All recent comments/discussion

Shallots (also Eschalots) 01 Mar 10 Christine (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Grew shallots for the first time this year. Magnificent. I bought a bag cheap from the supermarket because they were sprouting, didn't really know what I was doing but treated as garlic and had 4-6 large bulbs per plant. They were pretty small bulbs originally so will be saving the large bulbs from this years crop and should have up to 12. Give each bulb plenty of room to spread and lots of feed.

Eggplant (also Aubergine) 02 Mar 10 Pru (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

To stop flowers falling off plants put a 10 cm straight line of Epsom salts about an inch away from the main stem. Works a treat. I now have 9 fruit on one plant.

Pumpkin 02 Mar 10 hayley (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Hi, I'm new to this. I am growing butternut pumpkins. They have spread everywhere and are getting beautiful yellow flowers but no pumpkins. What am I meant to be doing? I have had success with my snowpeas, corn and carrots...just not pumpkin. Can someone please help?

Marrow 02 Mar 10 Monica (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I've tried to grow Spaghetti Marrow, was succesful with lots of greenery, strong vines and even flowers, but they just fell off without bearing any fruit at all! why?

Rosella (also Queensland Jam Plant, Roselle) 02 Mar 10 Trev Judd (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Hi there, I live in Ipswich, Qld and would like to know where I can buy some plants. It's early March. Is the season too late? Regards, Trev

Collards (also Collard greens, Borekale) 02 Mar 10 shaun (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Giot collards from Eden seed and eBay...I let them go to seed in the garden and they self sow well. Not prolific and the white cabbage butterfly have a good go at them more than anything else in the garden. Also grow Kale very well..what an under estimated beauty

Collards (also Collard greens, Borekale) 02 Mar 10 shaun (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

some was asking about amaranth..there are two types one ornamental one edible as I understand..choose carefully we got ornamental by mistake and it grows like a weed although easy to see and pick out.

Kohlrabi 02 Mar 10 shaun (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

We like it roasted like spuds, or grated in salads, lightly steamed in fact any which way...so under rated. The green tops are nice too in stir fry or as a boiled veg. Do not let it get too big as it goes woody and then is quite unpleasant...not the taste, the texture with bits and shreds in your mouth.

Carrot 02 Mar 10 boot (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

carrots are the best if eaten when straight out of the ground

Salsify (also Vegetable oyster) 03 Mar 10 Jo Mckenzie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I'm trying it for the first time seeds seem to take ages to come up - i sowed them 2 weeks ago - maybe its still to hot here but will keep trying!!!

Tomato 04 Mar 10 Steve (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

This year I grew four sorts, Black cherry, marmande, Kotlas and one other I forget. All from the Lost Seed Company. For the first time ever I applied monsterous neglect and I've had my best ever crops. At least 20 kilos so far and still growing strong. Other than an automatic watering over three weeks in December I have done almost nothing. No shoot removal, bad supports, they have sprawled into one huge mess of about 6 square metres which cover the ground so much that weeds have no chance at all. (I haven't weeded since I planted them). I just stick an arm into the pile and pick beautiful toms. I've even left chewed one to drop and rot as it's too hard. I think I've finally discovered the secret to tomato growing.

Parsley (herb) (also curly leaf parsley or flat leaf (Italian) parsley) 04 Mar 10 doug (Australia - temperate climate)

In our region we are having trouble growing parsley over the past couple yrs. Many gardeners say they used to have large plants and self sown used to come up all over the place. Not any more.. Plants are soi small even if they do start to grow. This is most gardens. Would it be the hot summer [44degrees atr times] We sow in Spring but very little success. What is wrong.

Marrow 04 Mar 10 Gerry (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Monica, this is usually due to poor pollination (it happens with Zucchinis too). Growing more than one plant can help or you shake the flowers or even hand pollinate with a small paintbrush once every few days (just wiggle it round inside the flower then move on to the next flower, etc).

Broccoli 04 Mar 10 Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Snails and white cabbage butterfly (green) caterpillars will skeletonise plants almost overnight. Caterpillars have just eaten all my baby kale when they were "unsupervised" for a couple of days..

Watermelon 04 Mar 10 dene (Australia - temperate climate)

hi i dont the variety of hand but my watermellons are growing well to about football size but are splitting very badly. does anyone know why? they are on retic getting water every morning.

