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Showing 10141 - 10170 of 13855 comments
Rocket (also Arugula/Rucola) 14 Jan, Kent (Australia - tropical climate)
I planted mine in October here in South Africa, our climate is very similar to Australia tropics. They were great for the first 2 months, they were ready for constant picking after week 2, we had rocket every day. (We planted 2 square meters, crowded) When summer started to kick in mid December they rapidly began to flower, we found some eggs on the leaves, which we washed off before eating. The leaves became stronger as it aged, at 2 months it became a little too spicy and strong for me. A week later we found caterpillars all over the leaves, we left them there, we're hoping that when they metamorph into butterflies they will move elsewhere. If the rocket dies, I won't be too worried, there are bound to be seeds waiting to be revived. The seeds are easy enough to propagate anyway. As soon as the weather cools down a bit, I will replant them, they grow rapidly and are 99% more economical and at least 50% tastier than store bought, even with their short lifespan taken into consideration.
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Rocket (also Arugula/Rucola) 23 Feb, Michael (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Kent Caterpillars morph into butterflies or moths, who in turn will mate and lay many eggs. They don't move away!! So by allowing the caterpillars to mature you are allowing the next population of caterpillars to increase, and they do so exponentially. Regards Mike
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Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 14 Jan, Wendy (Australia - temperate climate)
In previous years I had problems with my zucchini turning yellow and getting a kind of rot at the flower end. The fruit almost always fell off when still too small to be useable. A friend (local garden guru) suggested that it could be a calcium deficiency in the soil and to use dolomite in the soil before planting. Before planting this year I dug dolomite into the soil and I have had few problems. Hope this is helpful.
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Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 30 Apr, janama (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Yes - I've found you must lime the soil before planting or else the flowers will rot the end of the zucchinis.
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Leeks 14 Jan, Anna (Australia - temperate climate)
We have always grown leeks here (Central Coast hinterland) and they always take forever to grow to full size, they are not a plant for the impatient gardner!!!
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Rosella (also Queensland Jam Plant, Roselle) 14 Jan, Heather (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
How do I make my Rosella Bush flower and fruit. I have had it fo4 6 months now, it's about 4 foot tall and looks very healthy but no flowers or fruit. Help!
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Asparagus Pea (also Winged pea) 14 Jan, Roz (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Asparagus Peas can be purchased on Ebay
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Lettuce 13 Jan, Narelle (Australia - temperate climate)
I cannot get lettuce seeds to germinate for love or money. I've even tried leaving them on top of the soil/potting mix/seed raising mix without success. I've tried them in a propagator and I've tried them in the open, I've tried them in every single season. What am I doing wrong?
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Lettuce 29 Jan, Kate (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi! I have found the perfect way to germinate vege & fruit seeds at 100% germination rate. This can be used for all seeds. You'll need: * papertowel - cut it so it can fold in half and fit into a ziplock bag * water * seeds * ziplock bag - wet a papertowel - wring it out so it is just damp - put seeds on one half of the papertowel - fold the papertowel in half so it covers the seeds - put the seeds/papertowel into your ziplock bag -lock the bag - write on the bag what seeds you have in it - now... hang your ziplock bag outside undercover (i use an underwear clothes hangy thing. I can hang upto 20 seed bags at once on the hangy thing. your seed will germinate in half the time of that it states on the packet. You will have to remove them and put them into seedling pots to grow bigger before transplanting them out. Good luck!
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Lettuce 30 Jan, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Kate! What a great idea. My slight adaptation is I am not trying too raise great quantities so I put two sets in each ziplock bag and tuck a plastic marker tag inside each of sets saying what it is (with a Chinagraph pencil - they don't wash off) and the date when started. Regards, John
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Lettuce 26 Jan, Trev (Australia - temperate climate)
During germination you may need to keep them iout of sunlight. I start mine in the shade completely. They only need water to get started. You can start giving them some sun when the leaves appear.
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Lettuce 19 Jan, rob (Australia - temperate climate)
the only thing that i can think of is the amount of sun that the beds are getting and the seeds need to be kept moist to germinate
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Lettuce 28 Nov, Jim (Australia - temperate climate)
Try covering the seeds with 4 or 5 layers of newspaper and watering the paper to keep them moist and dark.
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Lettuce 03 Mar, gary ellard (Australia - temperate climate)
try putting hessian bags over the area where the seeds are planted and keep moist . this will work for nearly all planted seeds and they will germinate a lot quicker than stated on the packet. YOU MUST KEEP THE HESSIAN WET/DAMP.
