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Showing 151 - 180 of 20078 comments

Watermelon 11 Nov, Alison (Australia - temperate climate): About to plant some watermelon seedlings - do they tend to have one trailing growth or many? Should I cut any secondary growths off to help promote growth on a single length? This will also help decide where I plant them.
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Watermelon 16 Nov, (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Just let the whole plant grow.
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Sunflower 08 Nov, Hans von Rosen (Canada - zone 4a Temperate Warm Summer climate): can I seed giant sunflowers outside in October Ottawa area
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Sunflower 16 Nov, (Canada - Zone 7a Mild Temperate climate): Check the planting guide here
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Watermelon 07 Nov, Xander Mutch (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Hey I just planted a watermelon seed in a pot, how often should I water it and should I leave the pot in the sun all day or where should I leave the pot for the seed to grow?
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Watermelon 16 Nov, (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Depending on the size of the pot - daily and when plant is big maybe couple of times a day. I don't think you will produce much from growing in a pot. A watermelon plant covers an area of 4-6m diameter.
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Choko/Chayote (also Chayote squash, christophene, chouchou, mirliton) 07 Nov, Rowel (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate): Where can I buy a Choko near Gore Southland
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Choko/Chayote (also Chayote squash, christophene, chouchou, mirliton) 30 Nov, Juliana (New Zealand - temperate climate): Facebook or Trademe in Spring. I have some plants if you want. (email removed for privacy reasons)
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Choko/Chayote (also Chayote squash, christophene, chouchou, mirliton) 16 Nov, (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Ask at a fruit and veg shop.
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Onion 05 Nov, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): Can I start sowing onion seeds in November. If so which type of onion is suitable
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Onion 08 Nov, Celeste Archer (Australia - temperate climate): One last thought .... I never seem to get everything into my first response ==> Egyptian walking onion --onions and other alliums need more phosphorus and potassium than most other vegetables. They also need more copper, manganese, zinc, and molybdenum- however most of these are adequately represent in compost. BUT, if you have any issues, and it is unlikely that you will with walking onions --- but if you do, first thing I would do is ensure all of these elements are present (in Canada our "old" pennies have a lot of copper, we just add this obsolete currency to the garden). Molybdenum is found in wood ash (just the stuff from the fireplace, firepit or wood burning stove -- provided you have burned "clean wood" )-- probably lots in leaf compost, and banana peel compost)-- of course potassium in potash etc.
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Onion 08 Nov, Celeste Archer (Canada - Zone 7b Mild Temperate climate): Tree onion (Allium x proliferum) also known as Walking Onions, Egyptian Onions, Topset Onions are a perennial onion. They are part of the Alliaceae or onion family and is a hybrid of the common onion (Allium cepa) and the welsh onion (Allium fistulosum). Tree onions are the easiest of the onions to grow coping with 40-degree heat and frosts. Check out his video -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olOrA80C40s -- variety matters -- and DURATION in the soil -- my understanding is harvesting too early results in low yields -- so wait for the 3rd set of topsets before harvesting as per the video. These onions take longer to get going, but are very reliable and topsets, mean you can always propagate (which is a nice to have -- since future generations get stronger and better suited to your climate).
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Garlic 04 Nov, Christina (USA - Zone 9b climate): I noticed it says garlic is not recommended for USA zone 9b. I am in 9b central California. I plant garlic every year mid-December and harvest it mid-June. With the winter rains I don’t worry about watering it until April or May. I have not had any trouble with slugs/snails eating it (like they do with everything else in my winter garden!) Super easy to grow, everyone in zone 9b should try it!
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Garlic 18 Dec, Debby (USA - Zone 9b climate): What is the name and variety of the garlic you are growing in zone 9B? I'm hoping to grow some garlic in zone 9B as well.
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Garlic 24 Jan, WILLIAM (USA - Zone 9a climate): I am in 9a and I am growing garlic from Keene Organics. They have great starter garlic kits that have 2 verities Early Italian Softneck Certified Organic and Inchelium Red Certified Organic Garlic. Both are coming in well looking forward to harvesting in maybe April. We will see how things go.
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Rhubarb 03 Nov, John Daly (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Where Can I buy Rhubarb to Plant in Brisbane Area Please let me know Thanks John 0437 821523
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Rhubarb 16 Nov, (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Go to BUUINGS OR SOME NURSERIES AND ASK AROUND.
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Sage (also Common Sage) 02 Nov, Delea (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): Can I plant sage with beetroots?
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Sweet Potato (also Kumara) 01 Nov, Dot Wise (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate): Just planted 100 kumara slips (tipu). Hope to harvest by Waitangi weekend.
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Sunflower 31 Oct, Ellie (Australia - temperate climate): I have a question for a school project. We are growing a garden and I have chosen sunflowers. I have the seed and all but im not to sure about how bug the garden should be. I have a garden that is 4.5 meters long. Please get back to me by tomorrow as the assignment ends then. Thank you
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Sunflower 16 Nov, (Australia - sub-tropical climate): You should have read the notes here - it tells you how far apart to plant and how far for rows a part.
