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Showing 2461 - 2490 of 20179 comments

Ginger 04 Nov, Jean-Claude (USA - Zone 10a climate): I am in zone 10a and have been growing ginger successfully for a few years now. I usually start my plants around February.
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Garlic 20 Sep, Kim Kautzer (USA - Zone 9b climate): I'd like to try my hand at growing garlic, but we can get some pretty hot spring days here in inland Southern California. I'm wondering if I might have better luck in our "screenhouse," which has full sun around the east, south, and west sides (regular window screen that doesn't block any sun). The roof is covered with shade cloth. I have successfully grown tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, and herbs in large containers in the screenhouse. I'm hoping there'd be enough shade to protect the garlic on those super hot, sun-intense days. Thoughts?
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Garlic 01 Dec, David Jolly (USA - Zone 9b climate): If You grow garlic in 9b just requires refrigeration for 2-3 week min to trick it into thinking it winter. In summer you will have to use shade cloth and/or monitor water on really hot spells. I grow several hardneck & softneck last year. Might be a bit late to start the process now though.
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Capsicum (also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers) 19 Sep, Robin Mendelson (USA - Zone 11a climate): What bulbs can I plant indoors in south Florida?
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Garlic 19 Sep, Robin Mendelson (USA - Zone 11a climate): Can you plant garlic indoors in Florida?
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Yacon (also Sunroot) 19 Sep, (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate): Did you manage to find some?
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Potato 18 Sep, Mike Val. (Australia - temperate climate): Query re coffee grounds - I have been composting for a few good years now, and I am fairly sure that if coffee grounds are left out on a plastic or concrete surface in sunlight for a month+ it will accelerate its breakdown and can be incorporated into the soil. If you are on good terms with a local cafeteria or coffee shop, their daily throw-out will astound you. Have incorporated this into my composting regime for some years now and grow some impressive veg. The trick is in the dry composting of the grounds before incorporating it into the larger composting mix. Give it a go !
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Potato 28 Sep, Anon (Australia - tropical climate): I beg to differ. For anything to breakdown (to decompose) it needs air, water, carbon and nitrogen. Most things have a mix of carbon and nitrogen. Greens more nitrogen and dry things more carbon. You use grindings as a nitrogen source. By placing it out in the sun and drying I would think you are losing some of the nitrogen. It is like fresh manure would have more N than old manure. Placing grindings straight into soil is not recommended, it has to break down first. For good compost you need a big pile 1200-1500mm high, a good mix of N and C and for it to be watered and turned regularly. By doing this you create the heat to activate the bacteria etc to break the ingrediencies down. Compost is a great soil conditioner, it has very limited N P K.
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Squash (also Crookneck, Pattypan, Summer squash) 17 Sep, Katherine (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate): Does anyone know where I can buy crookneck squash seeds in NZ?
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Squash (also Crookneck, Pattypan, Summer squash) 19 Sep, (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Try online seed selling companies.
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Cape Gooseberry (also Golden Berry, Inca Berry ) 16 Sep, Kay (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Hi Libby: I moved to Katoomba about 33 years ago and also had a lovely bed of these gooseberries. They were doing really well out back although I often wonder if it was sunnier back then. Lost them with landscaping etc and am going to try again. Good Luck! Kay
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Ginger 11 Sep, Sandra BOND (Australia - temperate climate): what is the botanical name for the ginger that is best grown in warm temperate Sydney (Gardenate : Zingiber Officinale)
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Ginger 03 Jan, Brenda Groffen (Australia - temperate climate): We live in the Spencer Gulf area of South Australia, we have been growing Jarvanese Ginger for 5 years in a large 50ltre pot, in an acid potting mix. The ginger family has a large range, the familiar variety that is at the store when grown has a narrow leaf, where the curcumin, types have a broader leaf. The variety we have grown is known as SPECIES- Curcuma-Zanthorrhiza, FAMILY-Zingiberates,GENUS-Curcuma: Known as "Temulawak"-Jarvanese ginger it has broad leaves and grows 2 to 3 mitre in a pot, has a beautiful lavender flower when it blooms, requires high humidity and well shaded. We have it underneath banana palms in a pond area, plenty of water in the growing period, in a well draining pot. It has been in bloom since beginning of december. Once you have it growing well do not disturb it for at least 4 years, once the ginger plant dies down just keep the pot slightly moist until the shoots come through again at the begining of summer it is usually the last ginger plant to come through. To harvest just move the mulch to show the root and gently remove a piece, do not dig it up they do not like being disturbed, they live just below the surface under the top of the soil, they really are a pampered pet for us, as we live in a dry arid area, we keep it for its beauty not for eating it is too delicate. I hope thus helps you in your quest.
