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Showing 9391 - 9420 of 20215 comments
Watermelon 08 Feb, Hermann Jacques Keyser (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I planted seeds about September 2016, and we live in Mpumalanga , Witbank. The first melons are forming, we have had good rain fall this year, I am just starting out farming, and am proud to say to see that all my crops of all types of vegetables have bared fruit and vegetables in such a short time. I am planning to do a larger quantity and the water outside our place never dries up, what do I do to improve my crops. I hope that my request will get help with regards to the water issue, water lies daily on the surface, we are not sure if there is a bore hole. Thank you Hermann Jacques Keyser.
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Watermelon 09 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
It is great to see your enthusiasm for growing food. The four needs of all living things are Sunshine, Food, Water and Care. Sunshine is free so we need to provide the other three. Adding old manure in the Autumn, providing consistent water and mulching in the summer to conserve water and help control weeds will all help produce good crops. The other things are - planting the right variety for the time of the year and removing weeds which use the food and water in the soil. If you look up the Dept of Agriculture or Primary Industries in the internet they will have people or Information Sheets thet will help. All the best with your plans.
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Amaranth (also Love-lies-bleeding) 07 Feb, Derek Wright (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Anywhere in SA that I can buy Amaranthus seeds, red and green
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Amaranth (also Love-lies-bleeding) 08 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
I would check the internet. there are a lot of seed companies that have alternative, heritage and less common seeds. You may also get them from a community garden or permaculture group. One seed supplier in SA is www.organicseeds.co.za but there a a number of other suppliers listing them on the internet. Trust this helps.
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Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 07 Feb, flo (Australia - temperate climate)
Usually crop rotation is done so diseases don't build up in the beds, and also because each type of crop takes different nutrients from the soil. Growing the same crop in the same spot all the time would deplete the soil. Legumes fix nitrogen in the soil, so growing leafy greens to follow would have them benefitting from the nitrogen. Hope this helps...
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Horseradish 06 Feb, Sue (Australia - temperate climate)
Is it best grown in full sun or shade
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Horseradish 08 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Horseradish will grow in full sun or part shade. It is a very hrdy plant and will spread rapidly in good conditions. To contain it you can plant it in a large planter pot and sink the pot into the ground. Horseradish loves damp conditions and in this situation will produce the best roots but will still do well with less water. Trust this helps
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Carrot 06 Feb, mark (New Zealand - temperate climate)
tried to grow carrots for 2 seasons now i doen take off. carrots only size of my small finger as the biggest of the crop.how can i fix it?
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Carrot 07 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
There are a number of reasons why your carrots are small. Carrots like deep friable (loose and fine) soil so if it is only shallow try and dig it deeper and break it up. They also do not like too much nitrogen in the soil. If you have a lot of fresh manure they will grow big tops and small carrots. If your soil is shallow and has clay close to the surface plant the round varieties and eat them when they are golf ball size. Maybe they are not getting enough water. I suggest you think about all these things and also make sure to plant the right variety for the time of year. I'm sorry I can't help you more but trust these suggestions help. All the best for your next crop!
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Chicory (also Witloof, Belgian endive) 05 Feb, (Australia - temperate climate)
Would love to grow witlof /chicory where can I buy the seeds, I live in PE, thanks
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Chicory (also Witloof, Belgian endive) 06 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Eden Seeds have chicory seed. I'm not sure whether they are in far northern NSW or SEQld but you will find them on the internet.
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Amaranth (also Love-lies-bleeding) 05 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Where did amaranths orginate from
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Amaranth (also Love-lies-bleeding) 06 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Amaranth originated in Central America and was used by the Aztecs for thousands of years. It is often called an 'ancient grain' but is not actually a cereal. Trust this helps.
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Amaranth (also Love-lies-bleeding) 16 Oct, Darko (Australia - temperate climate)
Amaranth growing wild for centuries all over Balkans and am not sure if this is the same variety but we had it before Columbus and eat at emergency situation, wars, famine... Before converting to Christianity.
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Okra (also Ladyfinger, gumbo) 05 Feb, John droppers (Australia - temperate climate)
How to cook it is have tried it it seems to be guey slimey
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Okra (also Ladyfinger, gumbo) 09 Feb, David (Australia - temperate climate)
How to Cook Okra Without the Sliminess: www.youtube.com/watch?v=F39BHPwfBfo
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Okra (also Ladyfinger, gumbo) 06 Feb, Flo (Australia - temperate climate)
It is always slimy when boiled or steamed. It is often used in curries etc, masks the sliminess a bit.
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Okra (also Ladyfinger, gumbo) 06 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
I have worked in a community garden with South Sudanese and they use okra in stews as it is to create a thickening effect. They also say that it is soothing for gastric problems. A lot of people say to soak it in vinegar for half an hour then pat dry and cook. Trust this helps.
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Watermelon 05 Feb, jenny philippi (Australia - tropical climate)
we have planted potatoes in our veg but all of a sudden this vine appears and weeks later we realize it is a watermelon vine your page said watermelons should be avoided planting with potatoes. ours came up on their own. will both survive?
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Watermelon 06 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
They may not be good companions but if both are doing wellit's not going to cost you anything to let them go. If the melon roots are intertwined with a potato you may have to leave that potato until the tops of both die down
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Cucumber 05 Feb, (Australia - temperate climate)
How to tell when apple cucumbers are ready to pick
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Cucumber 06 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Most varieties of apple cucumber are ripe when the greenish tinge has gone and they are a clear white. When they are overripe they go yellowish and are often bitter. This would apply to most apple cucumbers but there are some more recent varieties available that are green when they are ripe and some that are a golden, almost brown colour. Trust this helps.
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Luffa (also Loofah, plant sponge) 04 Feb, Coco (Australia - temperate climate)
hi does any one know if I could use the seeds to plant from a store bought loofa ?
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Luffa (also Loofah, plant sponge) 04 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
If the seeds are only a season or two old there is no reason why not. Loofa is a cucurbit (a member of the pumpkin, squash and cucumber family) but has no close relatives that it could hybridise with. Grow the same as pumpkin. Trust this helps.
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Lettuce 04 Feb, Gail (Australia - temperate climate)
I have planted a variety of lettuce from seed. From about 15 seeds planted only 1 is starting to grow. I can't see anything eating the shoots could there be bugs in the ground eating the seedling before it shoots?
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Lettuce 04 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Lettuce and other fine seed like carrot needs consistent moisture to germinate as the seeds are fine. A notorious thief of lettuce and carrot seeds are ants! Sprinkle pepper along the row when sowing the seed, this is an excellent deterrent. Trust this helps.
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Eggplant (also Aubergine) 03 Feb, Judy Stephens (New Zealand - temperate climate)
My husband has a number of plants grown from seed planted in a sloping area shadowed by mature natives but gets around 4-5 hrs shady sun. No flowers yet but around 40cm high and been in the ground a at least 6 weeks...any hope?
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Eggplant (also Aubergine) 05 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Lack of sunlight and maybe competition for water may be the problem. The other thing is that egg plants are often later to fruit than their cousins - tomatoes and capsicum. Trust this helps.
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Cape Gooseberry (also Golden Berry, Inca Berry ) 03 Feb, Gayle (Australia - tropical climate)
Will gooseberry bushes grow in Rockhampton Central Queensland and can I buy from you (We don't sell plants - Gardenate)
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Cape Gooseberry (also Golden Berry, Inca Berry ) 05 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Look up seed catalogues on the net. They are easy to grow from seed.
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Showing 9391 - 9420 of 20215 comments
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