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Showing 991 - 1020 of 13734 comments

Rosella (also Queensland Jam Plant, Roselle) 09 Mar, rod ward (Australia - temperate climate): Hi Bruce, Rod here from Caboolture Qld, about 30klms from coast. From my experience and not sure what you refer to as a mature plant. Rosellas like full sun, like soil to be moist but do not overwater, like a well drained soil, they are known to die very quickly if too wet. I buy seedlings as I have poor success in raising from seed. Up to about 400mm high I remove any small fruit so that they tend to branch out. I planted last year in September and the first flowers appeared about 3 weeks ago. Fruit ready to pick now. My trees are about 2metres tall now. Message back if you would like more info. Cheers Rod
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Rosella (also Queensland Jam Plant, Roselle) 22 Sep, Matilda (Australia - temperate climate): Hi Rod, just wondering where do you buy your seedings from? Many thanks, Matilda
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Rosella (also Queensland Jam Plant, Roselle) 10 Mar, (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Rod - germinating seeds. I use nursery trays about 15
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Peas 07 Mar, Ann (Australia - temperate climate): Do you class Mt Isa north west Qld as sub tropical it is still late 30s C and through the night I would like to plant peas but not sure if it’s too soon
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Peas 08 Mar, (Australia - arid climate): You are arid. Peas plant from April.
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Cauliflower 07 Mar, Lea Zimmer (Australia - temperate climate): I have grown cauli from seeds. In a greenhouse. Have noticed holes in the leaves thinking it was snails I put crushed egg shells in the pots along with snail bait, only to find last night small green caterpillars, happily munching away on a new leaf. I sprayed the entire plant with soapy water in a squeeze bottle. Was that the right thing to use. Even though I used bait I would rather have used something natural. Help needed
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Cauliflower 08 Jun, Gary Adams (Australia - temperate climate): Spray with Dipel which is organic and has no withholding period
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Cauliflower 10 Mar, colleen (USA - Zone 10b climate): The most effective organic solution to your problem is B.t. (B. thuringiensis). It's a naturally occurring bacteria that only targets the caterpillars but is harmless to everything else. Soapy water can be useful for aphids but probably won't do much to the cabbage loopers unless you use so much soap that you risk harming your plants.
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Cauliflower 09 Mar, Darren (Australia - temperate climate): Neem oil will get rid of the caterpillars, if you don't feel confident to pick them all off. Follow instructions on bottle.
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Cauliflower 08 Mar, Anonymous (Australia - arid climate): Look up on the internet organic sprays for cabbage/caulies.
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Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 07 Mar, Wendy Wong (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I am coming to the end of my Corn harvest. I have noticed that the corn is now poker dotted with white & yellow corn. All of my corn is from the same seeds I just staggered the planting to have corn for longer. Also the caterpillars are more frequent as are the gaps in the corn. Are all these normal for end of season "problems"?
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Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 08 Mar, Anonymous (Australia - arid climate): You probably have some bicolour seeds mixed in with your normal seeds. Caterpillers are probably due to more rain this time of year for breeding. Gaps in the corn kernels is from poor pollination, windy when pollination is happening. Pollination happens over 4-5 days, run your hand up the tassel then rub on the silks. Also plant more than one row at a time. (Or in a square)
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Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 14 Mar, Wendy Wong (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Thank You. This information is much appreciated.
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Ginger 06 Mar, John s (Australia - cool/mountain climate): I would like to grow ginger in pots in Launceston Tasmania would it grow here in winter maybe indoors or should I grow them outdoors in Summer
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Ginger 14 Mar, Louise Samuel (Australia - cool/mountain climate): I have been growing ginger in large pots the last couple of years. I plant once we are safe from frost then keep in a sunny position... somewhere that you don’t forget to water. It is slow to come up but does eventually. I stop watering in Autumn and move pots to the deck if frosts are likely. Harvest in winter as you need it. I take everything out mid winter and store in straw in a polystyrene box. Here in the granite belt we get enough sun but way too cold in winter for Ginger, as would be Tasmania
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Ginger 15 Jun, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate): 1. I have a couple of flourishing plants that I think are ginger flowers: tall, broad leaves, candle-like reddish flowers. If this is ginger is there an edible part to this plant? Thanks. 2. I have long wondered why, with Gardenate's climate-zones, 'Subtropical" is South of Rockhampton Qld AU and 'Tropical' is around Airlie Qld AU and cuts across to WA AU but thete is no actual zoning North of Rockampton to Mackay. Other garden zoning publishers (viz magazines, media et al.,) also omit the same area. Rather odd if not confusing for any gardeners in that no-zone?
