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Pumpkin 23 Nov, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Just found this - commercial production. For efficient pollination and fruit set, there must be: both male and female flowers and bees to move pollen from male to female flowers. A number of factors can influence pollination, Cold and overcast days limit pollination activity of bees. Hot dry conditions desiccate pollen making it unviable. Rapid growth promotes earlier flowering. However, high temperatures, long days and high rates of nitrogen can result in: vigorous vegetative growth and few flowers and a higher proportion of male to female flowers. It is important to check the sex of the flowers. A ratio of 1 female to 7 male flowers is usually considered adequate. Flowers open early in the day and for one day only, and they close by mid afternoon. These periods are shorter under high temperatures. Flowers are most receptive to pollination in the morning when bee activity is usually the highest. Bees are necessary for pollination and must be active in the crop. Flowers require at least 12 bee visits for good pollination. If bees are not plentiful, introduce at least two hives per ha after female flowers appear and male flowers start producing pollen. Spread hives around the field outside the crop, preferably so that bees have to fly over the crop to get to another food source. Destroy flowering weeds around the crop.
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Pumpkin 23 Nov, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I was given a Jap pumpkin and I grew a Qld blue earlier this year. The Jap was by far the better for flavor. When I was growing the Qld blue it rained (heavy) several times and the female flowers were very wet inside and just rotted. If no bees plant some flowers (research flowers for bees) around your yard. I'm doing this as I have very few bees I think. Also it is best to grow pumpkin into winter I have read. It wouldn't make any difference if using seeds or seedlings. I have two Jap pumpkin growing now - will be interesting to see if they produce.
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Ginger 23 Nov, Tony (Australia - tropical climate): Can you plant ginger all year round in the tropics? I plan to plant ginger in stages for a continual harvest.
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Ginger 02 Jan, Hamsa (Australia - cool/mountain climate): The ginger does nothing during spring for us, it only starts sprouting in December, so no harm trying
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Ginger 23 Nov, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): It does say here don't plant in Dec to Feb - you can only try it. Google and read up about growing ginger.
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Beans - climbing (also Pole beans, Runner beans, Scarlet Runners) 23 Nov, Faye (Australia - temperate climate): Thank you, Mike, for replying to my query. We don't know anymore than they are called 'runner beans' in the supermarkets and fruit & veg shops in the UK. We will be there again next year and I will endeavour to find out more. Regards Faye
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Beans - climbing (also Pole beans, Runner beans, Scarlet Runners) 11 Jan, Janet stevens (Australia - temperate climate): I am gardening in west Australia south of Perth, planted runner beans, as I do in uk, scarlet emperor, came up climbed the poles produced plenty of flowers(more than in the uk) and I have just picked the two beans produced after regularly watering and the tending them lovingly. I think the problem is the flowers were never pollinated, never seen a bee here, and with the excessive wind here the flowers just blew off! What do you think?
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Beans - climbing (also Pole beans, Runner beans, Scarlet Runners) 23 Nov, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Ask the supermarket or F&V shop owners what variety they are and then check the seed selling companies. Or take a photo of them and compare to beans on the net.
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Beans - climbing (also Pole beans, Runner beans, Scarlet Runners) 23 Nov, Mike (Australia - cool/mountain climate): This is the heading at the top of this page. "Growing Beans - climbing, also Pole beans, Runner beans, Scarlet Runners". Most vegetables have several names - different countries call them different names. You would not be able to import them - quarantine rules. Go to the web sites I suggested and pick a variety or two and try growing them.
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Capsicum (also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers) 23 Nov, Colleen Noonan (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I am growing a couple of plants indoors with good sun. They look good but every time a flower appears it falls off a few days later. Is it that the soil need some enriching ? One plant is about 40 cm tall and looks so healthy but I doubt if it will ever produce.
