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Showing 1351 - 1380 of 1834 comments

Garlic 07 Nov, Cici (USA - Zone 6b climate): Zones 5 and 6 plant garlic mid Oct-early Nov. Cover with straw lightly. Then after good frost/freeze cover with total of 4-6" straw. Come spring, pull back some of straw to allow shoots to see sun. Garlic is usually harvested In mid July for most. Softnecks are more late June early July. Either one, when bottom 2-3 leaves start turning brown it's time to harvest. Don't wait or it will split and rot. Dry 2-3 weeks by hanging in shaded airy place under cover like barn, shed, porch etc. Then trim leaves and roots and store in paper bags or baskets for long storage out of direct sun or bright light. Will keep 6-12 months depending on variety.
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Basil 29 Feb, Laura (USA - Zone 7a climate): I’m in Zone 7a/b. When planting seeds in trays, how much light should they get? My cats destroy all plants, so I need to find a place they don’t go, and I’m not sure there’s enough light in that room. Unless just normal daylight from a window is adequate for the germination period (I have 10 black thumbs and really want to get this one right. I’m tired of paying so much for fresh basil from the grocery store)
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Basil 22 Aug, Reeny (USA - Zone 9b climate): Basil grows indoors easily from seeds! The main thing is to get a LED grow light lamp (Amazon has them on goosenecks for about $20 for a double-neck full spectrum lamp). They mimic the sun. So worth it for indoor plants!
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Basil 03 Apr, Kelly (USA - Zone 9b climate): Thanks!! I live in 9b also. Great tip!
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Spring onions (also Scallions, Bunching onions, Welsh onion) 24 Feb, Liam (USA - Zone 5a climate): How much space between rows
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Spring onions (also Scallions, Bunching onions, Welsh onion) 27 Feb, Liz at Gardenate (New Zealand - temperate climate): You can grow spring onions close together, about 8cm/4 inches between rows
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Potato 20 Feb, Tom De Marti (USA - Zone 10a climate): We're looking for red seed potatoes to grow in SoCal.
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Rhubarb 18 Feb, Shari (USA - Zone 10a climate): What about growing rhubarb in the San Jose CA area? I am in a warm, sunny, dry subtropical zone. The last rhubarb I planted was Victoria. It was pithy and green and bothered my stomach. I was going to try KangaRhu which supposedly is bred for warmer climes. I am a transplanted Midwesterner who misses my rhubarb. Has anyone had successful experience in my area? What type?
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Rhubarb 30 Dec, Rebekah Sandell (USA - Zone 8a climate): I used to live in both San Jose and Sunnyvale. Our Rhubarb plants were the envy of the neighborhood. We planted Strawberry Rhubarb we got from OSH garden (sorry) you might try the Santa Clara County Master Gardeners to find out which type is best for San Jose.
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Rosemary 17 Feb, Thomas Norris (USA - Zone 9b climate): I am in zone 9b. Will rosemary survive all day, 10+ hours of summer sun?
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Rosemary 08 Mar, Patricia Foster (USA - Zone 9b climate): We have rosemary planted in the ground. We have had it in full sun as well as in partial shade - it thrives either way. Rosemary will get to be at least three feet tall and may create 3-4 foot diameter bunches so be sure to give it some space.
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Rosemary 24 Feb, Gracie (USA - Zone 9b climate): I live in zone 9b, and I have one Rosemary in a container growing nicely. It is a hassle-free herb. I have it outside in a full sun area. I just make sure it gets its water. I also have Basil, this is in partial sun area. It is also a hassle-free herb. Just protect them from bugs.
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Rosemary 20 Feb, colleen (USA - Zone 10b climate): It should love that! Make sure it has a gritty, well-draining soil (nutrient-poor is fine), and give it a good soak about once a week, or every few days in a major heat wave. Rosemary is a very tough, easy-to-care for plant once established.
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Potato 05 Feb, Lee Godfrey (USA - Zone 7a climate): How much sun do potatoes need.. Can they be planted in the morning shade and evening sun
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Potato 06 Feb, Anon (Australia - arid climate): Most plants need about 5 + hrs. Look it up on the internet, google it.
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Asparagus 05 Feb, Frank A. Davis (USA - Zone 9a climate): I live just North of Houston, Texas (20 miles) and I wanted to know if there was any way that Asparagus can be grown here. If so, what is there name or names?
