All recent comments/discussion

Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
Showing 5161 - 5190 of 13854 comments
Pumpkin 29 Jan, Gabriella Hont (Australia - temperate climate)
What is the best way to water pumpkin plants? Do you water near the original base or do they grow roots elsewhere?
Reply
Pumpkin 04 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
The best way to water pumpkins is at the roots as overhead watering will encourage mildew development. And, yes they do send down roots from the running stems so if you can trickle water them it will definitely help. Trust this helps.
Reply
Pumpkin 29 Jan, elizabeth starrett (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
December I noticed in my garden an unusual plant growing from kitchen compost . Now at the end of January it has spread over the lawn, someone said it was a pumpkin, I can identify many fruit forming, like a glob shape with yellow flower,, and long stems with yellow flowers the fruit is a light green color.How can I know at this stage, it a pumpkin, and not a weed. thanks
Reply
Pumpkin 04 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
It is fairly likely to be a pumpkin from discarded kitchen scraps. It could also be a melon, cucumber or sqush if youu have eaten them. The flowers with the long stems are the male flowers which will pollinate the flowers with the round 'glob' on them. Compost grown pumpkins usuall thrive so it sounds like a bonus! Trust this helps.
Reply
Rockmelon (also Canteloupe) 29 Jan, Kiara Brown (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi I'm growing rockmelon and they are about 8cm big. Something has been eating them do you know what it could be?how do I fix and it is also eating my cucumber?
Reply
Rockmelon (also Canteloupe) 04 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
I forgot to dd that unfortuately the fruit that has been attacked will probably shrivel and die depending on the extent of the damage. Trust this helps.
Reply
Rockmelon (also Canteloupe) 04 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
If it is a chewing pest (Caterpillar) use Yates Natures Way insecticide. I don't like to recommend brands but this product is organic and is harmless to anything but caterpillars. It is actually a bacteria that stops the caterpillar from eating. The caterpillar can be eaten by a bird with no effect. Trust this helps.
Reply
Rockmelon (also Canteloupe) 05 Feb, Mark Davies (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Just had a heap of caterpillars in my cucumbers. I made a mix of garlic, chilli and a teaspoon of detergent. Sprayed for a couple of days. No caterpillars
Reply
Rockmelon (also Canteloupe) 25 Feb, Steve Cambridge (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Mark, Did you just mix up any quantities of each or is there a specific recipe? Cheers, Steve
Reply
Cape Gooseberry (also Golden Berry, Inca Berry ) 28 Jan, Lenny (Australia - temperate climate)
Striped beetles on plant making a mess
Reply
Rocket (also Arugula/Rucola) 28 Jan, Louise Caro (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
The rocket planted at the beginning of January has flowered and doesn't have many leaves. None has yet been picked as it doesn't look ready. Is the time of year wrong? Or should I wait for the flowering to be over.It is in the same place in the bed as the lettuce that is thriving. Any answers - a learning gardener - very welcome. Thanks
Reply
Rocket (also Arugula/Rucola) 04 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
If it is flowering it will not produce more leaves. Let it go to seed and you will have hundreds of new seeds. Save some in a paper bag or envelope with the name and date on it and then let the rest drop to the ground where they will self sow. You will have an abundance of microgreens which you can snip off with scissors and you can let some grow on to harvest the leaves. Trust this helps.
Reply
Eggplant (also Aubergine) 28 Jan, Meredith (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I am growing 'classic' eggplant. The fruit are growing bigger, but look ripe. How big should I let them get before picking? Is there any sign that they are ripe?
Reply
Eggplant (also Aubergine) 05 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
If they are the purple variety and are fully coloured you could harvest them. Try one and if the flesh is cream they are ripe. Trust this helps.
Reply
Jerusalem Artichokes (also Sunchoke) 28 Jan, julianne simon (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
When should i see the flowers bloom. My sunchokes are growing very tall, look amazingly healthy, but no flowers yet on January 28.
Reply
Jerusalem Artichokes (also Sunchoke) 04 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Generally tubers do't form on plants like sunchokes and potatoes until after flowering. As with potatoes there will be some forming but they will be immature and not keep. Trust this helps.
Reply
Rhubarb 27 Jan, John Ludbrook (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My rhubarb is growing well and the stalks are at least two fingers thick but don't seem to going red and the leaves are huge, when is the best time to harvest. John
Reply
Rhubarb 04 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Some rhubarb plants do not produce stems that are very red but if they are well fed and watered the stems will still be the same. Put a drop or so of cochineal (a natural red colouring) in the pot as you are cooking it to impprove the colour if you prefer.
Reply
Rhubarb 29 Jan, Krishna (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi. I just read to put ash around the base to turn them from green to red. I hope this works. I've never tried it myself. Good luck.
Reply
Cucumber 27 Jan, Sue Barnes (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Could you please tell me when to plant Suyo Long Cucumber in Brisbane, should i put in jiffy pots to start or straight in ground where they are to grow.
Reply
Cucumber 05 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Direct sowing is always the best but Jiffy pots are OK. (They do not like root disturbance that can occur with transplanting from trays). They don't like frost but that shouldn't be a problem in Brisbane and as they are very mildew susceptible they don't like overhead watering. Good air circulation and ground watering are good ways to reduce mildew problems. Trust this helps.
Reply
Turnip 27 Jan, S debono (Australia - temperate climate)
Wene is the best day in febuary 2017 to sow ternip seeds
Reply
Turnip 05 Feb, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Late February and all of March and April re suitable times to sow turnips. Trust this helps.
Reply
Pumpkin 26 Jan, cheryl thomas (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi there,I have planted jap pumpkin seedlings.I also have butternut growing but the jap hasn't flowered like the butternut.Both lots of seedlings were planted at the same time.I have zucchini growing next to the jap.Can yiu suggest any solution.Thanks Cheryl Thomas.
Reply
Pumpkin 29 Jan, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Pinch out the ends of the vines
Reply
Cucumber 26 Jan, Harry (Australia - tropical climate)
How do you tell the difference between a female and male flower
Reply
Cucumber 28 Jan, John (Australia - temperate climate)
On all cucurbits which include cucumbers, melons, squash, pumpkins and zucchinis the female flower has a small fruit behind the flower. the male flowers, which contain pollen, do not and are generally on longer thinner stems. If the female flower is pollinated (fertilised) by pollen from the male flower the fruit will continue to develop to maturity
Reply
Ginger 26 Jan, Pam (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My question is not about growing ginger although we do grow our own. I bought quite a big rhizome of ginger at a shop recently. On cutting into it we found that the flesh was green. There is also a ring of white flesh around the outside just under the skin. I'm wondering whether it's been sprayed and weather it's healthy. It's a product of Australia. Can anyone tell me if this is normal?
Reply
Ginger 29 Jan, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It is fine just very fresh.
Reply
Capsicum (also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers) 25 Jan, Wendy (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I planted capsicum seedlings last October however they haven't seemed to have grown at all. I have fertilized them and watered them, used mulch but nothing :(. This is also happening to my eggplant seedlings which I planted at the same time. Please help
Reply
Showing 5161 - 5190 of 13854 comments
Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.