Marrow 04 Mar 10 Terry (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I found a great video that addresses this problem at www.thegardenguru.com.au (look for it under zucchini)

Leeks 04 Mar 10 Wendy (Australia - tropical climate)

I'm trying to grow leeks in a full tropical climate. As our winter/dry season is more like summer in a temperate zone, this year I'll try planting out as soon as the rain diminishes then plant maybe six every two weeks or so. We have an aquaponics system also which I plan to try leek in this winter. Wish me luck.

Beetroot 05 Mar 10 brian slane (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Just like a previous writer, I would like to know when beetroot is ready to harvest

Potato 06 Mar 10 joe isaac (Australia - temperate climate)

Where can I buy seed potatoes (King William) online or fromoutlets in Melbourne? What is the best time to put them in? I have a sheltered sunny plot. Thanks for any suggestions

Tomato 07 Mar 10 Marion (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I have planted some yellow pear tomatoes the bush is huge and has plenty of tomates on however they are splitting, can anyone tell me why?

Pumpkin 07 Mar 10 Bill Crosbie (Australia - temperate climate)

My butternut pumkins form, but die off after reaching only about 10 cm long.Out of one vine I have only managed one only fullsized pumpkin whereas I have lost about 6 to 8 . Soill is sandy with mulch, horse & sheep manure, and watered daily with plenty of sun. I need help for next season please?

Okra (also Ladyfinger, gumbo) 07 Mar 10 bazbina (Australia - tropical climate)

i grow my okra in Brisbane qld and get the best results-in sandy soil ,i love cooking them in my favorite best way to cook okra is the Lebanese way ,which you have to deep fry first as a whole until golden brown so the gummy feel goes away,and then you saute 1 slice onion,1 clove of garlic,coriander 1/2 kg cube sliced lamb meat,cook all together until meat are golden brown...next add 2 cups of water bring it to boil for 20 minutes with lid on until meat is tender .add some of your favorite spice such as cumin ,nutmeg,white pepper and after it has been reduced add 2 table spoon of pomegranate paste or tammerin Indian paste same taste ,and 3 soup spoon of tomato paste bring to simmer for 10 minutes ..served with rice dish on the side

Beetroot 07 Mar 10 Lisa (Australia - temperate climate)

Beetroot will push upwards when it is ready and you can usually see a decent sized top over the top of the soil.

Broccoli 07 Mar 10 richa (Australia - temperate climate)

I tried growing broccoli and cauli.Last season they grow well but no vegetable came out.what did i do wrong?i used cow manure and blood and bone.Please also tell me name of the chemical free pesticide for vegetable and herb .

Beetroot 08 Mar 10 Sherale (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

whats the best fertilizer for beetroot as I planted a month ago and seedlings very small..

Tomato 08 Mar 10 Sim (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Marion, it's due to either too much watering or irregular watering. Tomatoes will split when they absorbed too much water than the skin can expand. Try reducing amount of watering but keep the frequency of watering. Can't do much about the tomatoes already split.

Broad beans (also Fava bean) 09 Mar 10 Rob (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)

@Lindsay, It's the roots that you plough back into the soil and that provides nitrogen(essential for foliage growth)

Kale (also Borecole) 10 Mar 10 aukje van Vark (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

(Dutch) Kale or boerekool, needs a night of below zero before eating. Normally this happens on the fields, but you can also achieve this by freezing it after harvest. It gets the bitterness out, and makes it a touch sweeter. We always eat it mashed with potatoes, and then add fried bacon and sausages.

Swedes (also Rutabagas) 10 Mar 10 Danny (Australia - temperate climate)

Swede is my fav! My favorite way (Which is a bit naughty) Is to peel and cut into cubes. Melt butter in a saucepan put swede in. Pop on a lid and slowly and gently cook till swede is soft. then mash with salt and lots of pepper into a delicious creamy mash.Delicious on its own in a bowl or as a dip. Also swede in a big dahl or curry is delicious also.

Globe artichokes 10 Mar 10 Deb McKinlay (Australia - temperate climate)

Im on a small mountain in berry nsw and im wondering whether artichokes will grow well, the soil is cleared rain forest. what do you think?