All recent comments/discussion

Showing 5401 - 5430 of 13854 comments
Leeks 05 Dec, John (Australia - temperate climate)
In southern climates they can be left in the ground until early Spring. I hope someone from the sub-tropics sees you question and can answer better.
Jerusalem Artichokes (also Sunchoke) 04 Dec, kelvin (Australia - temperate climate)
my sunchokes are growing well in perth in improved bedding. question: Is it a good idea to remove lateral shoots from the main stem to improve growth?
Jerusalem Artichokes (also Sunchoke) 05 Dec, John (Australia - arid climate)
I don't think it would make any difference as sunchokes are very tough and can be invasive if left. Any small tubers left in the ground will sprout next season. A lot of sunchokes I have seen are small and knobbly but some are plump and more rounded. If you get some nice rounded ones save them for next season and eat the small knobbly ones. Over a couple of seasons you will have all plump ones. Sunchokes are often called Jerusalem Artichokes. Trust this helps
Sunflower 01 Dec, (Australia - temperate climate)
I have a beautiful artichoke plant that has produced about 10 artichokes in recent weeks. Its the 1st time Ive grown an artichoke plant. its coming to the end of its production now. Does it come up again next year? Do I chop it down? Do I leave it ?. Do I remove it from the ground? Would value your advice.
Sunflower 05 Dec, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes, if it is a Jerusalem artichoke it will come up again; indeed any small tubers left in the ground will come up! Save or leave some tubers in the ground for next season. If it is a Globe artichoke (like a big thistle plant), leave the leaves to help replenish the plant for next season. Trust this helps.
Cucumber 01 Dec, David (Australia - temperate climate)
I have read good and bad things about growing tomatoes and cucumbers together. Mine are doing really well together. Why do they say it's bad
Cucumber 28 Dec, Jane (Australia - temperate climate)
Apparently it can stunt or inhibit the growth but I guess if yours grow well together then just go with it.
Tomato 30 Nov, Tia (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
We have a plague of small flying insects attacking tomato and tomato plants, capsicum etc. They pierce fruit multiple times all over, stunting maturity of produce. I've not seen them before. Of a night they cluster on my white picket fence, they are attracted to white. What are they? How do I control them naturally?
Tomato 30 Nov, John (Australia - temperate climate)
If they are piercing the fruit they are sucking pests (bugs) so natural sprays such as Yates 'Natures Way' won't help. This spray works for chewing pests. If they like white and are clustering on the picket fence at night try 'greasing' the fence with petroleum jelly (vaseline). if they are not too large they will stick to it. You could also fix some white plastic, ice cream containers or lids to a stake and grease that instead. Trust this helps.
Cape Gooseberry (also Golden Berry, Inca Berry ) 30 Nov, Mary (Australia - temperate climate)
Glenn today I bought seeds at Bunnings - in the Johnsons "world kitchen" brand.
Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 29 Nov, Sukhdeep singh deol (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Ive got few acres of zucchinis at mildura area and as soon as the new fruit comes out it starts to turn yellow. Is it a lack of something or is it something else. Can you plz tell me what can i put on them.
Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 29 Nov, John (Australia - temperate climate)
It sounds like they havn't been pollinated (fertilised). This is a growing problem with the diminishing bee population. If the area was small you could hand pollinate them but this is hrdly practical on two acres. You could stop and ask any other farmers growing zucchinis, pumkins, etc. They may have some advice.
Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 29 Nov, Topher Varnish (Australia - temperate climate)
My corn are doing very well and currently at about 50cm, nice deep green. They have started new stalk shoots coming from the bases. Should I cut them off or leave them? thanks & regards, Topher
Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 29 Nov, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Sweet corn often sends up 'basal' shoots like this. They don't usually come to anything so I suggest you twist or cut them off as they will detract from better cobs on the main growth. You may also check your variety as some varieties do grow multiple stems with cobs.Trust this helps.
