All recent comments/discussion

Showing 3661 - 3690 of 20203 comments
Garlic 24 Oct, Pita (USA - Zone 9a climate)
Commercial garlic is treated with something that keeps it from sprouting. I always grow my own garlic and I found out it's the softneck kind because it doesn't make scapes. Softneck garlic types have bigger cloves and last longer than hardneck types. I believe Christoper Ranch garlic is hardneck, but I'm not sure.
Garlic 26 Aug, Robert (USA - Zone 9b climate)
When you break open the clove of garlic hardneck has a hard stem in the center. Softneck garlic does not. Most grocery store varieties are soft neck.
Garlic 13 Aug, Anonymous (USA - Zone 9a climate)
The Christopher ranch is only the company name, not the variety of garlic. Work out the variety name and google it or ring C R. Google the difference between soft and hard garlic.
Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 10 Aug, Jesus E Amaya (USA - Zone 10b climate)
Is the a particular variety of sweet corn I should plant in Zone 10b?
Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 11 Aug, Anonymous (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Not really, comes down to what kind of sweet corn you like. Or ask around local people who grow sweet corn in your area. I grow a bi-color variety in warm climates in Australia.
Tomato 10 Aug, Gina (USA - Zone 10b climate)
I grow everything in pots due to lack of any place to have a full garden. After the tomato plant is done for the season, what can I grow in the container that will enhance the soil for the next year's tomato plantings? In years past, if I reuse the same soil the plants do not do very well year after year. It is not easy to dump the old soil and start fresh - again, no real space to do so. I had two San Marzano plants that did very well plus one small patio tomatoe Any suggestions are appreciated. Thank you!
Tomato 12 Aug, colleen (USA - Zone 10b climate)
I suggest growing a legume you like--or a succession of them. You could start with beans and then peas when the days get very short. If you like fava beans, those are very useful--you can eat the tender shoots and leaves, and they make big beautiful plants with pretty flowers that look so cheerful in the coolest months (but they take a LONG time to make beans!). When the beans/peas are done, leave their roots behind in the soil. They'll add a little nitrogen, though not as much if you let them grow to maturity. You will still need to replenish other nutrients with compost or a good tomato-specific fertilizer in the spring. One thing to consider is that tomatoes catch a lot of diseases that accumulate in the soil year after year, so that might be why you have trouble when reusing the soil. You could try solarizing any infected soil by covering it with clear plastic in full sun for a few hot months (March through June minimum), but that's tough when garden space is precious!
Tomato 10 Feb, Kent (USA - Zone 10a climate)
Maybe consider an organic liquid fertilizer mix.
Tomato 11 Aug, Sally O'Neil (USA - Zone 10a climate)
Compost and/or Manure
Sweet Potato (also Kumara) 10 Aug, Nicky Holmes (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi can you please tell me if Dunedin is the right temperature to grow Kumars outdoors or is it to cold? Thanks.
Sweet Potato (also Kumara) 11 Aug, Anon (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Go to Sweet potatoes/ Kumara page, temperate climate zone and check the planting calendar.
Beans - climbing (also Pole beans, Runner beans, Scarlet Runners) 08 Aug, Debby Elizabeth Arnold (USA - Zone 9a climate)
I have seed packets of scarlet runner beans and wish to know if I can plant them now, August. It is hot: 87-90 degrees Fahrenheit. But cooling into Sept, and lovely, mid 80’s. Also we are fairly close to the ocean (Fernandina Beach) on 4th dune ridge, but have potting mix and Black Cow. Citrus and basil grow great in our yard. Have a spot there gets mostly full sun. Also my Purple Hyacinth, planted in June were doing great until the husband put weed killer on them and some lilies. Will they come back, or must I replant seeds? This is a first for me. Thank you!
Beans - climbing (also Pole beans, Runner beans, Scarlet Runners) 10 Aug, Anonymous (New Zealand - temperate climate)
The planting guide says that you can plant them now. Plant and give a good watering and don't water for 3-5 days. Too much watering in hot weather will rot the seeds.
Snow Peas (also Sugar Peas, Mangetout, Chinese Peas) 08 Aug, Lalitah (Australia - temperate climate)
Growing peas this year(snow,sugar snap and green peas) Why they are having flowers but no fruits? There are some small fruits but mature. Do they needs bees to pollinate?
Snow Peas (also Sugar Peas, Mangetout, Chinese Peas) 22 Feb, Richard (Australia - temperate climate)
This is a somewhat late reply I'm afraid but it may help you in the coming 2021 year. Peas are just pollinated by wind so bees are not required. Giving the flowers a little shake after they form may help but this is unlikely to be your issue if your peas are not very well wind shielded. Mostly I would be concerned that you are posting this in August (peak frost time!) As I understand pea flowers will go sterile if the flowers are hit by frost. I think that this web site is incorrect in advising people to plant peas as early as April. I would recommend not putting peas in the ground any earlier than June. My wife loves peas and so I plant peas twice a year to maximize yield. I put one set down in July and another in September.
