All recent comments/discussion

Showing 11221 - 11250 of 13853 comments
Radish 14 Dec, Harry (Australia - temperate climate)
My radishes grow with long green stems coming out of the ground as seen in the pic. However, despite the rather large sized stems, the radishes are small or in other cases, not even there. Can someone please help???
Horseradish 14 Dec, Iris (Australia - arid climate)
I have grown ordinary radishes, but one is very long, not round like t he ot hers. How do I know if t his is a horseradish please
Horseradish 17 Dec, Liz (Australia - temperate climate)
Iris, horse radish is a completely different plant. It would be unusual if you had some seeds as they are usually grown from cuttings. What you might have is a daikon radish. They grow a long white root.
Angelica 14 Dec, Lyn (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Angelica pachycarpa is sold as an ornamental garden plant. It is not suitable for culinary use or herbal remedies. It has bright shiny leaves.
Spinach (also English spinach) 14 Dec, Alana Smith (Australia - tropical climate)
I purchased what is meant to be English Spinache at the local markets, but the plants have a purple/black berry on them is this normal?
Spinach (also English spinach) 18 Jun, Michelle Cruse (Australia - temperate climate)
That sounds like a climbing spinach I have. It has thick rubbery leaves, climbs like a trellis and puts out those small black/purple berries. I have used the leaves in cooking and the chooks & ducks seem to love them as well.
Rosella (also Queensland Jam Plant, Roselle) 13 Dec, rodney (Australia - arid climate)
does the bush die after fruiting are new seeds inside the fruit .
Rosella (also Queensland Jam Plant, Roselle) 03 Jun, Shea (Canada - Zone 5b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Treat it as an annual for best results
Garlic 13 Dec, Richard (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have just dug up my garlic which I planted in june. The stems had completly died and the garlic bulbs were only the size of a 20 cent coin in diameter. what happened
Garlic 25 Dec, Dennis (Australia - temperate climate)
NOT ENOUGH WATER (NEEDS TO BE 130% OF THE EVAPORATION OR TO MUCH WEED COMPETITION
Chilli peppers (also Hot peppers) 11 Dec, Robert Godson (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Are Chilli Plants a defence mechanise against anything; do they assist other plants by keeping away bugs or other infestations
Chilli peppers (also Hot peppers) 20 Sep, Ines (Australia - tropical climate)
are there any plants that can protect my chilli from being eaten by little bugs and birds?
Beans - climbing (also Pole beans, Runner beans, Scarlet Runners) 11 Dec, Martin (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Graham, I had the same problem in Adelaide, great flowers no beans. I attributed it to Adelaide being too hot. My father-in-law in Warrnambool used to hose his runner beans with cold water to try and trick them into setting.
Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 07 Dec, gurinder (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My plants are giving fruit at age of 7 weeks. Should I remove the first fruit? The sizes are very uneven too. What fertilizers I need to use for 3000 plants?
Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 11 Dec, John BEE (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Gurinder, that’s a lot of zucchinis you have…3000 plants. Based on about 10,000 plants per hectare, this is a sizable area. I do think you should seriously consider seeking serious professional advice. You may have just gone thru a period of extreme weather - heat wise or rain wise, which could have adversely affected fruit setting. Some varieties are more susceptible to this depending on whether they are open pollinated or parthenocarpic hybrids (you didn’t mention the variety so I’m only assuming this stage). So, my suggestion is just to hang in there at this stage and just harvest what you can from the plants. Re fertilizing, this is not an easy question. Ideally you would have had a soil analysis to establish a pre-plant fertilizer (NP&K) and a side-dressing fertilizing (N&K only) program, confirmed by a couple (at least one) leaf tissue analysis about first flowering and maybe half way thru the fruiting season. In lieu of all this you could have given a basal pre-plant dressing of 800-1200 kg/ha of low analysis 5:5:5 or 300-400 kg/ha of high analysis 14:14:14 fertlizer, (or something close to this NPK ratio); followed up by side dressings from first flowering with fertilizers containing only nitrogen and potash (no phosphate). Some growers alternate light dressings (30-40 kg/ha) potassium and calcium nitrate every few weeks from fist flowering. Too much nitrogen early encourages excessive foliage growth and an over-abundance of non-productive male flowers. If you did not give a good pre-plant basal dressing then I would suggest light side dressings every couple of weeks (followed by good watering) with a high analysis fertilizer, something approx to a 14:14:14 fertilizer. I hope this helps a bit. John
Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 21 Aug, Olivia (Australia - temperate climate)
Does anyone know where to get parthenocarpic ("self pollinating") zucchini / summer squash seeds in Australia? Thanks for your suggestions in advance!!!
Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 13 Dec, Eileen (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Many Thanks John.I have been searching fruitlessly (forgive the pun) for a reason or rhyme for my problem - all male flowers. While my cue all female. Overdosing on nitrogen (cow poo) earlier my just be my problem. Now how to tackle it...try no more poo juice just a little potash. Eileen
Shallots (also Eschalots) 06 Dec, Godfrey Sutton (Australia - temperate climate)
I have shallots growing like wildfire from a few that i started by using the 'flower tips, small bulbs' that grew on shallots that i planted last year. Should i leave the 'flower tips, small bulbs' this year or are they detrimental to the main shallot, if so how do i handle them, just bend over like garlic etc? ,
Spinach (also English spinach) 05 Dec, Colin (Australia - temperate climate)
I've been told recently that the spinach we get in Australia, is not true spinach. The claim is that it is the tops of a (?) root vegetable and that the real (English) Spinach is much darker in the leaves and is not a root vegetable. Can you please enlighten me?
Spinach (also English spinach) 17 Feb, Daniel (Australia - temperate climate)
Sam is right. Real spinach is called "Spinacea Oleracea" while the commonly known Spinach in Australia is actually Silverbeet or "BETA VULGARIS" and is from the Beet family. Also real spinach is harvested much smaller than silverbeet so the spacing only needs to be 8cm and not 15-20cm as advised on this page which is the spacing for silverbeet. (Opinions seem to vary on this - some gardeners recommend 10 - 20cm)
Spinach (also English spinach) 10 Dec, Sam (Australia - arid climate)
This could be checked by looking at the scientific name: Spinacia oleracea is Spinach. What is the scientific name of the root vegetable? Plenty of Aussies call Silverbeet "Spinach", is that the issue?
Choko/Chayote (also Chayote squash, christophene, chouchou, mirliton) 04 Dec, Annie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Chokos - Hi Howard. When I was a young girl in Sydney/Newcastle area we lived on Chokos. They would grow over sheds, fences etc. so I assume that they would tolerate part shade in your area. I have planted (just for experiment) 4 sprouting chokos in Hobart, Tas. but have put them in full sun against a warm brick wall. They have grown about 1 metre so far. Regards Annie
Choko/Chayote (also Chayote squash, christophene, chouchou, mirliton) 17 Jan, michael (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
i was just wondering how you went with the growing of chokos in the Hobart area, as i live here and would like to grow some as we can not find a green grocer that sells them . they all say that they have had them in the past but no longer . We have been told by nutritionist that they would be good for our daughter who has so many in-tolerances it isn't funny. Any help would be great
Choko/Chayote (also Chayote squash, christophene, chouchou, mirliton) 25 Jan, Tania (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Michael, just wondering if your daughter managed to resolve her food intolerances? I have some information which may help her greatly! Feel free to get in touch. Regards, Tania
Choko/Chayote (also Chayote squash, christophene, chouchou, mirliton) 09 Apr, Chris (Australia - temperate climate)
if anyone wants awesome green Choko to grow just email me and will send you a sprouter for free (you pay postage) [email protected] use choko as subject line
Choko/Chayote (also Chayote squash, christophene, chouchou, mirliton) 17 Oct, A Nelson (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I am attempting to get a food forest going in my back garden up in the Tamar Valley area. It is relatively protected from winds by big trees and good sun. I really like chokos and am interested in growing them...are you still sending out sprouted seeds? By any chance would you know where I might find cold tolerant lady finger bananas, ichigo or hokowase strawberries and cranberries? Would love to give these a try. Thanks for your help! Cheers
Spring onions (also Scallions, Bunching onions, Welsh onion) 04 Dec, (Australia - temperate climate)
How long does it take for a spring onions?
Lettuce 04 Dec, Lance (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Why is my cos lettuce going to seed? there being goin really good and all of sudden bolted and gone to seed
Lettuce 29 Jan, Latesha (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Ann, I had birds eating my lettuces too, I rigged up some string and silver plastic plates (or cans do) in and around the lettuces, it has a scarecrow affect and keeps the birds away. Be sure it isn't a possum as I have had them eat my lettuce too! Hi Lance, Lettuce has gone to seed as that is their main aim in life. In the summer months it is best to protect the lettuce from the sun and water regularly. Heat and lack of water causes the plant to stress and therefore it seeds as it thinks it might die. Some varieties of lettuce also just have a short life span, so I would suggest choosing varieties such as "four seasons".
Lettuce 22 Jan, Daniel (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Lance, Unless you are able to water Lettuce everyday (twice a day in a pot) during the warmer months then it will bolt. Lettuce is a much happier autumn - spring crop
Showing 11221 - 11250 of 13853 comments
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