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Pumpkin 05 Mar, Edith Martin (Australia - temperate climate): I planted some butternut pumpkin seeds in January. They are only producing male flowers. How can I get some female flowers?
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Pumpkin 08 Mar, (Australia - temperate climate): Give them some time. Quite often male flowers are first to appear, attract the bees.
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Shallots (also Eschalots) 04 Mar, Yet (Australia - temperate climate): what is the sowing method
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Shallots (also Eschalots) 05 Mar, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate): If you are talking shallot bulbs, dig a furrow with the handle end part of your rake (or whatever) 40-50mm deep, push 3 bulbs into the furrow every 100-150mm. Then push some soil back over them. The top of the bulb should be just under the surface. Give them a good watering. If you like run a little bit fertiliser/Bunnings Rooster Booster in the furrow before planting and scratch it into the soil.
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Broad Beans (also Fava bean) 04 Mar, gary (Australia - temperate climate): what soil preparation is best for broad beans,my crops are getting less every year?
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Broad Beans (also Fava bean) 21 Mar, Tony (Australia - temperate climate): I use good old chicken manure (Rooster Booster or similar) and dolomite lime. Dig both in well a few weeks before planting. Don't forget to plant your broad beans in a different spot than the year before
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Rosella (also Queensland Jam Plant, Roselle) 01 Mar, Rod (Australia - temperate climate): I am in sunshine coast north of brisbane. Q My rosella bush has lime green flowers with a very light pink tinge on outer edges. The fruit is of harvest size but the calyx is green and not red. Any ideas please before the plant becomes compost. Planted early sept. This is the second year this has happened. Seedlings purchased from nursery nearby.
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Rosella (also Queensland Jam Plant, Roselle) 04 Mar, (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I suggest you talk to the nursery people or to their supplier. Also maybe ring someone like Eden Seeds and see if you can talk to someone who knows something about growing Rosellas. Maybe they need time to turn red it does say 5-6 months to harvest.
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Strawberries (from seeds) 01 Mar, Fouzia Saeed (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate): I want to plant strawberries in pots here temperature varies 34 to 40 Celsius any recommendation.
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Strawberries (from seeds) 02 Mar, (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Have a good size pot. Place it where it receives some shade during the day. Water them often, this will be your problem with limited soil and high temperatures.
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Broccoli 28 Feb, Richard (Australia - temperate climate): Hi, how soon should I net my broccoli if at all? Thank you
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Broccoli 01 Mar, Anonymous (Australia - temperate climate): Any time after planting. Rain is the starting point of insects and grubs so keep an eye on them after rain. I would net after the last weeding you are going to do.
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Rockmelon (also Canteloupe) 27 Feb, Margaret Bower (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I'm in Perth metropolitan. End January I planted seeds from a melon I had eaten, in a large pot of mixed potting mix. Seeds now germinated into healthy seedlings about 12cm high, some showing tendrils. I'd like to plant the seedlings out in the garden. How must I prepare for planting seedlings in garden, please? How deep to plant, distance between seedlings, what soil preparation needed. What fertilisers needed. How much watering? The garden space I have gets sun about half the day. Perth is quite hot so March will continue at temps. about 27-31deg. C. I look forward to your informed advice. Sincerely Margaret
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Rockmelon (also Canteloupe) 01 Mar, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Generally if you are planting seeds from seasonal crops that you are eating, like melons you are planting too late.You can use this website to work out when to plants crops for your climate zone. You indicate you are sub tropical when you are more likely temperate zone. By the planting calendar here you should have planted seeds in Sept/Oct. You should have prepared your soil over the previous 4-6 weeks, digging it over and adding compost, manures and some fertiliser. Plant every 3/4m and have rows 1.5m apart. Sow normal depth. Water every day, even twice a day when hot. Put some mulch/grass clipping around the plant, about 60-80cm diameter. Plants need a lot of sun, the more the better. Half a days sun may not be enough. Any general fertiliser is good for most crops. There is a lot of information on the internet about gardening.
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