Snow Peas (also Sugar Peas, Mangetout, Chinese Peas) 10 Aug, Anon (Australia - temperate climate)
See if they will become bigger with time. They don't need bees. The snow peas I grow only take about a week from flowering to grow to about 75-100mm long. I grow giant oregon snow peas from Boondie Seeds. If you start with good rich soil then they don't need more fertiliser.
Snow Peas (also Sugar Peas, Mangetout, Chinese Peas) 11 Aug, Anonymous (Australia - temperate climate)
I have heard that using potash should fix this issue, too much nitrogen in the soil/air and they want to grow instead of fruit. Potash should help it to concentrate or flowering/fruiting.
Tomatillo 08 Aug, Heather (Canada - Zone 5a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Do you have to have 2 plants in order for it to produce fruit?
Tomatillo 14 Oct, Mjar (USA - Zone 8b climate)
yes, these plants need a partner to pollinate, I have found 4 plants is a good sweet spot to get enough tomatillos to do some sauce making (Salsa Verde) . I hope you found your answer already as it's now so late in the season! Good Luck.
Cabbage 08 Aug, Robyn (Australia - temperate climate)
My cabbages and cauliflowers are not forming hearts this year. They are very healthy looking, lots of leaves, and planted about 10 - 12 weeks ago. What have i done wrong?? Is it lack of sunshine, lack of nutients, or pollination..have bith green and red varieties of cabbage.
Cabbage 10 Aug, Anonymous (Australia - temperate climate)
I am sub-tropical and I'm just finishing picking my broccoli and cabbage. I had a couple of weird red cabbage and ice berg lettuce that were all big leaf and no heart. Same plants right next to each other, one good, one just leaf. If massive leaves then I think too much N fertiliser or just a rogue seed or something. I bought these as seedlings. Talking to an agronomist last week and he said these winter crops need cool/cold weather to form a heart. He said if the weather was hot for week or so when they were to head up then this might have stopped them. I have only grown red cabbage the last 3 years and have a big variation in the size and quality of the heart.
Potato 07 Aug, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I was so disappointed my marrows n things were attacked/eaten/went to pot I stopped gardening. I've got my second wind! If I use store-bought spuds, can I plant them if they get eyes/will they actually grow and land on my plate? Live this site-thanks!! Stay safe.
Potato 10 Aug, Anon (Australia - temperate climate)
The difference between store potatoes and buying certified seed potatoes is disease. Store are more likely to be effected by disease. But if you have good fresh soil that hasn't had a lot of disease in it then you probably might be able to produce a good crop. You can grow a crop in the spring but also try planting late April early May.
Broccoli 06 Aug, Anthony Ryan (Australia - temperate climate)
My broccoli plants have finished producing main flower heads some side shoots are still growing though. Once they finish producing flower buds do you pull out the plant or cut or trim it so it will regrow next winter. I have heard both broccoli and cauliflowers are biennial if so what should I do for my cauliflowers also. Any help would be greatly appreciated
Broccoli 07 Aug, Anon (Australia - temperate climate)
Some (sprouting) are perennial some are annual. I don't know why anyone would trim the plant then look after it for 6-8 months. Far less work to just pull it out and replant new seed/seedlings next Autumn.
Daikon (also Japanese radish, Lo Bok) 03 Aug, Alice (USA - Zone 5b climate)
My diakons grew long leaves that are flowering already and the roots are only 1 or 2 inches. Do I need to pull them?
Daikon (also Japanese radish, Lo Bok) 06 Aug, Anon (USA - Zone 2a climate)
Too rich a soil probably. Radish do not like rich soil, produces all leaf.
Tomato 02 Aug, Bruce (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Will a plastic grow tent protect seedlings from frost
Tomato 03 Aug, Anonymous (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Maybe if it is totally air tight. You are really stacking the odds up against yourself. It is recommended to start planting seeds in Oct/Nov in cool/mountain NZ and you are trying to grow them in winter. More chance of a good crop when the conditions are with you than against you.
Celery 01 Aug, MARIO (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Hi, We’re growing celery from the base of the stalks, about 1/2 cm thick, Place them in a tray with a small film of water. Leave near a sunny window for around 10 days adding a little water each day. When the stalks are about 5c. high and the roots have grown we plant as you normally would. Didn’t believe it but the stalks a re growing well. Anyone else doing this? .
Showing 3661 - 3690 of 20203 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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