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Showing 3181 - 3210 of 20204 comments
Rhubarb 06 Jan, Anon (Australia - temperate climate)
Spindly thin leaves probably means lack of nutrient in the soil. Did you improve the soil with compost, manures, fertilisers before you planted the crowns. They probably need some regular fertilising, every 2-3 mths when growing. To buy crowns with big fat stalks doesn't sound right to me. They should have been left until production had slowed down like going into winter. The plant goes dormant in winter, so you plant crows in late winter early spring into good rich well drained soil. Any other people here with experience with rhubarb, I have never grown it.
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Pumpkin 05 Jan, Sue Bradshaw (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I inherited a large Kent pumpkin vine when we moved into our house a year ago on the Sunshine Coast. It came with a single substantial pumpkin. As I've learned more about the way they reproduce I've tried to hand pollinate with only one successful outcome. The vine currently has two pumpkins, one of which was made without any help from me. A couple of weeks ago (late December) the vine became full of tiny female flowers and the male flowers were in abundance too. I thought I'd have a great outcome and even saw a bee or two. But not all of the tiny females even reached the flowering stage, just withered where they grew. It has been pretty hot and humid here, with temps 30+ most days and night in the low 20s. I keep the water up to them but they really suffer during the mid day heat. Would shade cloth help? Is there anything I can add to the soil?
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Pumpkin 06 Jan, Anonymous (Australia - temperate climate)
Most veggies are grown as an annual. To have one 12mths old is a bit unusual. The vine would be very long now before the flowers appear, maybe the plant can't sustain that. Pumpkin zucchini and probably watermelons and rock melons etc When they flower they start with male flowers to start attracting the bees, then produce female flowers. The female flower is only open for one day generally and will be shut by lunch time. So it needs a few visits from bees in that 2-4 hrs to fertilise the female flower. Or needs hand pollination on that day. I live at Bundy and I grew pumpkin through last summer and it was 3-4 degrees hotter last summer than this year so far. I think you just have an old plant that has had it's day. After you pick this years crop think about planting next year in the spring, your vines will be well establish going into summer. It will also allow you to refresh the soil with compost, manures fertiliser etc.
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Silverbeet (also Swiss Chard or Mangold) 04 Jan, Heather (Australia - temperate climate)
Since I planted the silver beet next to a rose tree that was doing really well.....the silverbeet are doing well but the roses flowers have shrunk considerably and some of the leaves are yellow. Is it because the silverbeet is taking up a lot of the nutrition in the soil and should I also water more now to allow for all of the plants to get enough hydration? We live in Melbourne and it is summer. thanks
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Silverbeet (also Swiss Chard or Mangold) 05 Jan, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Just my view but I don't mix plantings of things together. As far as I'm concerned a rose garden is a rose garden. A vegie garden is for vegies. They require slightly different fertiliser. If mixing plantings then more fertilisering and watering is required especially in hot summer.
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Silverbeet (also Swiss Chard or Mangold) 06 Jan, Heather (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks good advice. I think i may try to transplant the silver beet somewhere else and see how it goes.Or i will leave them fertilise them more and water them more right now being summer.
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Rosemary 03 Jan, Linda Arencibia (USA - Zone 7a climate)
I bought four rosemary plants of substantial size yesterday, ( January 2nd). I live in Virginia in zone 7a. I wonder if I can plant these outside now or if I should wait until Spring. I keep my house at about 70 degrees and do not have any truly sunny rooms. The best and most consistent daylight comes from a patio door on the West side of the house.
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Rosemary 05 Jan, E (USA - Zone 7a climate)
You need to judge by how cold it is in your area - frosts etc. Be guided by what it says here about doing cuttings if a lot of frosts. Maybe leave planting out until after the last frost. Plants need sunlight. Maybe put them out in the day and bring in at night if going to be really cold.
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Watermelon 03 Jan, EMC (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Anyone have tips if watermelon would work down in Invercargill? Would love to grow some fruits down here, but can't be tree based types. Rather tight on funds so cheaper is always better, but also happy for advice as well.
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Watermelon 05 Jan, A (New Zealand - temperate climate)
EMC it is there at the top of the watermelon page for NZ temperate climates when to plant. They grow along the ground and buy some seeds from a seed selling website or shop selling seeds.
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Silverbeet (also Swiss Chard or Mangold) 03 Jan, Max Crichton (Australia - temperate climate)
As far as Aphids go I have a small thistle (don't know the name of it) with yellow flowers which if left to seed have a white fluffy seed nest. This plant attracts the Aphids which in turn leave my veggies alone. Every couple of days I will rub my hands along the stems and squash the little critters. I let this plant go to seed and the seeds come up where ever they want too. Also I have a home made Garlick spray which helps to deter quite a few bugs (however it will also deter bees). Try allowing some weeds grow around the plants, I have found that the pests get a little confused and go away. Keep control of the weeds and only have a thin layer. Do a little companion planting also helps. Other that this, I let the birds and lizards take care of the garden. Good luck.
