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Showing 991 - 1020 of 2216 comments

Cape Gooseberry (also Golden Berry, Inca Berry ) 17 Jun, Colleen (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): We have a healthy plant with loads of fruit which never ripen. In a planter that gets afternoon Sun. Why do you think the fruit doesn't get ripe ?
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Garlic 17 Jun, Beverly Hartman (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): Where in SA can garlic bulbs for planting be bought in bulk?
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Lemon Balm (also Sweet balm, ) 14 Jun, douglas (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate): where in cape town south africa can i purchase lemon balm plants
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Watermelon 13 Jun, Juan Crafford (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): Is it neccessary to mulch my watermelon beds or can I plant the seeds without it. I live in North West
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Watermelon 15 Jun, John (Australia - temperate climate): Watermelons thrive with plenty of old manure and a good water supply. Mulch will help to retain water and keep the roots cooler.
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Garlic 12 Jun, Jan van der Merwe (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): Hi I am farming in Montagu western cape. Can someone please advise me whether garlic could be grown in this area and if so can i still plant for the curent season.
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Beetroot (also Beets) 08 Jun, Lucky (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): if I plant beatroot seed around may 20 when is the harvest time
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Beetroot (also Beets) 09 Jun, John (Australia - temperate climate): Beetroot normally takes 7-10 weeks. You could harvest in July.
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Ginger 06 Jun, Makhosi Kunene (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): im addicted to ginger and i want to start my very own garden of ginger, tired of buying
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Ginger 09 Jun, John (Australia - temperate climate): Ginger needs a frost-free warm climate to thrive with good soil. It also needs a good water supply. If you can provide these conditions you could buy some ginger from a green grocer or fruit shop and plant them. refer to the notes on ginger for more advice.
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Sunflower 05 Jun, Rejoice (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): Hi,my I stay in Limpopo province and would like to know what is the best months to cultivate sunflower. I'm passionate about planting sunflower please help
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Sunflower 09 Jun, John (Australia - temperate climate): Plant sunflower seeds after all frosts are over, if you get them. Sunflowers are fairly tough but will respond to well worked soil with manure or compost added. They will also do better if they get water. Mulch will help save water.
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Tomato 29 May, Ayo koya (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate): I'm a farmer in Nigeria and planting tomatoes, can you pls tell me what are the best seeds to plant in southern Nigeria?
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Potato 26 May, Harare (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): How can I fight or chase away the moles eating potatoes underground?
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Potato 29 May, John (Australia - temperate climate): True moles are insect eaters. It is more likely that rats or mice are eating your potatoes. I would try laying rat and mice baits or traps and see what happens. Some of the newer vermin baits are enclosed in small sachets and you will know if they are chewed that you are getting the culprit. Make sure the baits cannot be reached by children or pets and keep laying them until there is no more chewing. All the best.
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Potato 23 Sep, Dale (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): Poisons? In a garden? What happens when the neighborhood cats & owls eat the mice or rats?
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Strawberries (from seeds) 25 May, dee (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): which region suits strawberries farming in around Mpumalanga, mbombela?
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Strawberries (from seeds) 25 May, John (Australia - temperate climate): In your area strawberries would normally be planted from August to November but I suggest you could plant them most times. They take about 11 weeks to begin fruiting. Make sure you plant your strawberries in an open, sunny position where they will get good air circulation because fruit rotting in humid areas a problem.
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Strawberries (from seeds) 29 May, John (Australia - temperate climate): I thought I would let you know that I was referring to plants, not seeds. Seeds of the main varieties is not normally availanle and can take some weeks to germinate and a whole season to bear fruit.
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Cape Gooseberry (also Golden Berry, Inca Berry ) 23 May, Marilize du Toit (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): When do I prune a gooseberry bush. We live in the southern Cape so winter rainfall area. bush has just become overgrown
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Cape Gooseberry (also Golden Berry, Inca Berry ) 24 May, John (Australia - temperate climate): If you get frosts in your area it would be better to prune them after frosts have finished. Cutting them back now would promote some new growth which could be damaged by frosts.
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Potato 22 May, Mdumiseni Patrick Khawula (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): can i p lough potatoes in June ?
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Potato 22 May, John (Australia - temperate climate): If you mean 'plough or dig potatoes in June' you definitely can. If you mean 'plough the soil and plant potatoes in June' it would depend on whether you get frosts in your area. If you do it would be better to wait until the weather is warmer as frosts will kill the new potatoes.
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Watermelon 21 May, Vikani (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): What kind of manure or fertilizer is good for watermelon in Durban, south africa
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Watermelon 22 May, John (Australia - temperate climate): Watermelons are like pumpkins and do well with plenty of manure and water. Before you plant them dig a hole as deep as you can without going into the hard clay. Put some old newspapers or denim jeans in the bottom of the hole and then add as much old rotted animal manure and household scraps into the hole. Cover the hole in the the topsoil leaving a mound. When it is time to plant the seeds in the mound and give them a good watering. Your watermelons will grow well and the newspaper or old jeans will help hold water.
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Capsicum (also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers) 21 May, Ezekiel Godwin Etim (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate): Good morning sir. place questions are . can I used one type of soils to plan this pepper. like green pepper. rad pepper and yellow pepper. am from Nigeria.
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Capsicum (also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers) 22 May, John (Australia - temperate climate): All peppers need the same soil. well manured soil and an even supply of water will give you a good crop. If you leave the green ones on the plant they will go red and the yellow ones will go orange.
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Horseradish 17 May, Yvonne (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate): I bought white radish at thane market and was told that is also horse radishould is it true?
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Horseradish 17 May, John (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I once bought white radish (daikon) at a market and was told it was parsnip! radishes and horseradish are totally different plants. Radish is grown from seed and the root is harvested when it is ready. Horseradish can be grown from seed but is normally grown from root pieces. It is 'very friendly' and will spread whereas ordinary radishes will only grow from seed. Trust this helps
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Ginger 15 May, Gugu Balfour (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): Hi, my ginger yields very small rhizomes after the whole year on ground. What should I do to increase size of rhizome?
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Showing 991 - 1020 of 2216 comments

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