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Brussels sprouts 10 Sep, Tandelakhe Mgijima (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): Can I plant Brussels sprouts in September
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Brussels sprouts 14 Sep, (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): It says Jan - March. The reason, most vegetables are seasonal, so you need to plant in the right season.
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Rhubarb 10 Sep, Helen (USA - Zone 10a climate): Does rhubarb have to be out of sun lite? Can it grow here in San Diego?
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Rhubarb 14 Sep, (USA - Zone 5a climate): Most plants need lots of sunlight. Check what Climate Zone San Diego is in the climate zone section here and look it up if you can grow it.
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Peas 07 Sep, Mrs Anne Handley (Australia - temperate climate): I applied pea straw mulch to prepare my north facing veggie patch (I am a total novice) and pea seedlings emmerged a few weeks after. I have transplanted them into pots for noew as they are tiny. What can I do next and will they bear pods?
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Peas 08 Sep, Anon (Australia - temperate climate): In the winter the sun crosses in the north of the sky, in summer it is more overhead. Select a place where you want to grow them and plant them out when about 100-124mm high. Keep the soil around the roots best you can when transplanting.
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Broad Beans (also Fava bean) 06 Sep, Nigel (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate): My beans have been flowering for 2 months. Lots of continuous flowers but so far no beans. Ideas please.
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Broad Beans (also Fava bean) 27 Sep, Steve (New Zealand - temperate climate): My understanding is that you have to wait for the bees to arrive to pollonate the plant. I had the same issue last year as well. Just need to wait a bit longer
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Broad Beans (also Fava bean) 07 Sep, (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate): I had the same problem in sub-tropical Australia last. They probably prefer a cooler climate like yours. I put it down to wind last year although I have no idea. Maybe google about it or ring an agricultural dept.
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Carrot 05 Sep, max guthrie (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate): Hi I have had lots of trouble growing Carrots here near Arrowtown ( so do all our neighbours ) with Black Rot or Carrot fly I have tried Neim Prills and white sugar but we still get it quite badly do you have any tips. Cheers Max.
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Carrot 22 Sep, Tony (New Zealand - temperate climate): Carrot fly seems to be getting rampant, you can buy resistant seed. One way to prevent them is to spray with diesel/kerosene which not only deters flies but kills weeds! The only sure way is to buy some biomesh insect screen and put it over the carrots as soon as you sow them. Make sure there are no gaps at the bottom though as the fly operate at about ground level.
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Carrot 11 Sep, Joss (New Zealand - temperate climate): Hi Max, I have been growing carrots in large black plastic pots and have had no trouble with any bugs or nasty things. I sow the seed one by one in separate holes and in a circle around the pot, cover with some sacking and then lay a couple of largish stones to hold the sacking down till they sprout and then uncover them. I hope this helps. Joss Roberts
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Garlic 05 Sep, Cynthia Hamilton (USA - Zone 6b climate): I want to plant elephant garlic. I should plant it deeper, correct? This article said to just barely cover.
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Garlic 07 Sep, (USA - Zone 4a climate): Plant as they suggest but keep an eye on the watering - don't let them dry out too much.
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Watermelon 04 Sep, Harrison Brown (USA - Zone 10b climate): I would like to know what type of fertilizers I can use to fertilizer my pigeon peas, corn, and watermelon plants?
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Watermelon 07 Sep, (USA - Zone 4a climate): A general garden fertiliser will do.
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Asparagus 04 Sep, bill (New Zealand - temperate climate): we have a asparagus plant that appeared in a place in our garden where we had not grown any last year produced 1 or 2 very thin spears that went to fern this year there is one normal size spear just coming up should we class this as 1st or 2nd year
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