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Showing 11101 - 11130 of 13854 comments
Tomato 03 Feb, Sam (Australia - temperate climate)
I had the same issue issue last year and a friend suggested hanging yellow and red christmas baubles on the vines before it starts fruiting. Birds will go for these first without success and, hopefully, leave your ripening tomatos alone. That's my plan for this year, anyway.
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Tomato 04 Feb, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I'll try that on my plum trees next year!
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Beetroot (also Beets) 24 Jan, Mohan (Australia - temperate climate)
beets grow best in soils with pH range : 6 to 7.5, while boron is absorbed from the soil in the pH range 4.5 to 6. Boron is immobile and the older parts of the plant having it cannot supply it to new growth. It is therefore best to spray a solution of boron salt in the recommended dilution on the leaves, alternately the pH of soil has to maintained at value 6.
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Shallots (also Eschalots) 23 Jan, Tim (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Has anyone experimented with replanting both small and large bulbs from the previous year? There seems to be a difference of opinion on whether it is better to replant the smallest bulbs or the largest bulbs. any thoughts/experience much appreciated! Tim
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Coriander (also Cilantro, Chinese parsley) 22 Jan, (Australia - temperate climate)
I have tried to grow Coriander in Melbourne with very little success. Now I have bought a large herb self watering pot that holds 10 litres of water. Should I keep the pot in the full sun during summer or put it in semi shade?
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Coriander (also Cilantro, Chinese parsley) 05 Feb, George (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Coriander, my wife's favourite herb. In Melbourne, late December 2010, I planted a few seedlings of coriander in a large pot (50cm dia) containing excellent, well-drained soil, fertilizer, a liberal dressing of lime, and a healthy supply of regular watering. Position, all-day sun. The plants thrived, but unfortunately, after about two weeks the coriander bolted, having produced very small, if any, leaves. Very frustrating. In hindsight, I strongly suspect the mistake was keeping the very large coriander pot in full sun. I suggest you avoid the afternoon sun until the plants are firmly established (at about 30cm high) Hope this helps PS I know from experience that parsley will flourish with only part-morning sun.
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Coriander (also Cilantro, Chinese parsley) 15 Feb, Melody (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I also failed with Asian coriander then found an unrelated plant called Mexican coriander (Eryngium foetidum) that looks nothing like but tastes exactly the same. It resembles Dandelion in that longish leaves come from a central root at ground level. These are not as soft as the other coriander but are more robust so the flavour can survive some cooking. Cut out the flower stem to prolong life but it does seed readily too. I found mine at a nursery so maybe ask your friendly nursery staff to look into it for you. Cheers!
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Coriander (also Cilantro, Chinese parsley) 29 Jul, Ossie Osborne (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Please give me your nursery name. Mine does not know of the plant even though the ABC Garden Show featured it a couple of weeks ago.
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Coriander (also Cilantro, Chinese parsley) 19 Jul, Andrew Griffiths (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Regular coriander bolts in the Summer as you say. I keep the seed for next year, and I grind it up for Mexican flavour. The combination of coriander seed, cumin and cayene, in tomato puree, a bit of Worcestershire and vegie stock makes the perfect flavour.
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Coriander (also Cilantro, Chinese parsley) 16 Jul, Rob (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Yes, it's always the same, regular coriander will bolt in the Victorian summer. I returned from Thailand with some seeds earlier this year and sowed them together with the seeds I've been using in the past. But this time, I sowed them at the end of summer. Wonderful bushy leafy coriander is growing through the winter, just clip and use, then it keeps growing. Even frost here in Yarra Valley has not stopped it. Best crop ever, but not crossing my fingers for this summer's plantings. Winter is the trick and same suggestion from Thai friends.
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Coriander (also Cilantro, Chinese parsley) 22 Jul, hz (Australia - arid climate)
I had luck with a $1.50 pkt of coriander seeds from Aldi ( meant for the kitchen, but I planted them lol) - better than more expensive brand coriander seed from the garden centre. Winter is the go, it hates the Aussie sun !
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Basil 22 Jan, Trish (Australia - tropical climate)
We have a few basil plants around a foot high right now and are picking and eating happily. They haven't flowered, and I'm told I should pinch off the flowers to prevent it. my question - I'm such a beginner - do they die off and require replacing, or do the carry on forever if I keep pinching off the flowering heads? If they die, I should be planting again now!
