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Showing 2941 - 2970 of 13866 comments

Potato 06 Nov, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Sorry can't help you - try planting late April early May next year.
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Garlic 04 Nov, Deon Van Vuuren (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Hi. I'm located in Brisbane. Planted Italian white based on recommendations for the climate. Garlic grew well until a month ago. Had a massive hailstorm after a very dry period. The garlic has now created various new thin leaves. on inspecting one, it seems like the cloves has started to grow inside the bulb. I wanted to grow the garlic for seed for next year. Question is, should I harvest all the garlic and let it dry out to stop the growth and will it grow next year? Also, some cloves have not formed. Can I harvest and replant next year and will it grow?
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Garlic 06 Nov, (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I don't grow it. You don't mention when you planted it etc. Maybe the hail (rain and N in the hail) gave the crop a boost and the plants started shooting. Maybe harvest it and see what you can save for bulbs for next year. I would say you need some kind of bulb (maybe even small) to be able to grow from next year.
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Rhubarb 04 Nov, Rod Ewins (Australia - temperate climate): About rhubarb leaves being poisonous. I have always heard that, but when I moved to my present home (Southern Tas, near Port Arthur) there was a real rabbit problem, and one of the things they LOVED eating was young rhubarb leaves. I woke up to this and but a chicken-wire surround, problem solved. I was interested that it didn't seem to have any bad effect on the rabbits, they were still a problem until kalisi virus was released in the area, which knocked back the population for a few years. They seem immune now though and numbers are increasing.
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Cucumber 02 Nov, Sue (Australia - temperate climate): Would 1/1.5 metres be too close to climbing tomato plant
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Cucumber 04 Nov, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I read about 2.5-3 m is a good distance to separate incompatible plants. Also if planting tomatoes N-S then if close, they may create a lot of shade for the cues, restricting their growth possibly.
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Cape Gooseberry (also Golden Berry, Inca Berry ) 01 Nov, Nellie (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Each morning I check for small yellow and black striped beetles and then squash them between gloved fingers. This year I did this and have been able to harvest a crop for jam making.
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Carrot 01 Nov, Colin Low (Australia - temperate climate): I have had trouble growing carrots and I think now because of the chicken & cow manure is too acid. I have limed the area where this year's crop will be tried & my question is "How long do I need to wait before planting the seed? cheers Colin
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Carrot 01 Nov, Mike (Australia - temperate climate): Your main problem was probably the addition of the manures. Carrots do not need or like a rich soil (N) - it produces too much leaf. Carrots prefer a loose loam kind of soil - as in not heavy clay. A loose soil that is crumbly. If adding compost/manures do it months before planting carrots or grow something else before planting the carrots. A couple of weeks should be sufficient with the lime - mix it in well and water it and turn it over once or twice. Plant carrots thinly - can use a small salt shaker with some sand mixed with the seeds.
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Artichokes (Globe) 01 Nov, Gary Sant (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I had an artichoke plant last year which produced a few fruit. The plant disappeared at the end of the season. Will it sprout out of the ground again this year? I hope so.
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Artichokes (Globe) 01 Nov, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): It sounds like it died. Did you have frosts in winter. Read the notes here and maybe a bit of research on the net. I would plant another couple subject to your weather conditions.
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Artichokes (Globe) 07 Nov, Gary Sant (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Thanks Mike. No frosts were I live in Sydney. But I think you are right and it died. ☹️
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Cucumber 31 Oct, Wally Harper (Australia - temperate climate): I have just planted Apple Cucumbers and have flowers on them, do I need to stake these up or do they grow laying on soil, thanks
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Cucumber 01 Nov, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): You can go either way. If on the ground put some mulch/grass clippings on the soil. If short of room trellis them - some wire/mesh on 45-60 degree angle. I've been picking mine for the last 2-3 weeks. I now have a second flush of cuies growing. About 20 each time from 2 plants. Gee they taste good.
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Eggplant (also Aubergine) 30 Oct, Kym H (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I only planted my eggplant tree about a month ago it is less than 30cm tall and is already growing fruit should I cut off the early fruit until the tree gets established
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Eggplant (also Aubergine) 30 Oct, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Sounds like you have poor soil - give it some fertiliser. Generally a plant goes to seed if it is under stress - lack of water fertiliser etc.
