All recent comments/discussion

Showing 9271 - 9300 of 20174 comments

Jerusalem Artichokes (also Sunchoke) 25 Feb, Ruth L. (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Sandy, careful JA's are verye invasive, my husband calls them "*artyjokes" for obvious reasons.... my favourite is frying the peeled and thickly sliced roots in olive oil/butter with heaps of homegrown garlic cloves, add pepper and salt ....yummmo!! Jamie Oliver has a beef stew recipe that has JA's, its gorgeous, search for "Jools favourite beef stew or casserole online
Reply
Jerusalem Artichokes (also Sunchoke) 24 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate): There are numerous recipes on the internet. Google Jerusalem Artichoke recipes. Roasting, boiling, soups, stews, etc. Pick some of the stems for cut flowers. They are bright and cheery.
Reply
Cucumber 22 Feb, ebony (Australia - temperate climate): thank you for your help
Reply
Potato 22 Feb, kishore (Australia - temperate climate): Hi I live in Australia-Sydney. I want to grow second crop of potatoes. How can I do that and where can I get the seed potatoes for second crop during Dec-January? Thanks
Reply
Potato 23 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate): You could certainly grow another crop of potatoes in Sydney. Unless you were a commercial grower it would be difficult to find'certified' seed potatoes at this time of the year. You could plant small potatoes from a shop. Leave them on a bench and let the 'eyes' start to sprout before planting. Do not plant them in the same spot you have just grown tomatoes, capsicums or potatoes as you don't want or need soil-born viruses transmitted.. 'Certified' seed potatoes are grown in tested, virus-free soil before being packaged and sold. 'New' potatoes can be harvested about a month after flowering and 'old' potatoes when the tops die off. All the best.
Reply
Beetroot (also Beets) 22 Feb, James (Australia - temperate climate): I have a 90 cm strip facing north running along boundary fence.I am thinking of planting a row of garlic and a row of beetroot side by side. Is it alright to do so? Please help.
Reply
Beetroot (also Beets) 11 May, Heather (Australia - temperate climate): My beetroot became much better when I fed them some boron and watered them with weak worm tea every second day, I think they like their vitamins and minerals and good nutriion.
Reply
Beetroot (also Beets) 23 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate): If you plant your garlic at the back and the soil is in good condition there is no reason why you couldn't plant garlic long the back and 2 or 3 rows of beetroot. Keep the water up and you shouldn't have any problems. When planting garlic DON"T use imported garlic cloves (mostly Chinese) as garlic is susceptible to a disease that can be found in imported garlic. Imported garlic is sometimes labelled with its country of origin but is commonly sold in supermarkets. All the best.
Reply
Beetroot (also Beets) 25 Feb, James (Australia - temperate climate): Thanks John.
Reply
French tarragon 22 Feb, Martin Gillion (New Zealand - temperate climate): Any idea where I can buy F Tarragon plants in Auckland - North Shore?
Reply
French tarragon 23 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate): Plant Zero in Aucklnd list French Tarragon. There may be others. P: 0275197108
Reply
Cabbage 21 Feb, Dorothy Geoffrey (Australia - temperate climate): CAN I BUY RED CABBAGE SEEDS IN AUSTRALIA? BETTER STILL DOES ANYONE IN AUSTRALIA GROW THEM? Regards Dorothy Geoffrey
Reply
Cabbage 22 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate): Red cabbage seed is readily available from online or mail order seed companies. Search 'vegetable seeds' on the internet and you will find quite a number of seed companiees that advertise it. Trust this helps.
Reply
Silverbeet (also Swiss Chard or Mangold) 21 Feb, Sarah Lilac (Australia - temperate climate): I am trying to grow silver beet but i am having trouble find a suitable fertilizer. Please help!!!!!!!!!
Reply
Silverbeet (also Swiss Chard or Mangold) 22 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate): Rotted manure,pelletiesed manure or blood & bone would be ideal for your silver beet. Being a leaf crop they like lots of nitrogen which they would get from the things I have suggested. natural fertilisers are ideal as they build up the soil and increase soil life, unlike chemical or synthetic fertilisers which destroy soil life. Give nutrients a go, you will be well rewarded!
Reply
Silverbeet (also Swiss Chard or Mangold) 03 Apr, Mike (Australia - temperate climate): Most manures and B&B have very little N. And I reckon most manures from commercial shops don't have a lot of actual manure in them.
Reply