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Asparagus 06 Feb, anon (Australia - arid climate): Work out your climate zone from the blue tab above. Then check asparagus and look in the calendar to see what month you can plant or google it..
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Luffa (also Loofah, plant sponge) 02 Feb, Kristina Fischer (USA - Zone 9a climate): I was just given a huge jar of very healthy looking loofah seeds. Our cold frame just collapsed after six years of heavy use and we don't have funds for another one. Would it be possible to plant the loofah seeds in peat pots in April and still harvest loofah by fall?
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Luffa (also Loofah, plant sponge) 09 Feb, Lura (USA - Zone 8a climate): check your electric company you can find crates free the ones from the electric company have frames on top perfect for cold frame lid, most have plastic wrapped around them and a pallet bottom. They are a little tall for a cold frame but there are only 4 studs ( in corners) and a few thin cross boards to stabilize the container. We remove the nice frames from the tops, cut the studs to the right height, use the cross boards to frame the bottom. Two boxes will make one 4 x 4 cold frame. every bit free except screws or nails to reassemble.
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Luffa (also Loofah, plant sponge) 13 Aug, Ilonka (USA - Zone 7b climate): Can you post a picture of those crates? I searched online for them but can’t find any. Thank you in advance ! (Or give a link to a picture - Editor)
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Luffa (also Loofah, plant sponge) 30 Jan, (USA - Zone 9b climate): What does plant undercover mean. Inside with a plastic lid?
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Luffa (also Loofah, plant sponge) 30 Jan, Liz at Gardenate (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate): For Gardenate : Young seedlings can be affected by sudden changes of temperature. To prevent this seedtrays are usually kept under cover for a few weeks. Any area which mantains even, frost-free, temperatures 24 hours will do. e.g. Unheated greenhouses, a covered area close to the house, or small frames covered with frostcloth or with a piece of fabric like old bed sheets. If possible put the trays above ground level. Too much strong sunlight can do as much damage as cold nights to seedlings.
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Mizuna (also Japanese Greens, Mitzuna, Mibuna) 17 Jan, colleen (USA - Zone 10b climate): My mizuna is getting old and scraggly and has formed a big root like a rough turnip. I was going to pull the mizuna soon. Is the root worth eating?
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Mint (also Garden mint) 11 Jan, Lori (USA - Zone 9a climate): Can I grow peppermint here if it does not get anything but Morning Sun and lots of water? I just caught a mouse eating all of my ginger and tumeric rhizomes that I spent 8 hrs planting
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Mint (also Garden mint) 17 Jan, colleen (USA - Zone 10b climate): I used to live in zone 9 and when I grew mint in those conditions (morning sun, plenty of water) it grew like a beast and took over most of my garden. So--yes, it should do great...but be careful what you wish for!
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Potato 05 Jan, Veronica (USA - Zone 7a climate): I'm not quite sure of my zone. I live in Charlotte, NC 28208. Can you please tell me? Check here www.gardenate.com/zones/#zone-US (Editor)
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Luffa (also Loofah, plant sponge) 03 Jan, Alaina Seyssel (USA - Zone 8b climate): What accommodations should I make for growing Luffa in 8b?
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Luffa (also Loofah, plant sponge) 04 Jan, Mindi (USA - Zone 8a climate): We live in zone 8a and the biggest challenge for us when we grow Luffa is that they climb SO high and fast in the summer. I'd suggest planning on some serious trellising as the Luffa gourds get pretty heavy before they dry out.
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Cardoon 26 Dec, colleen (USA - Zone 10b climate): Can cardoons be grown in a spot that receives afternoon shade? If so, do I still need to blanch the stems?
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Cardoon 14 Oct, Leslie Trail (USA - Zone 6b climate): yes you can grow them in the shade. I have had several varieties and some like the shade more than others. You should still blanch the cardoon though. If you do not blanch it you can still use it... I soak my trimmed, cleaned and chopped cardoons in water with vinegar. Then drain and put in a pot with water and a little salt. Then put it on the stove on high until just before it boils. Remove from heat and rinse. After that cook it or can it. This will remove most of the bitter. It tastes great but I imagine I am loosing some of the flavor when I do this. This is especially handy when I am going to harvest them in the middle of the summer since wrapping then in the heat seems to cause a lot of damage to the stocks. Its best to wrap and harvest in the spring or the fall.
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