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Showing 9211 - 9240 of 20174 comments
Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 03 Mar, Max (Australia - temperate climate)
We live in suburbs in Chatswood Sydney but as soon as the cobs form a rabbit turns up and eats all the corn (also the chillies).
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Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 06 Mar, John (Australia - temperate climate)
The rabbit stew sounds like a great idea!
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Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 05 Mar, Simon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Max, Best trap the rabbit and enjoy a rabbit and vege stew.
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Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 04 Mar, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Rabbits, possums, etc can be a real menace with our vegetables. Multicrop have a product call 'Scat' which is supposed to provide protection for up to 10 weeks. I haven't used it but have used other products from the same company and found them to be safe and effective. It is available at Bunnings but should be available from other hardware stores and garden centres. the DEPI in Victoria, Dept Env. Land and Water have a number of solutions to the problem. Look up - www.depi.vic.gov.au and search for possum repellants. Their recipe using Quassia chips has been around for many years. Trust this helps.
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Sunflower 02 Mar, Bella (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi Yesterday I scraped out a handful of sunflower seeds from a plant in a friends garden. I have them in a brown paper bag. Can I plant them today or do I need dry them out before I plant them. Thanks
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Sunflower 03 Mar, John (Australia - temperate climate)
You would probably be better to buy a packet of seed or get a small handful from a produce store (they would likely give it to you). The seed you have may not be sufficiently dry and is likelt to rot. It is getting late to plant sunflowers unless you are in the warmer north of the country. Save your seed for next season or swap it for something else. Trust this helps.
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Potato 02 Mar, Ashley (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Can you recommend a variety of PURPLE potato please?
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Potato 03 Mar, John (Australia - temperate climate)
I am in Australia and varieties of potato that are available vary across the Tasman. Check with Potatoes New Zealand at www.potatoesnz.co.nz . They list Purple Heart with purple skin and flesh and Purple Passion with purple skin and yellow flesh. Trust this helps.
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Pumpkin 02 Mar, Tuaine (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
So hubby & I notice that there's pumpkins which I found out it's buttercups growing in our backyard. We no nothing of how to grow or start a garden. So need some friendly advice as we're willing to see how long these pumpkins can lasts.
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Pumpkin 04 Mar, Joan (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I am trying to grow them and they are going alright at this point; I though I was going to lose them all together but I found out I was just watering them far too much so i pulled back on the amount of days i was watering them and I think they are doing alright cos I have pumpkins flowering. I am looking forward to eating them too.
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Pumpkin 03 Mar, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Pumpkins take about 3 and a 1/2 to 4 months to harvest from seed planting. This will give you an idea whether you will have ripe pumpkins before winter. They like lots of water and manure and often thrive from seeds in the compost. Water them at the roots to avoid mildew problems. If it is a running variety you can turn the vines back on themselves to contain them if you need to. Ripe pumpkins will have a dry stalk. Harvesting after the first frost (if you get them) will make them sweeter. Any unripe pumpkins are not likely to keep very long so you can make and freeze pumpkin soup or grate them into recipe sized quantities and freeze them to replace zucchinis in savoury muffins or slice. For your gardening helps and any questions don't hesitate to refer to this site or send us a line. Happy Gardening!
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Luffa (also Loofah, plant sponge) 01 Mar, trudi pollard (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in West Australia Bedfordale in the hills a bit cooler than Perth Where can i get seeds for growing loofah in the west?
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Luffa (also Loofah, plant sponge) 02 Mar, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Luffa seeds are available from Eden Seeds at Lower Beechmont and Green harvest at Maleny, both in SEQld. they can be sent to WA from the eastern states. All the best
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Yacon (also Sunroot) 28 Feb, caroline (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
i have planted 3 bits of yacon, temps in the western cape in the high 20 s, have planted them in containers as they are sprouting, will hope for the best! jerusalem artichokes grow well in my garden, but they are flowering now
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Yacon (also Sunroot) 16 Jul, Amanda (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hi Caroline Are you prepared to sell a few plants to us at all? Regards Amanda (Note from Gardenate - we don't promote selling; exchange or gift is our preferred option)
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Yacon (also Sunroot) 05 Mar, caroline (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
thanks for your advice John, I will not let them dry out, I just hope they make enough tuber to resprout in our spring here, having planted them so late!
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Yacon (also Sunroot) 28 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
I hope you do well with your yacon. Keep in mind that containers can get very hot on a hot day and also pay attention to watering. A wet, dry, wet, dry situation will reduce your yield. All the best.