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Eggplant (also Aubergine) 01 Nov, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): If the plants are small and weak then it is lack of fertiliser. I have strong plants about 15
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Eggplant (also Aubergine) 04 Nov, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I have strong plants about 15-18 (?)
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Eggplant (also Aubergine) 10 Nov, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): My plants are flowering from about 15-18
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Garlic 29 Oct, Vassana (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I planted my turban garlic in April it grew well looking healthy plants, until August my plants getting yellow maybe lack of water so I water them and put seasol as well the plant started looks healthy again. Last week I pulled some out and the bulb just looks like an onion and the leaf just thick like leek and they are not forming cloves. Do you have any Idea why this is happening? my location its South East QLD. between Maryborough and Gympie
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Garlic 30 Oct, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Read the notes here - I would plant it later like it says - shortest day - 21st June into well prepared soil. Water regularly but not too much especially in winter. Yellow leaves could be the soil running out of N. I had leeks a bit similar this year.
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Radish 28 Oct, Mandy McGuane (Australia - temperate climate): Hi!! Would anyone be able to give some advice as to why my radishes when I picked them today, found that the base of them were split and not very healthy looking, rough skin? Could there be an issue in the soil? Thanks in advance.
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Radish 28 Oct, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): A bit of a contradiction - splitting maybe too wet and tough could be too dry. I find I grow the best radishes in the winter - a light watering each day.
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Radish 02 Nov, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I picked some today - rough looking, probably a bit tough. They are longer than the winter ones - the root seems to be growing longer in search of water even though I water them every day or two. The winter ones are a lot better looking.
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Asparagus Pea (also Winged pea) 28 Oct, Phil M (Australia - temperate climate): I live in the Adelaide region and my winged bean plant has just completed a massive burst of flowers and crop. This seemed completely out of season as it was planted at least a year ago, barely survived summer without flowering throughout, survived winter without a problem (which seems to contradict its need for higher soil temperatures), then in mid-August took off with growth and flowers. I've just cut it right back so is it possible it will start new growth and survive another season?
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Asparagus Pea (also Winged pea) 01 Nov, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate): Have a look at this article www.bbg.org/gardening/article/the_asparagus_pea
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Asparagus Pea (also Winged pea) 01 Nov, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I can't find if they are annual or perennial. Sounds like annual. Let them grow and see what happens.
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Asparagus Pea (also Winged pea) 10 Nov, Phil M (Australia - temperate climate): After two weeks with regular watering, it has succumbed to nature, dried up and died, so it's definitely an annual. Contrary to what it states on the seed packet, I will not be starting off new seedlings until towards the end of summer and hoping for a repeat burst of flowers in late winter and early spring. Thank you also Liz for that article... what struck me in the comments section there was this from a Canberra grower.... 'I live in Canberra, Australia, and can report that I sowed some asparagus peas last spring. They didn’t produce much that season but, amazingly to me who had thought they wouldn’t last our winter here, they are flowering profusely and bearing fruit now, the second month of spring. And temperatures this winter got down to -7C!' This is very much how my own plants responded.
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Potato 26 Oct, Tony (Australia - temperate climate): Thank you Steve and Mike. Your comments much appreciated.
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Rhubarb 25 Oct, Valerie (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I love my rhubarb, Having come form New Zealand in the South we always enjoyed Rhubarb. I bought four plants last year as there were no crowns available.. I give them a lot of food and make sure they are watered correctly, not to heavily but don't let them dry out. I have been cutting the stalks, they have had, big leaves on them and it seems as they are maturing the stalks are getting bigger. Nothing better then Rhubarb sponge and Cream, Rhubarb Crumble and rhubarb tart with meringue on top. I will continue to keep them in the coolest area in the garden around the shady side of the shed and under the bamboo and bigger plants in the garden. I am in a unit in Maroochydore so limited with space. But so far it is going well. Enjoying ever dish. Try it. The trick is keep them well feed and mulched but back from the crowns a little so it doesn't rot. Best of luck.
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