Silverbeet (also Swiss Chard or Mangold) 04 Apr, Mike (Australia - temperate climate): How common manures measure up. Manure N-P-K Chicken 1.1 .80 .50 Diary cow .25 .15 .25 Horse 2.4 1.4 .60 Steer .70 .30 .60 Rabbit .70 .30 .40 Sheep .70.30 .90 Sources: Rodale's All-New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening, An Illustrated Guide to Organic Gardening, by Sunset Publishing, and the Rodale Guide to Composting. Note: Nutrient values of manures vary greatly, depending on the diet and age of the animals, and the nature and quantiy of bedding in the mix. Manures are a soil conditioner really. I mulch my plants left overs and grass clippings and add fert 15 10 13 and some lime.
Reply
Yacon (also Sunroot) 21 Feb, Dan (Canada - Zone 5a Temperate Warm Summer climate): I am also looking for yacon tubers for planting. If you can sell me any I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks for your efforts.
Reply
Yacon (also Sunroot) 22 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate): Search 'yacon tubers for sale' on the internet. I did and came up with a number of suppliers including Bakers Creek Heirloom Seeds in the USA, along with others. Trust this helps
Reply
Squash (also Crookneck, Pattypan, Summer squash) 20 Feb, anthony bass (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): my next question is how does one determine the male and female of the flowers?
Reply
Squash (also Crookneck, Pattypan, Summer squash) 20 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate): Male flowers will have a longer, spindly stalk and only produce pollen (the male half of the deal) while female flowers have shorter stems and an undeveloped fruit (the female half of the deal). This fruit will develop into a squash or pumpkin when and if pollinated. Trust this helps.
Reply
Onion 20 Feb, michael kearns (Australia - temperate climate): Which type of onion is better. brown or yellow
Reply
Onion 20 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate): They are both good depending on what your intended use is. Brown onions are often smaller and more pungent but Creamgold (Pukekoe), the creamy yellow one is larger with a smoother flavour. I suppose you could say Creamgold is the ideal BBQ onion as it onlly needs light frying. It is entirely a matter of personal preference. Trust this helps.
Reply
Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 19 Feb, Pauline (Australia - temperate climate): Hi Mark Southcombe About the ants. While I have a lot of ants they are not a problem now that I am using a Bokashi system of compost. In fact no bugs are attacking my vegetables. I am growing corn for the first time and so far so good. I will keep an eye on all the things mentioned in this post.
Reply
Beetroot (also Beets) 18 Feb, Sam (Australia - temperate climate): Hi just wondering if anyone has ever let their beetroot go to seed & might know whether it's worth trying to pickle them..?? or do they go woody, etc... Just seems a waste to do nothing with them...?
Reply
Beetroot (also Beets) 19 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate): Beetroot, like carrots, is a biennial, that means it grows one season and flowers and seeds the next. Root vegetables do go woody in their second season but there is no reason that you couldn't cut it up small or grate it and make pickles. You could also blend it to make beetroot dip. If there are a lot of beetroot and you like the dip idea just freeze it in recipe quantities. Don't forget to save some seed to use or share.
Reply
Squash (also Crookneck, Pattypan, Summer squash) 18 Feb, anthony bass (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): Hi Guys, I don’t know if this is the right forum for this, but, can some explain to me why a gem squash plant I have has produced so many flowers and yet not one has grown into a squash. I have seen the small squashes grow to about 1cm and then the little stalk starts to dry out and the squash falls off. I have it growing as a vine to keep it off my courtyard floor, is this part of or the problem,
Reply
Squash (also Crookneck, Pattypan, Summer squash) 18 Feb, kathy (Australia - temperate climate): you need to pollinate them by hand
Reply
Squash (also Crookneck, Pattypan, Summer squash) 18 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate): Your problem suggests the female (fruiting) flowers have not been pollinated. This could be due to a lack of bees or other pollinating insects. The alternative is to hand pollinate by removing a male flower and its petals and brushing it over the female flower. This can also be done with a small, soft paint brush. Having it growing as a vine wouldn't make a difference, in fact it be beneficial to the plant as it would aid air circulation and reduce the chance of mildew forming. Trust this helps.
Reply
Horseradish 17 Feb, geoff (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate): where can i buy, i'm not far from durban
Reply

Showing 9271 - 9300 of 20174 comments

GardenGrow

Keep your garden growing - see what to plant right now

All recent comments/discussion

GardenGrow

Keep your garden growing - see what to plant right now

All recent comments/discussion

Become A Supporter!

Planting Reminders