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Chives (also Garden chives) 13 Jan, Narelle (Australia - temperate climate)
Even with an electric propagator, I can't get chive seeds to germinate! Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? I've tried with 3 different lots of seeds, different growing mediums and different seasons (except Winter).
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Chives (also Garden chives) 14 Jan, (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Narelle, perhaps your seed aren't viable, or your seeds are drying out too fast, or are too moist? I have germinated heaps of chives here in Adelaide merely by putting them into good quality seed raising mix and then into a mini hothouse (the type you get from bunnings) , then keeping the topsoil moist with daily sprays from a water spray gun. You have to be patient though, they take a little while to come up initially!!! Good luck :)
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Chives (also Garden chives) 03 Apr, (Australia - temperate climate)
Seeds of garlic chives have a viablility of only 1 year. Don't bother with seeds over 1 year old.
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Leeks 13 Jan, Narelle (Australia - temperate climate)
I grow leeks from seed, but they take sooooooooo long to get anywhere near a size I can use (about 9 months). Is this normal or is something the matter? Any advice on best conditions to grow leeks greatly appreciated.
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Leeks 19 May, Mal (Australia - temperate climate)
This is normal. They can often be in the ground for up to a year. One to avoid if space is limited. Or if you are impatient!
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Onion 13 Jan, Narelle (Australia - temperate climate)
How do you get onion seeds to germinate? I've tried with a few different seed packets, but no luck. Is it the soil? I'd love some information for optimum conditions for growing onions from seed.
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Onion 05 Feb, Jimmy (Australia - temperate climate)
I raised seeds in seed propogating mix in small containers first. That way I can control watering and temperature better until they are strong enough to transplant. Have had almost 100% seed germination rate so far! Hope that helps.
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Capsicum (also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers) 12 Jan, (Australia - temperate climate)
I have three mini capsicums, each in its own pot, purchased from a very reputable source. The red one produced one minute and one tiny capsicum - and they were on the plant when I bought it. The brown one has a single tiny capsicum. (They are supposed to be 5cm across.) The yellow one has only tiny blossoms. I put them into new potting mix, added a little chook poo, new pots, watered with seaweed solution, good sunny spot. I live in northern part of Sydney. I have dealt with white flies by spraying with Natrasoap which has finally worked.
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Capsicum (also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers) 15 Dec, kathy (Australia - temperate climate)
this is the second yr have grown mini capsicum..they are heavy feeders so I chook poo very regularly. I have harvested well this yr (5 plants-about 100 capsicum but am coming to the end of crop-still months of summer yet will they reflower-no sign yet..How do I encourage this
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Rosella (also Queensland Jam Plant, Roselle) 12 Jan, sarah (Australia - temperate climate)
the leaves are ediable, made into a jam /pickle aswell,very yummy..... lots are grown in south africa too.
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Cape Gooseberry (also Golden Berry, Inca Berry ) 12 Jan, Frog (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I recently found my childhood memory cape gooseberries when revisiting Mt Tamborine. The new householder I visited did not know how precious her plants were to me, and hopefully now to her. I have some fruit, which I won't eat, as I want to plant. Do I dry them, store in fridge and plant March, as 'green harvest' mentioned or just leave whole fruit in ground, and magic happens.
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Okra (also Ladyfinger, gumbo) 12 Jan, Aju (Australia - temperate climate)
Have planted 6 okra plants in the veggie patch in Perth and they have started fruiting with one or two pods per plant whilst they are about 12 cms high. So far so good and have read that i need to hang on till they are about 40 cms high before they really take off. What do we do over winter months in Perth? Are they hardy enough to just let them be and will they survive or do we need to do something to protect them in the open during winter? I'd like to try and keep them through the winter season and see them growing big. Thanks in advance for your suggestions
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Okra (also Ladyfinger, gumbo) 19 Feb, -Sydney (Australia - temperate climate)
Have you had any issues with bugs i.e caterpillars etc. I have 8 plants and they are around 3 months old, however largely affected by bugs, even the fruits. Any suggestions? Cheers
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Rhubarb 12 Jan, Max (Australia - temperate climate)
The stems on my plant have not turned red. They are more green with a slight red blush. Are they still okay to eat? Your assistance would be appreciated.
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Rhubarb 17 Feb, Daniel (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
According to Peter Cundall, there are green-stemmed and red-stemmed varieties of rhubarb.
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Rhubarb 19 Jan, rob (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Max the green stalks are better less bitter and needs less sugar when cooking Rob
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Showing 10141 - 10170 of 13855 comments
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