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Showing 6151 - 6180 of 20139 comments

Asparagus 16 May, Martha Brink (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): Hi, I got Asparagus crowns from Hart Nursery in Ottery. I'm going to be planting them in Kalbaskraal. Hope that they will grow there, clay soil
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Carrot 01 Nov, Colin Low (Australia - temperate climate): I have had trouble growing carrots and I think now because of the chicken & cow manure is too acid. I have limed the area where this year's crop will be tried & my question is "How long do I need to wait before planting the seed? cheers Colin
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Carrot 01 Nov, Mike (Australia - temperate climate): Your main problem was probably the addition of the manures. Carrots do not need or like a rich soil (N) - it produces too much leaf. Carrots prefer a loose loam kind of soil - as in not heavy clay. A loose soil that is crumbly. If adding compost/manures do it months before planting carrots or grow something else before planting the carrots. A couple of weeks should be sufficient with the lime - mix it in well and water it and turn it over once or twice. Plant carrots thinly - can use a small salt shaker with some sand mixed with the seeds.
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Artichokes (Globe) 01 Nov, Gary Sant (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I had an artichoke plant last year which produced a few fruit. The plant disappeared at the end of the season. Will it sprout out of the ground again this year? I hope so.
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Artichokes (Globe) 01 Nov, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): It sounds like it died. Did you have frosts in winter. Read the notes here and maybe a bit of research on the net. I would plant another couple subject to your weather conditions.
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Artichokes (Globe) 07 Nov, Gary Sant (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Thanks Mike. No frosts were I live in Sydney. But I think you are right and it died. ☹️
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Ginger 31 Oct, Adriaan Le Roux (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): Looking for ginger seed somewhere in South Africa
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Cabbage 31 Oct, Siyabulela Phanle (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate): Good morning I would like to be advised my aim is to plant cabbages Potatoes and Spinach but I'm am not quiet sure about the suitable time for them or good season to plant them please help. regards Phandle
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Cabbage 31 Oct, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate): Use the Vegetables and Herbs tab to find the vegetables, then set your zone at the top of the page - e.g (South Africa- Dry summer sub-tropical climate) . The months for planting are shown in the little coloured boxes at the top. e.g. P for plant or sow seed
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Cucumber 31 Oct, Wally Harper (Australia - temperate climate): I have just planted Apple Cucumbers and have flowers on them, do I need to stake these up or do they grow laying on soil, thanks
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Cucumber 01 Nov, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): You can go either way. If on the ground put some mulch/grass clippings on the soil. If short of room trellis them - some wire/mesh on 45-60 degree angle. I've been picking mine for the last 2-3 weeks. I now have a second flush of cuies growing. About 20 each time from 2 plants. Gee they taste good.
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Asparagus 30 Oct, Joe Legrand (USA - Zone 8a climate): I have read that a new female asparagus plant is sterile & has not seed/berries. I however can not remember if it was on the net or in a magazine. So I have no proof, if I find it again I should post it.
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Eggplant (also Aubergine) 30 Oct, Kym H (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I only planted my eggplant tree about a month ago it is less than 30cm tall and is already growing fruit should I cut off the early fruit until the tree gets established
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Eggplant (also Aubergine) 30 Oct, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Sounds like you have poor soil - give it some fertiliser. Generally a plant goes to seed if it is under stress - lack of water fertiliser etc.
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Eggplant (also Aubergine) 01 Nov, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): If the plants are small and weak then it is lack of fertiliser. I have strong plants about 15
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Eggplant (also Aubergine) 04 Nov, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I have strong plants about 15-18 (?)
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Eggplant (also Aubergine) 10 Nov, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): My plants are flowering from about 15-18
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Sweet Potato (also Kumara) 30 Oct, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate): Here is how they grow them commercially in sub tropical southern Queensland Australia. They hill the soil up with a 2' base and about 1' high - paddock looks like corrugated iron - wave pattern. They then take cuttings (called slips about 50-60cm long) of vine from a pre-existing growing plant. These are planted (in the top part of the mound) horizontally into the soil with just the tip sticking out of the soil. Keep well watered the first week or two until the plant starts growing. Good rich soil to start with and then do not fert again especially with N. You want root development not vine production. If looking for cuttings/slips/tubers ask friends/neighbours/produce companies/internet sites etc or start a tuber as stated here.
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Garlic 29 Oct, Vassana (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I planted my turban garlic in April it grew well looking healthy plants, until August my plants getting yellow maybe lack of water so I water them and put seasol as well the plant started looks healthy again. Last week I pulled some out and the bulb just looks like an onion and the leaf just thick like leek and they are not forming cloves. Do you have any Idea why this is happening? my location its South East QLD. between Maryborough and Gympie
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Garlic 30 Oct, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Read the notes here - I would plant it later like it says - shortest day - 21st June into well prepared soil. Water regularly but not too much especially in winter. Yellow leaves could be the soil running out of N. I had leeks a bit similar this year.
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Strawberry Plants 28 Oct, Caroline Burnell (New Zealand - temperate climate): Do I cut off the leaves on my strawberries that are growing in a raised garden and covered with netting so that the sun can ripen them? Thanks Caroline
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Strawberry Plants 30 Oct, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate): NO - strawberries take about 4 weeks from flowering to ripe fruit. Keep cutting the leaves and the plant will probably die. Plants need leaves to take in the sunlight.
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Radish 28 Oct, Mandy McGuane (Australia - temperate climate): Hi!! Would anyone be able to give some advice as to why my radishes when I picked them today, found that the base of them were split and not very healthy looking, rough skin? Could there be an issue in the soil? Thanks in advance.
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Radish 28 Oct, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): A bit of a contradiction - splitting maybe too wet and tough could be too dry. I find I grow the best radishes in the winter - a light watering each day.
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Radish 02 Nov, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I picked some today - rough looking, probably a bit tough. They are longer than the winter ones - the root seems to be growing longer in search of water even though I water them every day or two. The winter ones are a lot better looking.
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Asparagus Pea (also Winged pea) 28 Oct, Phil M (Australia - temperate climate): I live in the Adelaide region and my winged bean plant has just completed a massive burst of flowers and crop. This seemed completely out of season as it was planted at least a year ago, barely survived summer without flowering throughout, survived winter without a problem (which seems to contradict its need for higher soil temperatures), then in mid-August took off with growth and flowers. I've just cut it right back so is it possible it will start new growth and survive another season?
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Asparagus Pea (also Winged pea) 01 Nov, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate): Have a look at this article www.bbg.org/gardening/article/the_asparagus_pea
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Asparagus Pea (also Winged pea) 01 Nov, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I can't find if they are annual or perennial. Sounds like annual. Let them grow and see what happens.
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Asparagus Pea (also Winged pea) 10 Nov, Phil M (Australia - temperate climate): After two weeks with regular watering, it has succumbed to nature, dried up and died, so it's definitely an annual. Contrary to what it states on the seed packet, I will not be starting off new seedlings until towards the end of summer and hoping for a repeat burst of flowers in late winter and early spring. Thank you also Liz for that article... what struck me in the comments section there was this from a Canberra grower.... 'I live in Canberra, Australia, and can report that I sowed some asparagus peas last spring. They didn’t produce much that season but, amazingly to me who had thought they wouldn’t last our winter here, they are flowering profusely and bearing fruit now, the second month of spring. And temperatures this winter got down to -7C!' This is very much how my own plants responded.
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Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 27 Oct, (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate): When planting seeds, which end of the seed should be facing the surface?
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