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Potato 28 Feb, Rex Peni (New Zealand - temperate climate)
1 acre how much seed do I need what's the best variety how much fertilizer give it a go
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Potato 28 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
What variety you grow depends on wht you want to use them for eg. mashing, baking, chips, all rounder, etc. You could contact www.potatoes.co.nz for the most suitable variety to grow. They would also be able to guide you on fertilisers or other soil amendments.
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Potato 28 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
The quantity of seed you would need depends on a number of things - how wide the rows are, how good the soil is, how you are going to cultivate them, etc. As a guide you would need 5-800 kg/acre. I would suggest you contact your local Primary Industries or Agriculture Department for a more accurate quantity. They will know your area and often have charts allowing for different row widths and planting densities to calculate quantities. Happy spud growing!
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Beans - climbing (also Pole beans, Runner beans, Scarlet Runners) 27 Feb, Mike Empson (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
For two years, we have grown scarlet runners on a 2Mtr high frame with pipe outers and wire netting. The plants grow very prolifically, and the harvest was good, but lately the bean pods are significantly reduced in number. They get well-watered, and we pick regularly (perhaps not as frequently as we should) but the beans are tough to eat and quite large. The plant is flourishing well, so is it advisable to trim the tops of the runners, or should we let them grow unrestricted? If we trim them, will the plant still develop? We live in Howick.
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Beans - climbing (also Pole beans, Runner beans, Scarlet Runners) 02 Mar, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Short pods on healthy plants could be caused by poor pollination due to heat. Beans are a warm season crop but pollination and bean set on climbers like Scarlet Runner can be reduced on very hot days. I have seen Scarlet Runner with some good pods then a gap on the flower spike where the beans didn't set pods then more pods. Beans are self pollinating and don't set on very hot days. I presume the plants are growing from a root that has been in the ground for a number of seasons. As you suggest, regularly picking is a must to stop beans going tough. Cutting back the tops of the runners will reduce your harvest in the short term but will encourage denser growth and may make the plants more manageable. I trust this helps. Maybe another reader has some ideas to solve your problem.
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Rockmelon (also Canteloupe) 27 Feb, Anthea (Australia - temperate climate)
Rockmelons are sweet, but the flesh is too hard rather than juicy. Any suggestions as to how I can grow better ones next year?
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Rockmelon (also Canteloupe) 28 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
I only thing I would suggest is not enough water. As melons are very high in water they need a good constant supply to fill out. Mulching the roots will help conserve water. All the best for next season.
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Cauliflower 27 Feb, robert (Australia - tropical climate)
Can I grow brocoli/cauliflower/rhubarb in Townsville and if so what time of year is best. Do they go into direct sunlight or shady area. Just moved to here and I want to establish my own garden for my needs.
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Cauliflower 28 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
You can grow broccoli and cauliflower. There is a local group called - Permaculture Townsville and their website is: permaculturetownsville.org. Have a look at their site and maybe contact them for local advice. Rhubarb would be a real challenge as it likes cooler winters. Peter Cundall of various gardening publications suggests freezing the root, wrapped in plastic for a month during what we would call winter. I have not tried it but he has had many years of eperience and says it works. Trust this helps.
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Rockmelon (also Canteloupe) 27 Feb, Michael (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
The seeds scooped out of a rockmelon be used to grow seedlings. I realise they would have to be dried first, but then its too early here in NSW central plains to plant. Thank you for any assistance.
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Rockmelon (also Canteloupe) 28 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Unless the variety is an F1 hybrid you most certainly can save the seed and it will produce true to type. The chances of it being an F1 are very slim and it would have said so on the seed packet. F1 seed is still OK but may not produce the same as its parent. Rinse them thoroughly in a sieve and lay them on paper towel or cloth to dry. When they are dry store them in a paper bag or envelope with the name and date written on it. Trust this helps.
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Rockmelon (also Canteloupe) 01 Mar, Michael (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Thanks John for that information. Will give them a go in Spring.
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Rockmelon (also Canteloupe) 27 Feb, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Put the seeds in a glass of water. The ones that sink to the bottom are the good seeds...dry them out and store them to plant in Spring. They should be good to keep for 3 to 4 years. You can start them in pots 4-6 weeks before Spring, then plant the seedlings in early Spring.
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Showing 9211 - 9240 of 20174 comments
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