Your comments and tips

19 Aug 08, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Sam, if possible rinse the salt off the weed (leave it lying in the rain is fine). You can add the sea weed to compost, or half-fill a tub with weed, top up with water, and leave with a lid on for a few months to make liquid manure. Use diluted to a light-brown ("weak tea") as liquid feed for plants. I've used lake weed as mulch.

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03 Oct 08, Sam (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

get some silverbeet in a pan welt it get a nice piece of free range chicken brest slice the thick side of the chicken to make a pocket take some garlic butter and ya welted silverbeet and stuff it inside the chicken breast.cook serve with a salad season it with salt and pepper for a nicer taste pour a few dribbles of sweet chili sauce over cooked chicken.

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05 Oct 08, Trevor (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Does anybody know of a variety of ways to try and repel earwigs. They eat the new buds as they emerge. I tried sprinkling pepper, and use bowls of beer but not much luck

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08 Oct 08, Sam (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

hey trevor try vinegar that usually works or crush some garlic in some hot water then drain it and place it in a spray bottle with water

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09 Oct 08, Barbara in Lane Cove (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Trevor, I've heard if you put some crumpled newspaper in a plantpot and put this upside down on a stick next to plants, then the earwigs will gather in this hideout during the day. The trick is to come along in the morning, gently remove the pot and tap it sharply into a bucket which dislodges the earwigs into the bucket. Pete Cundell suggests doing this into a bucket with kerosine&water in it, which kills the earwigs. Have to admit I've never tried this as I don't have a problem with earwigs. Good luck!

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14 Oct 08, Emily (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

I have just started growing silverbeet and something is eating it - not slugs or snails. I have tried a spray after taking a cutting to the nursery and it is till being eaten. I am at a total loss and would love any ideas. I am tempted to pull it up and start again???? Some of my lettuce, beans and pumpkin look like it is being attacked as well. What am I doing wrong?

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14 Oct 08, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Emily, could it be bird damage? Birds get stuck into anything green and leafy in spring - presumably to feed chicks. I need to keep lettuce and silverbeet netted.

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15 Oct 08, Jenny (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Emily - I think Chris is right - I have seen sparrows tearing holes in my silver beet. I don't worry about it too much...there is always plenty left even though it might look a bit battered

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18 Oct 08, cas (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

first time grower its been growing for 2 months n still a bright green???? will it ever go that nice dark green???

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20 Oct 08, nedra (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I would like to know if you can harvest silverbeet bit by bit by taking leaves as they grow or do you pull the whole plant when it reaches a certain size?. Sorry, very naive beginner.

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