All recent comments/discussion

Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for USA | for all countries
Showing 9241 - 9270 of 20215 comments
Potato 06 Mar, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello Nixiwaka, yours is a good question! Potatoes can be eaten raw but are safer cooked. Potatoes produce alkaloids which can be toxic. As with other members of the solanum family (tomatoes, capsicum, eggplant, nightshade, etc) most of this is in the stems and leaves. When green patches occur on potatoes it is an indicator that photosynthesis is occuring and these alkaloids are being produced in the tuber. That is why it is important to remove any green part of the potato before cooking and eating them. Raw potato is not easily digested in our gastrointestinal tract and may still be undigested when it gets to the large intestine causing colic cramps or diaorrhea as it ferments. I'll let you decide!
Reply
Ginger 05 Mar, Dolly (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hi what is the best month to plant ginger in north west brits and where can i get seedlings
Reply
Ginger 07 Mar, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Ginger is best planted in the spring as the soil starts to warm up. Just buy an undamaged, unbruised piece of ginger from a fruit shop or market. Refer to the Gardenate planting notes for further information.
Reply
Cucumber 05 Mar, Heather Andrews (Australia - temperate climate)
What time of the year do plant cucumbers in Adelaide we have many days over 33 degrees
Reply
Cucumber 06 Mar, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Cucumbers can be planted in Adelaide in the spring and summer. they like a good trellis to climb on and the tips can be pinched to encourage bushier growth. To reduce the chance of sunborn on those scorching days plant them along an east facing fence if you can. This will shelter them during the hottest part of the day. The other alternative is to plant a block of sweet corn and when the corn has taken off plant the cucumbers at their bases. This will give you free shade, free stakes and double crop! The stalks could also be used to support peas in the autumn and winter. Trust this helps.
Reply
Ginger 05 Mar, (Australia - tropical climate)
When the best time to plant ginger ? I live 80 km from Sydney on the coast
Reply
Ginger 06 Mar, John (Australia - temperate climate)
The best time to plant ginger is spring. Ginger will do well in well manured, well drained soil. It likes water but too much before it starts to sprout about a month after planting will cause the rhizomes to rot. Harvest the ginger in the autumn and let it air dry for while before storing in a cool dark place. In warm coastal, frost-free areas the main rhizome/s can be left in the ground. Trust this helps.
Reply
Lettuce 04 Mar, Bev Ayson (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
My lettuce are growing well except The round head is not forming. I have taken a piece of cotton and tied all the outer leaves lightly together and now I see the inside is forming nicely. What am I doing wrong.
Reply
Lettuce 05 Mar, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Sorry you're having trouble with your lettuces. Check whether it is the right variety for the time of year. Unsuitable varieties for the time of year will often stay open and go to seed. Lettuces like cooler conditions generally but there are a number of varieties developed for the hotter months. Warer stress can also cause this even if it was in the punnet before purchase. Trust this helps, sorry I can't help you more.
Reply
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).
Reply
Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 06 Mar, John (Australia - temperate climate)
The rabbit stew sounds like a great idea!
Reply
Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 05 Mar, Simon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Max, Best trap the rabbit and enjoy a rabbit and vege stew.
Reply
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.
Reply
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
Reply
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.
Reply
Potato 02 Mar, Ashley (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Can you recommend a variety of PURPLE potato please?
Reply
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.
Reply
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.
Reply
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.
Reply
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!
Reply
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?
Reply
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
Reply
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
Reply
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)
Reply
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!
Reply
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.
Reply
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
Reply
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.
Reply
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!
Reply
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.
Reply
Showing 9241 - 9270 of 20215 comments
Gardenate App

Put GardenGrow in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use GardenGrow and subscribe to the free GardenGrow planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About GardenGrow | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. GardenGrow is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.