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Capsicum (also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers) 23 Nov, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): "Do I need bees for pollination? No, bees are not important for pollination. Although you may see plenty of bees in the patch, capsicum is self-pollinated. Bush movement due to wind is sufficient for pollination". You probably have no wind inside the house. Also I have read caps need the temp above a certain temperature to pollinate. I wouldn't recommend growing anything inside - plants need sun - some more than others. Plants like caps and tomatoes need wind to pollinate. Others need bees.
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Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 22 Nov, Heather (Australia - temperate climate): I have zucchini growing well but they are starting to go bad at the end where the flower is attached - this is when the flower has wilted but has not fallen off. Should I knock the flowers off when they have wilted?? many thanks for your advice
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Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 23 Nov, Mike (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Try not to water around the flowers - water around the base of the plant. Your plants are probably not being pollinated by bees. Check to see if you have male and female flowers. You can pollinate by hand if no bees. Even some Epsom Salts around the plants may help. Read the other comments here.
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Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 25 Nov, Heather (Australia - temperate climate): thank you Mike, I appreciate the advice
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Broccoli 22 Nov, kenneth (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): what pesticides should be should used on broccoli if attached
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Beetroot (also Beets) 22 Nov, elane (Australia - temperate climate): how do I know when my beetroots are ready to harvest?
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Beetroot (also Beets) 23 Nov, Mike (Australia - cool/mountain climate): You can pick whatever size you want. They say grow for 7-10 weeks to harvest. At say 8-10 weeks you will have varying size beets. Pick the lot or pick the bigger ones and see if the smaller will grow bigger. 3-4" or 75-100mm across is a good size.
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Kohlrabi 22 Nov, Annu Aiyer (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate): where to get seeds for growing kohlrabi pl
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Kohlrabi 28 Dec, Uta (New Zealand - temperate climate): . Try both green and purple varieties, they're beautiful.
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Kohlrabi 02 Dec, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate): Try Egmonts Seed company on line
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Chilli peppers (also Hot peppers) 21 Nov, William R (Australia - tropical climate): Anyone growing orange habaneros in Cairns? Looking for seeds or seedlings. Cheers William
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Chilli peppers (also Hot peppers) 23 Nov, Mike (Australia - cool/mountain climate): You can buy from "Boondie Seeds" on the net. $1 for 20 seeds. $2 postage for many packets - $20 worth of seeds free postage.
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Chilli peppers (also Hot peppers) 21 Nov, WWilliam R (Australia - tropical climate): We are in Cairns. Any chance of some seeds? We have red Habonero seeds available if you would like some.
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Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 21 Nov, Hannah (New Zealand - temperate climate): Hello, I am new to growing vegetables in general, and am really enjoying it. I recently planted three courgette plants, and did as instructed on the label which was to plant on a raised bed. They are not looking 100% happy at the moment, drooping a bit and some of the leaves are bit burnt/brown around the edges. I was wondering on some good tips for growing courgettes? And how often I should be watering them? Thanks. H
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Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 17 Sep, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I wouldn't worry about the raised beds so much - good draining soil required. Small plants need small regular daily watering - shallow roots. Bigger plants a good watering each 2-3 days. Water around the base and soil and not on the leaves if you can or water early in the day so the leaves dry quickly. Hand pollinate if you have no bees.
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Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 30 Dec, Andrew (New Zealand - temperate climate): I had the same issue , they took awhile to come away but are growing well now , Rock melons do the same , I was told to keep them in a bigger pot till they got a bit stronger before planting in soil , they can get a fungis if to small and vulnerable , do not water at night .
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Rhubarb 20 Nov, barb (Australia - temperate climate): My Sister always put a red jelly into rhubarb (once it was cooked) this provides sugar and colour but not used to set it.
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Rhubarb 20 Nov, barb (Australia - temperate climate): when is the picking season in south aust?
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Rhubarb 23 Nov, Mike (Australia - temperate climate): Did you read the notes here about Rhubarb?. Plants Sept Oct and harvest in a years time.
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Beetroot (also Beets) 20 Nov, kenneth (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): can i grow beet root during rain season in malawi ,thus dec to march
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Showing 7771 - 7800 of 20172 comments

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