All recent comments/discussion

Showing 1621 - 1650 of 13866 comments

Rhubarb 27 May, Claudia (Australia - temperate climate): I had the same problem with my rhubarb. It never thrived. For 3 years, it was in a spot that received western sun and full shade in winter. The soil wad always dry, and I had to keep the water up. I moved it into a north east facing raised bed full of rich soil and mulched thickly. Did this about 6 weeks ago, and it has already doubled in size. The leaves are bigger, greener and lush. The stalks are also thick and crisp! We're coming into winter now, so your rhubarb might take a little longer to recover. Give it a good drink of seaweed at transplant. I also soak my mulch in seaweed solution before mulching. As for the holes in the leaves, that will probably be from a grub. Inspect your plant and its root ball before transplanting, so you don't bring the little muncher over too! Sometimes grubs hide in the ground. Good luck!
Reply
Rhubarb 08 May, M (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I have never grown it although my mother did nearly 60 yrs ago. Holes in it would be some kind of caterpillar/grub, the brown could be leaves dying off or lack of water. Thin stalks would be lack of nutrient, maybe the same for woody stalks. Maybe time to replant it somewhere (if possible) into new rich soil and keep the water up to it and a fert feed now and again.
Reply
Radish 06 May, judith (Australia - temperate climate): In Tasmania its late May and getting much cooler. My radish plants are quite vigorous but have no roots only leaves. Is this because its not warm enough.
Reply
Radish 02 Jun, Jon Hosford (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Radishes planted in Tasmania should produce reliably in the cooler months. They do establish a root first before filling out at about week 4 or 5. I wouldn't pull them out yet.They don't like too much fertiliser. After November in Tas you are best to sow them in the shade of a taller growing crop that will shade them from harsh sun. e.g sweet corn.
Reply
Radish 08 May, M (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I'm sub tropical and have done many different things trying to grow radish. Temps here from now to end of winter, day generally 22 to 27, couple in the high teens maybe. Nights 6 to 16 with the odd 3 or 4. Don't plant radish in rich soil, probably best to plant after another crop. Plant thinly and in narrow rows. I would think you have planted into too rich a soil. Must say I have the same problem at the moment. I tried to plant in wide bands sparsely, it didn't work, soil was too rich. I'm trying some called white hailstone, I think they are a more reliable milder taste. I think radish are better grown here in the winter rather than summer.
Reply
Pumpkin 04 May, Michael G (Australia - temperate climate): I live in Adelaide and have a crop of Jap pumpkin, the vine is just starting to die back, with the high rainfall we are currently getting should I cut the pumpkins before the stalk dries? I fear the pumpkins taking on to much water and rotting.
Reply
Pumpkin 05 May, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Be judged by how old they are - should be 20+ weeks to be ready to pick. No good picking a half mature pumpkin. The rain should only be a couple of days. If the pumpkin are laying flat and have water around the stem, tip it out. If you think they are ready try one.
Reply
Pumpkin 05 May, Clive (Australia - temperate climate): Depends how progressed they are. Vine die back only happens at the end of the vine life. I pick many Japs well before the vine dies, with other later pollinated pumpkins still growing. Excess moisture does not only create rot, but also splitting. If the pumpkins are getting yellow, ghosting, coloring around the stem base they could also split from over watering, so pick them. If they are still young leave them. I picked several Japs this morning, one was 7.2kg and it was only 31 days from pollination. (Central QLD)
Reply
Rockmelon (also Canteloupe) 04 May, Ian Fuller (Australia - temperate climate): Hi, My French friend says he has not had rockmelons as tasty as he had back in France. He is in the food industry. Do they generally grow a different variety there and if so, is that variety available to grow (or perhaps buy) in Australia? We live in Sydney. He is such a nice guy that I would love to surprise him with a solution - perhaps some seeds of that variety. Thank you, Regards, Ian
Reply
Rockmelon (also Canteloupe) 05 May, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Go to a seed selling website Eden, Boondie, Seed Collection etc and ask him which if any look like the ones he had in France.
Reply
Rockmelon (also Canteloupe) 05 May, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate): If you go on the internet and type 25 different melons you will see a website with 25 different melons from around the world. All different kinds and shapes. The melons grown in Australia today are far inferior to melons grown 20-30-40 years ago. Melons today have been breed for size, hardness for transport and shelf live in shops. ALL ABOUT WHAT THE SUPERMARKETS WANT. If you want to grow some try Hales Best. Grow in the spring.
Reply
Rhubarb 03 May, Pat Collins (Australia - temperate climate): I belong to a community garden and we have been using lots of fresh horse manure to feed our rhubarb and other plants. Last year our rhubarb seemed to get very weak and then developed root rot. Would this be due to the manure being too acid? our soil is quite clayey.
Reply
Rhubarb 05 May, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Manures need to break down into compost before applying to the soil and then mixed into the soil. Manures are a great soil condition builder. Puts fibre back into the soil and opens it up to heat, light, water draining easily etc. Or you could put the fresh manure in a big tub/bin/drum and top up with water, after a week or two you could drain off the liquid and apply that. Stir the water/manure while it is soaking. Better to apply compost or broken down manures.