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Onion 24 Oct, ESTHER C BROWN (USA - Zone 7b climate): CAN I PLANT ONION SEEDS NOW/ OCTOBER IN A 4X4 GARDEN BOX TO OVER WINTER/ ZONE 7B NY
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Sunflower 22 Oct, Merlyn Adams (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): I have a high lying farm in magaliesburg. I want to start farming with sunflower in the area. Please advise which cultivar of sunflower seed can I use
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Sunflower 22 Oct, Celeste Archer (Canada - Zone 6b Temperate Warm Summer climate): Sunflowers have multiple uses: edible oil, seeds to feed for livestock, snack seeds, flower production etc. You didn't mention your intended use. End use will impact cultivar selection. My best guess is you are trying for oil seeds -- since this is probably the most lucrative sunflower product. Most likely there are University studies for sunflowers in your area to help you with cultivar selection. Your looking for Sunflower seed trial results -- or something like that -- favoring agricultural publications and University papers over other sites. Many of these publications will not be applicable -- so it is a matter of wading through the various publications (from creditable and "neutral" sources) -- clearly much of the information will be "excessively detailed" -- but eventually, hopefully you will find a nice chart the compares the YIELDs for the various cultivars in your area, or an area similar to yours. My search engines always seem to throw me back to North America -- so I am unable to hunt down a good publication/article for you.
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Sunflower 24 Oct, Celeste Arcjer (Canada - Zone 5a Temperate Warm Summer climate): One last thought -- and whether this is a good idea or not will depend on the "tastes" in your area. (using info from the net): The Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) is closely related to sunflowers. Specialty producers treat Jerusalem artichokes as a very versatile, gourmet root vegetable under multiple names such as Sunchoke (created and trademarked by Frieda Caplan) and lambchoke, as well as sunroot, wild sunflower, earth apple, earth pear, and topinambour (in France and Germany). They have also been called French potatoes, German turnips, and Canadian artichokes or truffles. They can be sliced and eaten raw (after washing the edible skin) and are variously described as sweet, savory, nutty, and crunchy, similar to water chestnuts, jicama, or milder radishes. They are often boiled, roasted, or mashed, with a flavor very similar to potatoes or artichoke hearts. They can also be fermented or pickled, and ground into flour. Jerusalem artichokes look similar to ginger root or turmeric and potatoes. They can be short or long and brown, white, red, purple, or grey in skin color. Wild tubers are often red and plants are spread across fields; when cultivated, they appear white and clustered together. Tubers are oblong, with lumps or knobs. The inside is white until exposed to air when the flesh will begin to darken. More than 200 varieties of Jerusalem artichokes exist including Clearwater, Columbia, Mammoth, Oregon, Red Fuseau, Stampede, and White Fuseau. Jerusalem artichokes are a hardy perennial able to grow well in most soils. Ideally, the ground is loamy, loosely packed, and with a slightly alkaline pH value of around 7. Temperatures between 65 to 80°F (16c - 26 c) are preferred for optimal growth, along with 125 or more frost-free days. More sunlight is needed for the initial growing stages, then less is preferable as the tubers form. Precipitation will aid in growth, especially during sprouting, but too much moisture will waterlog plants. In commercial production, Jerusalem artichokes are raised annually, despite their perennial nature. Growth takes 7 months on average, seeds are often planted in early spring for best yields. ...................... certainly worth thinking about. Sunflowers for oil production probably have more "certainty" when it comes to demand. Sun chokes may not have the demand (initially - or maybe ever) in your area to support a farm dedicated to Sun chokes and Sun Chokes are know for their "delicate" skin which may make shipping tricky (avoiding spoilage)..
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Sunflower 24 Oct, Celeste Archer (Canada - Zone 6b Temperate Warm Summer climate): I found this publication, which might be a good starting point for you: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02571862.2024.2352174#d1e710 ----- the Abstract starts ---------- Abstract Suitable planting dates and hybrid selection are crucial in optimizing yield, component traits and oil production in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). In South Africa, there is limited information on the effects of planting dates on currently available sunflower hybrids in the marketplace.....
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Sunflower 22 Oct, Liz (Gardenate) (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate): You would probably have more help from a local agricultural advisor. Gardenate is intended for home gardeners, not farmers.
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Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 20 Oct, K-M Bourke (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I never have much success growing from seed but I really want to level up my gardening. How much sun do I allow my seedling trays to get. In a sub-tropical climate the sun can be very intense on hot days and can dry them out very quickly. Should I use a greenhouse or is that too shady? How often should you water them? I assume the trays should be moist the whole time while they are germinating? Any advice would be appreciated.
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Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 28 Oct, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Soak the seeds over night in a bowl/glass of water. Plant them into a fine potting mix soil. Give them a watering.. Don't water for 2-3 days. Keep in the shade or only a little sun each day. If soil drying out use a spray bottle to moisten the top of the soil. Or do similarly into the garden. Put some shade over them. Don't over water - they will rot. I have had trouble myself the last few years. Or just buy punnet from Bunnings/? - a lot simpler and easier.
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Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 16 Nov, (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Continued - I bought some from Bunnings - tasted horrible.
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