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Showing 5431 - 5460 of 13854 comments
Rhubarb 27 Nov, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Check out the other comments on rhubarb for more tips.
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Rhubarb 27 Nov, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello Carol. A site facing East or one that can be shaded a bit would be best. The morning sun is not usually as intense as later in the day. Roots being 'cooked' by the sun is always a chaallenge for plants growing in containers so it is important to try and keep the roots cool. If the pots are plastic you could wrap them in hessian and keep that damp on a hot. Keep your plants well watered as this will also help. Heat stressed plants may wilt, with watering they will be able to recover normally but you don't want 'stringy' stalks. This all sounds a bit negative but consider it a 'challenge' and you will be successful. Trust this helps.
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Potato 25 Nov, jenny (Australia - temperate climate)
can l plant potatoes late November.
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Potato 27 Nov, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Go for it Jenny! There is still plenty of growing time and you could plant them later still. Potatoes can be harvested as 'New' potatoes a month after flowering so even if winter comes early you will still have that 'Old' potatoes are harvested after the tops die down and will keep for longer.
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Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 25 Nov, joe bugeja (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I'm just wondering were can I buy broken cobs in Australia? regards Joe.
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Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 27 Nov, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello Joe, What did you mean by 'broken' cobs? If you mean the cobs after the seed has been removed you could search for - corn/maize seed - bulk on the internet and ask them. They usually have plenty to get rid of.
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Asparagus 25 Nov, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
Has anybody tried to grow asparagus from seed. I have tried this year. Live around Bundaberg Qld. In total I have planted out approx. 30 little seedlings. Very delicate little things. A bit of heavy rain and they snap off. A little hit up with fertilizer killed a couple. Even over watering has killed a few I feel. I have 8 plants left. Any tips on whether to grow them out of the direct sunlight and rain. Some plants have grown to 10-12" high, some are struggling at 2-3", although sprouted a couple of weeks later than the bigger one. Last year my 1 yr old crowns up grew and grew. Finding it hard to get these seedlings powering along.
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Asparagus 25 Nov, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Years ago I worked at a wholesale nursey where we propagated asparagus crowns for sale. The soil was sandy and we did not have any irrigation, only the rain. Our germination rate was very high. Maybe the seedlings are rotting if the soil is too wet. We sowed the seed in the Spring and sold the crowns the following winter. We did not thin or transplant the seedlings. Retry sowing with slightly raised soil to ensure good drainage. Trust this helps. John
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Asparagus 23 Dec, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Thanks John - Better to explain my position. I had planted out crowns last year (in a raised boxed garden bed) and had some berries fall on the crown and on the soil next to the crown. Also on the soil outside the box. This year in Sept the berries germinated. I transplanted the very small seedlings to the garden bed next to the boxed bed. This a red soil - can become very wet when we receive 2-3-6 inches of rain in a day. Also it is exposed to the sun, rain and wind. From the experience this year I know now I should have put them in pots and protected them a lot more. A few weeks ago I transplanted the smaller ones into pots and placed near a tree for some shade and protection. Today I transplanted them back to the garden and constructed a shade cloth cover for them to protect them from the sun. I have done this as we are going away for 7 days and my daughter will forget to water them and they will probably all die.
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Pumpkin 24 Nov, Jenny (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, our house is on rock so we have very little garden. I have been trying to grow buttercup in large pots with varying degrees of success. I was wondering why sometimes the fruit or females are yellow as soon as they start to form.
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Pumpkin 25 Nov, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello Jenny, The most likely cause is they haven't been pollinated. When a female flower opens pick a male flower and carefully remove the petals then put the male part of the flower onto the centre of the female flower and turn it slightly to transfer pollen (male sex cells) onto the female flower. Insects would normally do this but a shortage of bees will affect pollination rates. Pumpkins are hungry and thirsty plants so ensure watering is consistent and that they are well fed. Trust this helps. John
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Pumpkin 27 Nov, Jenny (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks John I am aware of the pollination process. What I want to know is why the females are yellow as soon as they form ie really tiny buds, they are yellow as soon as they show on the vine.