Reply
Pumpkin 02 May, (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Gramma pumpkin. When is the best time to pick? When fully orange and dusty. Is it ripe when green and dusty looking?
Reply
Pumpkin 05 May, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate): About 20 weeks or so after planting. The vine will be dying back, the stem from the pumpkin to the vine will be hard and dry. When you think it is ready try one, if a pale colour then you picked too early.
Reply
Asparagus Pea (also Winged pea) 02 May, Linda (Australia - tropical climate): I have been harvesting my winged beans at various sizes, and the plant here just out of Darwin has fruited profusely. Unfortunately tho I have not enjoyed them so I have pulled them up to make way for the Borraloolla bean?
Reply
Asparagus Pea (also Winged pea) 01 Aug, Michael D Cowen (Australia - tropical climate): Lived Borrolloola for over 2 years and never heard of the Borrolloola pea (heard about a unique cycad from the Loo). Would be interested in trying a Borralloola pea. Do you know where can I get seeds? I live in Wagait Beach
Reply
Shallots (also Eschalots) 30 Apr, Mike Goodson (Australia - tropical climate): The Philippines sebuyas tagolog successfully produces small clumping onions in the tropics. I have grown them in PNG.and used them as an onion substitute. Is there a source of planting material in Australia. I live in Cairns
Reply
Shallots (also Eschalots) 01 May, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate): What I call shallots and grow are similar to these. I looked them up on the internet and mine are similar to a photo that shows a couple of purple bulbs with green leaves. I plant 3 bulbs together and when they grow I end up with 12-15 stalks. I eat them when they are like spring onions. If you let them go they will form bulbs. Keep some bulbs from one year for the next year. I could send you some. email [email protected]
Reply
Pumpkin 29 Apr, Nicole (Australia - temperate climate): I live in NW NSW, possible frosty weather is coming this weekend. Can I cover the pumpkins with something to protect them till they are ready for harvest? Thanks
Reply
Pumpkin 30 Apr, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate): You can only give it a try. Take it off during the day though.
Reply
Capsicum (also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers) 28 Apr, Egmo (Australia - temperate climate): Why do the young fruit fall off the capsicum bush ?
Reply
Celery 28 Apr, beverley Mcdowell (Australia - temperate climate): Germinating celery seed, growing from seed this autumn. Soaked the seed overnight and then spread on damp paper towel and place in seed raising mix, covering very lightly with the mix. Result, I used the entire packet of seed and I think they all germinated. 4 weeks on I have 36 of the strongest seedlings growing on in pots.
Reply
Celery 06 Sep, Graeme (Australia - temperate climate): Hi Beverley, I want to try your method, & I’ve never grown celery before. A question please, do you leave the paper towel there or do you remove it at some stage ? Many thanks, Graeme
Reply
Celery 29 Apr, (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Thanks for that idea. I'm trying this year. Planted into 6 cell tray, way too thick. I'm going to try and separate them this afternoon into bigger pots. Will try your way next time.
Reply
Potato 27 Apr, Marg (Australia - temperate climate): Hi, I have some organic potatoes that are starting to shoot quite a lot, I cut them in pieces was about to plant them in containers,but now have heard they should be planted at the end of winter. What can I do? Store them, throw them or give them a go? Marg
Reply
Potato 28 Apr, Another gardener (Australia - sub-tropical climate): If you live in an area with no frosts I would plant them. Leave them out of the ground for 3-4 days to let the cut edge dry up a bit. Plant them then water and don't water again until they shoot.
Reply
Rhubarb 27 Apr, Chris Calvert (New Zealand - temperate climate): Our plants were from an earlier patch that was at least 50 years old. We have had them for about 3 years and are harvesting them almost all year. They slow down a bit in winter but we still get feeds off them then. They now get tons of manure and pellets with mulch over the coldest part of the year and they are grown in a substantial raised bed with frequent watering (not sure the watering is required as frequently but we do it when the leaves wilt a bit). The raised garden is still settling so I am hoping the watering can slow down a bit as the soil compacts and retains more of the water.
Reply
Watermelon 26 Apr, Phillip Bellis (Australia - tropical climate): We are having a watermelon growing comp. at a school just out of Darwin. Seedlings are just a week old in pots. When would be the best time/age of seedlings to transplant. Weather is warm at 32-35 C and dry but being watered 2x a day. Thanks
Reply
Watermelon 27 Apr, Another gardener (Australia - tropical climate): The leaves that come out on germination are called the cotyledons, then come the first true leaves. When you have the 3-4 set of true leaves transplant them. I grow things in 500gm margarine containers, when the seedlings have grown to the above stage (like about 100mm high and round) the soil in the container has lots of roots in it to hold the soil together when you take the plant out to transplant, try and keep that all in tact. Best to tip upside down into one hand gently. Don't over do the nitrogen - you will end up with a lot of vine.
Reply

Showing 1621 - 1650 of 13866 comments

Gardenate

Keep your garden growing - see what to plant right now

All recent comments/discussion

Gardenate

Keep your garden growing - see what to plant right now

All recent comments/discussion

Become A Supporter!

Planting Reminders