All recent comments/discussion

Showing 4801 - 4830 of 13853 comments

Taro (also Dasheen, cocoyam) 25 Apr, Anthony Akachili (Australia - arid climate): Hi, I live in Perth and I would like to purchase an edible Taro Tubers. For planting and eating.
Reply
Taro (also Dasheen, cocoyam) 26 Apr, Sean (Australia - temperate climate): Check Gumtree. I found some in Canning Vale, Eglinton and Bull Creek. trust this helps
Reply
Cape Gooseberry (also Golden Berry, Inca Berry ) 25 Apr, malcolm (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Cape gooseberries. My grandfather got some from north Queensland, way back when and grew them at Sandgate, Qld., so I grew up with them. I moved from Alderley to Brighton to Runcorn and the gooseberries followed. Here at Runcorn is the only place I have not planted them but they appeared from nowhere. Easy to grow from fruit. After 2 years, a ladybird type bug eats the leaves and the plant dies, but plenty of seedlings grow.Ps. my grandfather passed away in 1977 and I'm 62, so they've been around for quite awhile.
Reply
Cape Gooseberry (also Golden Berry, Inca Berry ) 10 May, Akmar (Australia - tropical climate): Hi Malcolm. Do u care to prolong the lineage of your gooseberries? I've been actively looking for gooseberry seeds. A few days back i found one but it was a much smaller variety. U can whatsapp me on +60173080355.
Reply
Beans - climbing (also Pole beans, Runner beans, Scarlet Runners) 25 Apr, Mandy (Australia - sub-tropical climate): When do green beans ripen
Reply
Rosella (also Queensland Jam Plant, Roselle) 24 Apr, Francoise Jorgensen (Australia - sub-tropical climate): How do you protect the fruits from insect attacks without using pesticide?
Reply
Rosella (also Queensland Jam Plant, Roselle) 25 Apr, Giovanni (Australia - temperate climate): Yates have a product called Natures Way Caterpillar Killer - Dipel. This is a natural bacteria spray that is absolutely harmless to everything except caterpillars. It works by disrupting the digestive system in the caterpillar which then dies.
Reply
Salsify (also Vegetable oyster) 24 Apr, Donna Townsend (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I just purchased seeds from Seeds2freedom great service froo postage
Reply
Beetroot (also Beets) 23 Apr, Gary (Australia - temperate climate): can beetroot grow in wicking beds? What other vegetables would be ok to grow? This is a new venture as we will not be home for one to two weeks at a time and would like to work in the garden when we get home.
Reply
Beetroot (also Beets) 22 May, Sabena Winston (Australia - temperate climate): Grew enormous beetroot in our wicking bed. Good luck.
Reply
Beetroot (also Beets) 23 Apr, Jack (Australia - temperate climate): The principle behind a wicking bed is that the water is drawn up by 'wicking' (like a candle or kerosene lamp). Any vegetable should grow in this system except maybe long carrots or parsnips that need deeper soil or growing medium. The wicking is only effective up to a certain depth. Try it and let us know how you go.
Reply
Beetroot (also Beets) 19 Jun, gary (Australia - temperate climate): have planted beet in wicking bed from seed and all seeds germinated. Very happy with results with plants looking healthy. Tried silver beet and have been cultivating leaves for a while now. Once again, very happy with outcome. Planted leeks and brown onion and all have taken off. Snow peas are growing well. Will comment on the beds when all plants are near cultivation.Have not tried deep rooted vegies, such as carrots but will give them a go. Have 300 mls of soil to play with. This experiment has surprised me so far.
Reply
Potato 23 Apr, Vicky (Australia - temperate climate): I live in Hobart, I am hoping to plant potatoes, we don't really get frosts. will they grow? do the potatoes need to sprout before planting? Thanks
Reply
Potato 24 Apr, Carol (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Hi Vicky, As long as you don't get frosts you can give them a go, although I have more success with early spring plantings - I'm in Central Vic and get some pretty savage frosts at times. I've copied some of the info from this site about potatoes but added a note or two of my own... . [My note - Much cheaper to buy organic spuds from a farmer's market or the like - either way, make sure they have several 'eyes' per potato] Before planting expose seed potatoes to light to start shoots growing [my note - this is known as 'chitting']. [My note - I don't always chit my spuds but you will know by doing this which ones will actually sprout and grow] . [My note - cut them after they have chitted and let them dry for at least 3 days up to 5 if the weather is rainy/humid] Hope this is helpful and good luck! (Some of this reply removed as it is already on the Potato page of Gardenate- Ed:)
Reply