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Pumpkin 02 Dec, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Sorry, I haven't got a conclusive answer for you. I have done some research and found that female flowers often don't set early in the season and also that they can be stressed by heat or dryness and not set. Sorry I can't help you more
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Chilli peppers (also Hot peppers) 23 Nov, gordon bates (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
how long will fruit begin to grow after flowering
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Rhubarb 21 Nov, Norma Meikle (Australia - temperate climate)
I recently planted a rhubarb root which I purchased from a well known nursery. It has done extremely well, with enormous leaves and green stalks. The leaves however are lying down on the ground - should they be standing up (or can I help them stand up) and also, when do the stalks turn red. Thank you.
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Rhubarb 21 Nov, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Rhubarb like plenty of water but if the leaves are enourmous this may not be the problem. Most rhubarb sold at nurseries, etc. is grown from seed and can be very variable in stalk colour from all green to deep red. If you want red stalks you could sow yourself and discard the green ones when they have grown or, alternatively get a division off a friend that is a good colour. I don't think the stalk colour affects the taste but it certainly looks unappealing when cooked. You could add Cochineal (a natural red food colour made from Cochineal beetles) to boost the colour. if you cook the rhubarb without sugar and add Stevia powder until it taste right for you you will have beautiful rhubarb to eat minus the calories/kilojoules.
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Cucumber 20 Nov, Margaret Morris (Australia - temperate climate)
Where do I buy apple cucumber seedlings in the southern suburbs of Melbourne please?
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Cucumber 18 Dec, james allan (Australia - temperate climate)
grow from seed quite easily , transplant and support on trellis , have found west facing wall too hot ...
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Cucumber 21 Nov, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Apple cucumbers will germinate very quickly at this time of the year and will take off easily. Cucurbits resent root disturbance as well. A packet of seeds would be half the price and would give you 2 or 3 times as many plants. You could save some of the seeds for next year. trust this helps.
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Asparagus 20 Nov, Susan britton (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, My friend planted old corms in my patch 3 years ago. The asparagus grows up very thick in the stem. She wants me to get a corm out when they all die back so she can grow this old variety. Can you advise me if that's ok and how to do it if it is. Thanks Sue
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Asparagus 21 Nov, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Apsparagus roots are called 'crowns'. Wait until the Winter and carefully separate a crown with a garden fork. if the crown is large you could cut a piece off or split it in half with a knife or spade. you must ensure that the separated piece has a few buds and roots attached as well. Don't try and harvest any spears on your 'new' crown until the second year.
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Tomato 20 Nov, Wayne (Australia - temperate climate)
I have two different varieties of tomato growing and both are very bitter. What could be causing this? I have grown several crops over the years & this is the first time this has happened
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Garlic 19 Nov, Jagtar (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I would like to grow my own Garlic. what is the right time and is there any difference difference between Chinese and Australian garlic.
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Garlic 21 Nov, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello Jagtar Refer 'Garlic. 12 November. Ralph. I posted note there about Chinese Garlic Regards John
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Tomato 18 Nov, Ross (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, i have some tomato plants which are doing really well, but the white moths and small insects are attacking them, can you tell me how to stop these pests please
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Tomato 18 Nov, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello Ross, The white moths will most likely be White Fly which rise in a cloud when disturbed and lnd again fairly soon. A piece of bright yellow plastic or card smeared with petroleum jelly will sort them out. They are attracted to the bright colour and will stick to the greasy surface. it depends on what the small insects are, what to do. If they are a very small fly that can fly forwards, backwards and sideways they will be hover flies. They are beneficial and will be feeding on the white fly or aphids so don't try and get rid of them! If the insects or grubs are chewing the leaves or fruit you could use Yates 'Natures Way'. This is a bacterial spray and is harmless to anything but chewing pests. It is organically approved and is 'safe'. Trust this helps
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Squash (also Crookneck, Pattypan, Summer squash) 18 Nov, warren white (Australia - temperate climate)
I've been eating my squash strait off the plant uncooked, thinly sliced on a vegemite sandwich. you really should try this!
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Asparagus 17 Nov, lynne (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I live east of Melbourne. I've grown asparagus for the past 4 or 5 years and now its mid November I have stopped harvesting but wonder if I could continue to harvest a little longer now its well established. Please advise
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Asparagus 18 Nov, Chris (Australia - temperate climate)
Keep going Lynne but make sure you have some spears going to seed for next year, let 6 or so go and then take any that come up after that.
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Asparagus 18 Nov, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Normally you stop harvesting asparagus spears to allow tops to grow to regenerate the crowns for next season. if your soil is well built up with manure you could probably sneak a few more but don't jeopardise next seaasons crop.
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Showing 5431 - 5460 of 13854 comments
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