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Basil 14 Oct, Julie (Australia - temperate climate)
I have been experimenting growing herbs for the last year. Let some of the basil flower and go to seed, when dried out save the seeds and plant again in September for regrowth. Perfect for making pesto, keeps well when made and sealed. Basil does need to be sown each year,
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Basil 23 Jan, craig (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You can actually just cut them right back and dry an excess in the oven (very low temp for 45 min or so). the plant will look like death, but tends to start growing again. If it dosent it's an easy herb to keep seeding. I still have the same "bush" that Ive had in a pot for 3 years. Pick, dry regrow start again!
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Beetroot (also Beets) 22 Jan, steve brown (Australia - temperate climate)
Didn't know boron/ borax were the same,but boron is an S5 keep away from children, corrective element produced by Manutec , so you are probably right and a bit richer than me.Should be available at most nurseries and is quite costly. My 500 gram purchase will see me out though. Apply at rate of 5g per litre of water. The beets I planted and watered in with mixture are booming despite the flooding they copped last week Cheers and Happy Gardening folks from Steve
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Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 22 Jan, Ash (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, my zucchini is a really light green colour - not anything like those you buy in the supermarket? Is this normal? Should we pick it and eat it
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Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 22 Jan, Liz (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Ash, Zucchini come in various shades from yellow to almost black/green. Your light green ones are quite alright to eat. If they have small raised 'ribs' along the length of them, they are particularly good.
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Capsicum (also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers) 21 Jan, stephen (Australia - temperate climate)
For high germination % of capsicum,is it a must you heat treat the seeds before planting in the nursery?.
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Capsicum (also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers) 04 Jul, Selina (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I planted some chilli and capsicum seed out 3 weeks ago and nothing has happened despite it saying 1-2 weeks germination time. They are in seedling trays in a small 4 tier plastic green house on my deck which gets good light. All the other veggies have germinated. Should I wait and see if they appear? Maybe the temp is still too low for them to germinate? Any tips anyone?????????
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Silverbeet (also Swiss Chard or Mangold) 21 Jan, Jenboon (Australia - temperate climate)
White stemmed silverbeet... close to the end or going to seed, the stems turn dark pink or red in strips along the edge or full stem? Are the stems still edible or should they be composted?
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Tomatillo 19 Jan, kim (Australia - arid climate)
I got mine from diggers.
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Angelica 19 Jan, Judy Grasso (Australia - temperate climate)
I got my heritage, angelica seed from Caroline, at the Bittern Market..Mornington Penninsula. Caroline also has a great knowledge on companion planting, and has many products that suit the organic gardener, so that they enjoy their gardens. Personally, I am so grateful for all the lovely helpful advice Caroline has given me.
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Amaranth (also Love-lies-bleeding) 18 Jan, star7 (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Amaranth stems, young, steamed for a few minutes are delicious, succulent and have an unusual flavour - they smell like sweet earth when cooked - definitely worth growing,
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Garlic 18 Jan, Michele Downward (Australia - temperate climate)
What is the best varietal type of garlic to grow in far East Gippsland? I have free draining soil, slightly sandy loam
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Garlic 14 Apr, Michael Ouellette (Australia - temperate climate)
Best depends on taste. But I buy my garlic from Diggers Club in Dromana (www.diggers.com.au). Been doing it for years and just recycle some for the following year. For two of use we grow about 80 plants per year, saving 10 for replanting. This year I just purchased 4 more varieties from Diggers so we'll be planting about 100 extra plants! We love garlic in case you haven't worked that out... NOW is the time to plant.
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Pumpkin 17 Jan, julie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Ironbark seeds can be obtained from eden seeds and are very good.
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Okra (also Ladyfinger, gumbo) 15 Jan, mohan (Australia - temperate climate)
comment: OKRA plants require a free draining soil with pH between 6 and 6.5. potash in required to be fed in fair amounts from December onwards. Red spider mite is a troublesome pest but can be controlled by spraying fine mist of water on the leaves including the undersides. Okra plants do NOT tolerate low temperatures and frost.
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Silverbeet (also Swiss Chard or Mangold) 15 Jan, chris (Australia - temperate climate)
Silverbeet is extremely easy to grow, and is a great way for young children to experience the joy of growing and harvesting your own food. 10 out of 10!
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Silverbeet (also Swiss Chard or Mangold) 16 Jan, (Australia - temperate climate)
Absolutely! And it also taste's great!
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Tomato 14 Jan, kate (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I am no expert, but I read somewhere that you can put banana skin under the mulch or in the soil and the potassium helps with flower production. I tried this and also made a tea of banana skins which I apply (diluted) weekly. It seems to work! There are lots of flowers and fruit even though we have had a very slow start to summer here.
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Showing 11101 - 11130 of 13854 comments
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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.
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