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Savory - winter savory (also Savory) 02 Jan, Judy (USA - Zone 9b climate)
What is it about winter savory that makes it unsuitable for "growing in USA - Zone 9b regions"?
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Savory - winter savory (also Savory) 05 Jan, Anonymous (USA - Zone 8b climate)
It probably has something to do with soil and or air temperatures. Like tropical plants don't grow in cold places.
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Artichokes (Globe) 01 Jan, Dani (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Must the artichoke plants be covered or cut down in winter, we are in Kempton Park, Gauteng and we do have frost in winter I have 30 plants about 500mm tall and will be trans -planting 40 more seedlings grown from seed in approx 10 days. Regards Dani Pera.
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Artichokes (Globe) 05 Jan, Anon (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Read the notes here, harvest 42-57 weeks, so chopping them down or covering them would probably kill them.
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Taro (also Dasheen, cocoyam) 01 Jan, Lole Junior Gaugau (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
i want to start growing up north island just need to know where i can get some to grow
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Taro (also Dasheen, cocoyam) 05 Jan, B (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Look up NZ seed selling websites.
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Corn Salad (also Lamb's lettuce or Mache) 31 Dec, Leonora Lloyd-Evans (Australia - temperate climate)
Where can i get corn lettuce (once pandemic is over!) I live in Qld and understand you need a cool climate to grow it in. Kind regards Leonora
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Corn Salad (also Lamb's lettuce or Mache) 05 Jan, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Go to Boondie Seeds on the internet.
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Potato 31 Dec, max (USA - Zone 5a climate)
Some gardeners keep stacking wood boxes and a light soil mix as the plants grow. It is said that potatoes will fill the whole stack of boxes. My attempts at this have failed. Can this approach be made to work?
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Potato 27 Mar, Sarah (USA - Zone 5b climate)
I tried the same last season and it didn't work for me either...kept hauling dirt and leaves uphill to potato tower with no results come harvest time. That was my first year growing potatoes. I just found out this morning that potatoes can be determinate or indeterminate. Determinate types supposedly have a smaller plant,, harvest earlier, and only grow in one layer thus do not require hilling(although they should be covered enough so roots don't show). I must have planted a determinate variety last year. because mine only grew in one layer. Check the variety you are planning to grow. I bought seed potatoes this year and am about to plant them. I have more confidence now that I know. what they are and how they behave!
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Potato 05 Jan, (USA - Zone 8b climate)
Do some research on the internet about how to do it. I wouldn't go more than about 50-60cm high, 20-24 inches. Soil would need to be fertile. Don't over water. Or just do it the normal way and hill the soil up as they grow.
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Sunflower 27 Dec, Tess (Australia - tropical climate)
I live on Horn Island on the tip of Cape York, is the best time to plant the seeds after the wet season in April?
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Sunflower 05 Jan, Anon (Australia - temperate climate)
Not too many plants like wet soggy soil. Read the notes here.
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Strawberry Plants 26 Dec, Richard levada (USA - Zone 10a climate)
My zone is10A (Fort Myers, FL) and for planting they recommend from Dec to Mar. Gurneys will only send out strawberry root plants in the spring (March). How can I store these plants until December? or what would you recommend?
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Strawberry Plants 30 Dec, (USA - Zone 10a climate)
Go back to strawberry page and set your climate zone to 10a. Plant April/May and Sept/Oct.
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Tomatillo 26 Dec, Phil Rodwell (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Free tomatillos from seed abt 7 years ago...this year they've grown to about 0.5m but all the leaves at the top of the main stems have started to shrivel and growth seems to have stopped. Any suggestions? I've planted fresh seed but it's December 26 so it may be a bit late.
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Tomatillo 30 Dec, (Australia - temperate climate)
Shriveling could be from hot sun, dry soil or fungi/disease. Suggested time to plant Sept-Oct.
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Potato 24 Dec, Bonnie Ember (USA - Zone 9a climate)
Buy cloth potato bags, with flaps. Grow year round. Open velcro flaps, Enjoy! We live in the Sierra, at 3000.' Bring them in, on cold nights.
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Rosemary 23 Dec, Alyssa (USA - Zone 8a climate)
My family and I have been trying to grow rosemary for a few years but we can't seem to get them through the winter. We know they can grow well here as there are plenty outside the shops around town but ours can't seem to survive long enough to get established. We tried wintering them in the garage this year as we have cats and can't keep them inside the house itself but it didn't seem to make a difference. Is there a variety that's better suited to my zone that might have a better chance, or are there any tips that might help me keep these plants going?
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Showing 3181 - 3210 of 20204 comments
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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. Gardenate 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.
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