Potato 23 Apr, Giovanni (Australia - temperate climate): Potatoes should grow well in Hobart. Plant the tubers in spring when the soil has started to warm up a bit. Sprouting to get the potato started gets it off to a start. it is probably not necessary, as it wouldn't happen naturally, but does give the tuber a good start.
Reply
Cucumber 22 Apr, Francesca Lemon (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Hi, I am planning to move to Mount Victoria up in the Blue Mountains and was wondering if cucumber can grow in the cooler climate? Thanks!
Reply
Cucumber 23 Apr, Ken (Australia - temperate climate): You should be able to grow cucumbers successfully at Mt Victoria even with a longer winter as you get hot summers. Plant the seeds indoors in September in egg carton cells ready for transplanting into the garden in October. Plant the carton cell as well, it will rot. You can plant seed up until mid December. Choose a warm spot with good air circulation to reduce mildew problems. Growing them on a trellis is also beneficial.
Reply
Capsicum (also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers) 22 Apr, Helena (Australia - temperate climate): as I cut and deseeded my red capsicum, there was 2 little balls with a green stem, would that be plantable?
Reply
Capsicum (also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers) 23 Apr, Giovanni (Australia - temperate climate): It is likely to be just a superficial growth in the seed cavity.
Reply
Ginger 21 Apr, Dan (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Hey im looking in planting ginger on my block its on the mid north coast of Australia what would be the best type for this area?
Reply
Ginger 30 Apr, Jonno (Australia - temperate climate): My research tells me that 'Queensland' is the best variety for processing and 'canton' is the best variety for fresh eating.
Reply
Jerusalem Artichokes (also Sunchoke) 21 Apr, Alan (Australia - cool/mountain climate): I planted Jerusalem Artichoke in February. It is now April and the plants look healthy but have only reached about 1 mtr in height. They reached this height quite quickly but have not moved for about 4 weeks. Is this natural? Thank you.
Reply
Jerusalem Artichokes (also Sunchoke) 23 Apr, Jonno (Australia - temperate climate): There could be a number of reasons including; a dry spell, cooler weather, planted late in the season, etc. but if your plants are healthy I don't think you need worry.
Reply
Pumpkin 20 Apr, Bronwynne Livingston (Australia - temperate climate): Moved into a new house early Feb. Noticed pumpkin growing. Watered well and started flowering. Hand pollinated my first female in mid March and 4 weeks on have a delightfully larger-than-brick sized butternut growing. Have just last week pollinated a second vine which appears to have taken well too. Is this due to unseasonably warm weather this autumn? Or good rainfall?
Reply
Pumpkin 21 Apr, Giovanni (Australia - temperate climate): The unseasonably warm weather would certainly have helped keep the pumpkins growing but with the cooler nights of Autumn and Winter approaching you may not get them ripened in time. If you don't, just treat them like zucchinis or make pumpkin soup with them. Disappointing but you will get something out of them. For best results pumpkins need to be planted in late October to get a good long season in temperate areas.
Reply
Beetroot (also Beets) 20 Apr, Beverly (Australia - temperate climate): When is the best time in Melbourne to transplant beetroot seedlings (which were bought recently from a nursery)? Can the plants be transplanted in autumn?
Reply
Beetroot (also Beets) 21 Apr, Ken (Australia - temperate climate): You can plant beetroot seedlings now. try seeds next time as they are easy to sow and grow well without transplanting disturbance.
Reply
Rutabaga (also Swedes) 20 Apr, Allan (Australia - sub-tropical climate): The swede is bitter when it is cooked. I thought it is lacking something in the soil. What am I doing wrong.
Reply
Rutabaga (also Swedes) 21 Apr, Jonno (Australia - temperate climate): Swedes originated as a cross between a cabbage and a turnip. Like their half sisters; Brussels Sprouts they can be bitter. A lot of gardeners say that they are sweeter after they have had a few frosts on them. growing them with even watering and no set backs would also help. Maybe some other reader will be able to help.
Reply
Rutabaga (also Swedes) 03 May, Paul (Australia - temperate climate): I still eat them after a lifetime of growing and eating them . In fact my grandfather grew them commercially in the 1950s and 60s. I usually eat them mashed with potato, sometimes on their own. However I am a Masterchef-type mash person, with oodles of butter ! That often hides a little bit of bitterness . You might find your soil was too well manure or fertilized and you had heaps of green top at the expense of a well-developed root . Very cold winters also produce better swedes . Heavy frosts .
Reply

Showing 4801 - 4830 of 13853 comments

Gardenate

Keep your garden growing - see what to plant right now

All recent comments/discussion

Become A Supporter!

Planting Reminders