are starting to flower, they did not flower in their original soil pile. What does the flowering part mean? Is it like my sebago potatoes, nearing harvest time when they flower? This is only my second attempt to grow sweet potatoes and your input is greatly appreciated.
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Sweet Potato (also Kumara) 06 May, Jack (Australia - temperate climate)
Sweet potatoes and Potatoes are both tubers. They start forming while the plant is actively growing but don't ripen until after flowering. Potatoes that are harvested early are called 'new' potatoes and do not keep very long.
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Onion 04 May, Paul (Australia - temperate climate)
How deep do you plant the onion seedling if you buy a small tray from a garden centre or Bunnings?
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Onion 06 May, Sean (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Onion seedlings from punnets are usually very small.Make a V shaped trench abut 50 mm (2") deep and lay them along one side of the trench at recommended spacing (probably 100 mm (4") then carefully draw the soil from the other side of the trench over the base of the seedlings. This is best done on a cool overcast day or in the evening as a warm sunny day will stress the little seedlings too much. They might stay laying down for a few days but will soon be upright.
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Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 04 May, Tony Morales (Australia - temperate climate)
I usually plant yellow (mild) chillies, tomatoes, capsicums, lettuce and herbs which possums do not seem to touch but have blocked up any possible rabbit entry (they a few around Forestville) so I really have no problems.I Still would love to find out when and how to plant my purple corn.
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Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 06 May, Giovanni (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Late Spring is a good time to sow maize/corn in cooler areas. The soil temperature needs to be above 15 degrees before Summer crops will really take off. A soil thermometer is a good investment, they cost around $20.00.
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Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 03 May, (Australia - temperate climate)
I have s quite a few PURPLE CORN which I grew a few years ago but over the last 2 years I have been unable to grow them again. Is there any information available about the best time an method to grow them in Sydney?. Thank you
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Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 04 May, Sean (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Corn and maize do well if they have plenty of compost or manure and a good water supply. They can normally be planted as the weather warms up in spring. probably mid-September onwards in Sydney. You could also plant climbing beans to grow up the corn stalks once the corn has reached about waist high.
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Beans - climbing (also Pole beans, Runner beans, Scarlet Runners) 03 May, Rosemary Jorgensen (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I also have grown trouble free Scarlet runner beans for years. Last year I had no beans at all. This year I had enough to feed us but none to give away. The culprit is the green vegetable bug or shield beetle. They suck and forming beans dry and then they do not develop. This last season, I examined them every day and squashed beetles. I still was scarcely winning the battle. It is hard to spray with anything because the plants are always in flower and we are eating them every day. I am also inundated with white fly. I sometimes have success water blasting them off, but they are far too persistent on the beans.
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Beans - climbing (also Pole beans, Runner beans, Scarlet Runners) 04 May, Sean (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Climbing beans, such as Scarlet Runner, often don't set if you have a run of hot weather. White fly are attracted to bright colours like yellow. Get a piece of bright yellow card or plastic sheet and smear it with petroleum jelly. Tie or nail this to a stake near your beans. The white fly will be attracted to the yellow and will stick to the greasy petroleum jelly.
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Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 03 May, Rae (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Best time to plant corn in Geraldton WA
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Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 04 May, Ken (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Sow seed from September till the end of the year.
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Potato 03 May, Tony Morales (Australia - temperate climate)
I read that potatoes should not be planted close to tomatoes and I was wondering why so.
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Potato 04 May, Jack (Australia - temperate climate)
Tomatoes and potatoes are both members of the Solanacea family. So are capsicums, egg plant, tobacco and deadly nightshade. They are both susceptible to the same diseases. It is therefore healthy to keep them separate.
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Cucumber 02 May, Janice Cranford (USA - Zone 9a climate)
Why are my cucumber plants not making a cucumber, only flowers?
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Cucumber 03 May, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Cucumbers often produce male flowers early in the season before they start to produce female (cucumber) flowers. The male flowers have a longer stem and do not have the unformed cucumber at the base of the flower. I'd say, give them a bit more time.
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Celery 02 May, peter andrews (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
being on a pension now,i have taken a big interest in growing vegies,so I invested in a glass house ,I already have beetroot plants growing, very good ,also I have silver beet growing very good ex in fact .also I have broccoli growing good ,cabbage good ,and cauliflour now shooting up ,can I grow capsicums now ,?,,,,,,,and can I grow celery now,,?,,,,,,and can I grow chillie peppers now ?,,,,, its a great way to keep your mind going and its so nice when you see all the plants starting to get healthy and start growing .hope I am doing ok ? I will welcome any advice you can give me to help me master this art of growing ,kind regards peter
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Celery 10 May, Mem (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi you wont be able to grow chillies or capicums until mid spring-early summer,you can grow celery,broccoli,cauliflower,leeks,cabbage,spinach,silverbeet and peas without cover through winter provided you're in an area without frequent hard frosts and lettuce,radishes and beetroot etc in the glasshouse.
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Celery 03 May, John (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
In your area you would normally sow seed in march and April in your glass house ready for transplanting in May and June. You could also sow seed in August and September for October and November planting out. To avoid stringiness in your celery keep the water up to the plants. Well manured or composted soil will also help.
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Cape Gooseberry (also Golden Berry, Inca Berry ) 02 May, Elizabeth Medgyesy (USA - Zone 5a climate)
My two year old Cape Gooseberry plants have big strong shoots that have tiny plants along them. I'd like to cut them and transplant them to get more of this delicious berry. Any suggestions on how and where to cut the plant and then transplant the best way?
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Cape Gooseberry (also Golden Berry, Inca Berry ) 12 Aug, Helen (Canada - Zone 6b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Plant's healthy, strong, shoots can be cut from the main stem and put in a water-filled bottle until white roots start to emerge. Once the roots are about one inch, the shoots can be planted in a rich soil to grow. It is advisable to change the bottle's water daily.
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Kale (also Borecole) 02 May, Alice (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Aphids over wintering on any curly leaved kale. Last year I grew a lot of leafy greens, the kale Nero was a great success, however the others grew really well but were infested with wooly aphids seeking shelter I assume. I'm not into chemical sprays, and getting the spray in all the curly leaves seems too time consuming, I can wash them off but it's almost pointless with the numbers per leaf. Have others found this? What can I try that's not too much of a hassle as I have a young family and don't really want to go out spraying with garlic spray for example after each time it rains.
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Kale (also Borecole) 25 Jan, Wihiria Mark (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi, An organic gardener told me that broken egg shells keep any crawly grub away as they do not like the sharp edges of the egg. Good way to use egg shells as well. I found it did work with cabbage, cauliflower, hope this is useful to you as well.
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Showing 8731 - 8760 of 20172 comments
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