Your comments and tips

24 Sep 17, Sarah (Australia - temperate climate)

I have just planted zucchini and cucumber I'm in Perth and the snails are eating the seedlings before they are even given a chance to start growing I have beer traps and have put egg shells around the seedlings it hasn't stopped them does anyone have any other ideas?

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22 Oct 17, Jason (Australia - temperate climate)

I'm also in Perth, and I've found that used coffee grounds work well to kill snails. Caffine is toxic to snails and slugs but worms seem to love it and it won't harm pets (they don't want to eat used grinds)

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25 Sep 17, Darren (Australia - temperate climate)

Try plastic milk bottles cut in half over the seedlings overnight. Also large pieces of orange peel, large enough for the snails to hide under, can help catch them.

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24 Sep 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Try starting them in a controlled area. In seed raising punnets - or any container -like an old used butter container, small pots etc. Use some light soil or potting mix. Put the containers in a box or tub and cover if you have to. Grow them for a few weeks like this and then plant out. Look up how control snails on the web. See if you can get some bird netting or something similar.

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19 Aug 17, Kathy Mc (Australia - temperate climate)

I have red capsicum, blackjack zucchini and burpless cucumber. I planted a Dwarf eggplant in a pot. can I plant the others in a raised garden bed now.. Thanks for your help

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22 Aug 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I'm in sub tropical. I have zucchini plants about 4-5 weeks old - planted from seedlings. I have other zucchini plants - from seeds just coming up now. I have the round white cucumbers seeds germinating now also. I have capsicum seeds germinated for 3 weeks or so and they are hardly growing. Temps here in August should be like 10-11 at night and 23-24 in the day. This year we are about 2 degrees above both. Been 28-29 a few days in the last fortnight. Very mild winter. Seeds germinate differently during the year. Quite a few seeds were germinating in 48-72 hrs in early Feb. Now they are taking 7-10 days. All to do with soil temp.

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21 Aug 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Read the notes about each plant on this website. Different planting times for each.

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14 Aug 17, Marie Groizard (Australia - tropical climate)

Bindis just seem to be growing on our block, we have used all kinds of killers but cannot get rid of it.....what would you suggest? Thanks Marie

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16 Aug 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

All spraying should be done when the weeds are small before flowering - early in the morning or late in the arvo - no wind. It is a waste of spray if the weeds are not in a growing stage - as in, if it has been dry for awhile. Plants need to be growing to be able to move the chemicals through the plant. Use some dishwashing liquid in the spray - helps to stick better to plant leaves. If in a lawn mow regularly before it seeds and mow lower than normal to gather more seeds up if seeded already. Use Kamba M or a Bindi and clover weedicide. Or pull it out by hand after rain or watering. Have to keep at it to get on top. "The trick to stopping bindii from spreading is to spray them in winter as soon as you see them, before the prickles develop, and continue to repeat spray every 3 weeks until they are gone. Repeat spray is important as this will control weeds that have germinated after prior spraying."

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15 Aug 17, Alison Sizer (Australia - temperate climate)

Look at deep mulch no dig for at least a year. Plant mature seedlings into mulch. All weed seeds should die. Much will improve your soil. Thick layer of newspapers is critical.your goal is to eliminate light.

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