Your comments and tips

10 Jan 09, Val Thomson (Australia - temperate climate)

my brocolli heads are large and tight and its not until I cook that that the caterpillers appear. Is there a way to remove them before cooking.

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12 Jan 09, Mary Wright (Australia - temperate climate)

I too have problems with the green caterpillers, but, a spray made up of garlic, liquid soap and water seems to have done the trick. Also, planting marigolds in between plants.

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23 Jan 09, SlickMick (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Val and Mary, Stand the flowerettes in salty water for a little while before cooking. This usually gets rid of the grub

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23 Jan 09, Peter (Australia - temperate climate)

GREEN CATERPILLARS; these are from the white cabbage butterflies. The best organic method to this problem is to make lightweight frames of chicken wire. The butterlies are too large to get through and land on the leaves to lay their eggs.

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30 Jan 09, Liz (Australia - temperate climate)

Does anyone have tips for keeping crows off vegetable gardens?

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07 Feb 09, georgie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

a general question about veges: are there any veg which will grow in a mainly shaded garden under a tree. get patchy afternoon sun only

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03 Mar 09, nathan (Australia - temperate climate)

what is the space you should plant the broccoli apart from each other

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05 Mar 09, Kate (Australia - temperate climate)

Those pesky white cabbage moths decimated the last lot of broccoli I planted in October, and it was growing so well before they attacked. I tried bird mesh with quite small holes but they still got through. I tried Dipel which is a natural fungus that kills the caterpillars after they start to eat leaves treated with it, but you have to keep reapplying and make sure you get the whole leaf including underneath, plus it washes off easily. To get caterpillars off before you cook the broccoli, I have read that a little vinegar in luke warm water will get them off. Re veggies that grow in partial shade - try green beans and other kinds of beans - I read they are happy in semi-shade, although you would need to be careful that the tree doesn't take all the nutrients and water.

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07 Mar 09, Mary Wright (Australia - temperate climate)

I planted brocolli in December - lots of leaves and strong stalks but no heads yet. When are these likely to appear, or, do I have a problem?

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08 Mar 09, Tamera (Australia - temperate climate)

One of my broccolli plants has started to grow a head of yellow flowers. If I cut of the flower head will that plant still yield a brocolli plant? Concerned?

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