Celeriac 29 Nov, Walter (Australia - temperate climate)
I have grown celeriac successfully at Caboolture and Morayfield. It needs a rich moist soil and some mulch around the plants. I strike them from seed in a pot with seed mix, just under the surface and keep moist. I sow them in April though I am not sure if it is the tight time. They take a long time to grow, being biennial. Never let them dry out though. And they do not like wet feet in the heat. Also, when the bulbs are big enough and start sprouting leaves, when big enough, they can be pulled off and replanted. The seeds can be good on the Net. Happy growing!
Onion 29 Nov, linda davies (Australia - temperate climate)
my onions are very big and some are going to seed. Should I leave them to dye back or pull them and leave on racks to dry.
Onion 29 Nov, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Normally onions go to seed in their second year. You could bend the stems at bulb level so they are basically crushed and lying flat. this will trigger ripening snd when the the top dies off you will be right to harvest and store them. Yhis has worked for me and I've heard it talked about by other gardeners.
Kohlrabi 28 Nov, noel (Australia - temperate climate)
Gooday , do you need to hill them or do they produce above ground? most pics i have seen are above ground ,is this right ?
Kohlrabi 02 Nov, Margaret (Australia - temperate climate)
The stem swells just above the ground. No need to hill them.
Kohlrabi 17 Oct, Miriam Blye (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes above the ground in garden beds
Kohlrabi 29 Nov, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Kohlrabi is botanically the same plant as cabbage. The stalks and leaves can be used in stir fries, soups and coleslaw making it very versatile.
Kohlrabi 29 Nov, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello Noel, Kohlrabi is a swollen stem, not a root, tuber or bulb and it forms above the ground. To achieve good results ensure watering is consistent to avoid stringiness or bitterness. Trust this helps.
Asparagus Pea (also Winged pea) 27 Nov, (Australia - temperate climate)
I bought the winged pea in Bunnings midland today. Already planted using blood and bone as main fertiliser , see what happens now
Asparagus Pea (also Winged pea) 27 Aug, Rachel McCracken (Australia - temperate climate)
How did you go?
Rutabaga (also Swedes) 27 Nov, Lorin Maskey (Australia - temperate climate)
I have grown some swedes in Dubbo good tops and no actual swede developed. what would cause that.? the soil was well fertilized with sheep manure.
Rutabaga (also Swedes) 27 Nov, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Root crops such as swedes, carrots, etc, do not need a lot of nitrogen; which would be present in the manure. Nitrogen in root crops causes excessive top growth at the expense of the roots. After you have freshly manured your soil it is better to start off with a leaf crop such as lettuce, cabbge, etc. Follow this with a fruiting crop such as tomatoes, beans, zucchini, etc. the soil will then be ideal for root crops such as swedes, carrots, parsnip, etc. If that is the problem; all is not lost, look after them and you will get some sort of root and the tops can be used in soup or stir fries. Trust this helps
Beetroot (also Beets) 26 Nov, helen (Australia - temperate climate)
Beetroot has a whitish colour inside when cut in half but is planted with spinach
Beetroot (also Beets) 27 Nov, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Beetroot and Silver Beet are botanically the same plant - Beta vulgaris. One has been developed to have edible roots and the other to have edible leaves. Beetroot leaves are also edible. There are a number of reasons your query could have arisen. (1) If you had silver beet and beetroot growing in the garden and saved some seed, they may have cross-pollinated. (2) The seed may have come from the supplier like that. (3) There are many varieties and colours of beetroot; red, orange, yellow, white, and red and white rings. Was it an 'all red' variety that you planted. Let them keep growing, they will still taste the same. Trust this helps.
Rhubarb 26 Nov, Carol (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hello, I actually live in Sunraysia, I have just bought 2 potted Rhubarb plants and am about to plant them in a planter box. Because we have high temperatures here in the 40's in summer, where would the best area to grow them. ? Your help would be appreciated . Thank you
Rhubarb 27 Nov, Mary (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Carol, I live in a temperate area but we also experience some really hot days too. My rhubarb was happier on those days if I put a shade cloth on a frame over them on those scorcher days. I use tomato stakes of varying lengths to produce a makeshift frame and use plastic cable ties to attach the shade cloth. Cable ties are a gardeners best friend!
Showing 5401 - 5430 of 13854 comments
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