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Showing 781 - 810 of 1601 comments
Chilli peppers (also Hot peppers) 29 Dec, Mike (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I would leave them on to provide protection for the fruit.
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Capsicum (also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers) 22 Dec, David Maunder (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Do they need fertilising and if so what do you use
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Capsicum (also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers) 02 Jan, Mem (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Yes they do,I use wally's strawberry fertilizer and a general liquid feed every 2 weeks.Its also a good idea to make sure they get enough calcium as this can effect the fruit.They will produce fruit without feeding but it is generally small and you get much less.
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Capsicum (also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers) 29 Dec, Mike (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
All plants need a good fertiliser base - best to do before planting. Ask at a nursery or Bunnings etc. A good handful spread over a square meter or so - mix it in well a two weeks before planting. Or a good mixture of composted material dug in 2 weeks before.
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Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 21 Dec, Quent (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Do courgettes need trimed like tomatoe plants?
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Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 02 Jan, Mem (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Its a good idea to trim and leaves that are showing signs of powdery mildew (powdery white spots) or damaged leaves,other than that its not needed.
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Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 24 Dec, Mike (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
They are a vine so let them spread out or up a trellis. Tomatoes are a tree and don't have to be trimmed.
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Potato 20 Dec, Steve (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Is it too cold to grow potatoes @350m above sea level on Mt Taranaki
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Potato 21 Dec, Mike (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Should be ok - as long as you harvest before next winter's frosts. Plenty of sun.
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Watermelon 20 Dec, Kams (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi there, I am here in Auckland and recently have shifted my watermelon plant to a 15 Litre Pot, one of the prime reason being our ground is full of roots and generally found it difficult in the past 2-3 years for other plants growing. Do you think it is ok to proceed in the pot and can connect vine to multiple stakes? Kindly advice. Thanks
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Watermelon 02 Jan, Mem (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi I grow watermelons and other melons in pots every year,it can certainly be done but the melons won't be as big.You will also need to take care that the soil doesn't dry out,but isn't soaked and to feed often.I add blood and bone,sheep pellets and worm castings to a mix of 50/50 compost and potting mix to the pot,use a curcubit feed once a week and a general liquid feed every 2 weeks.
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Watermelon 21 Dec, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Plenty of people might do it but I wouldn't grow such a big plant in a pot full stop, no matter how big the pot. The nutrient and watering required. Think about raised garden beds with something between the ground and the bottom of the bed like wood pallets. Pallets on the ground - then weed matting and shade cloth - then small stones maybe - then garden soil about 5-600mm deep. Probably quite expensive but is probably the best solution. Could start small and add to the size of the bed/s in future years. Otherwise stick to growing small plants in pots.
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Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 17 Dec, Laraine wright (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
If a courgettes grows into a marrow when is it ready to pick.
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Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 18 Dec, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You pick it, the size you want. An example is - zucchini 3 to 8-9 inches . Marrow 12-18
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Luffa (also Loofah, plant sponge) 17 Dec, Mike (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
The best way to find where to buy something is to google it - buy luffa seeds inNZ -
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Luffa (also Loofah, plant sponge) 18 Dec, Mike (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Kings seeds sell a lot of seed in NZ by the look of it.
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Luffa (also Loofah, plant sponge) 16 Dec, Jill green (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Where /who can i buy luffa seeds from in new zealand as i wish to try growing some in my tunnel house next season
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Pumpkin 04 Dec, Robyn (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
I live in Te Anau and wonder what is a faster maturing pumpkin variety?? We had a good crop of pumpkins growing last year, but a rogue frost in mid March killed off the plant and the pumpkin crop did not ripen, and the weather is only coming good now (early Dec) to plant.
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Pumpkin 05 Dec, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Look around some seed selling companies - email or phone them. Most times I see like 15-20 weeks to grow but which is early I don't know. Another way is to start the seeds early indoors or somewhere protected from the weather. You could start growing them in Oct say under lights. Sometimes nature throws us a big curve ball and stuffs it all up.
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Pumpkin 09 Dec, (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
thanks
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Leeks 03 Dec, Genevieve Radley (New Zealand - temperate climate)
What season are leeks harvested in NZ? Thanks :)
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Leeks 04 Dec, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Read the notes here about growing it. It tells you when to plant and how long until harvest.
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Corn Salad (also Lamb's lettuce or Mache) 01 Dec, Stephanie Lovatt (New Zealand - temperate climate)
For on-going winter greens, let your corn salad go to seed each year. Free fresh greens in winter.
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Corn Salad (also Lamb's lettuce or Mache) 02 Dec, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I left a Honi Tsai Tai plant go to seed - loved watching the bees come each morning for the flowers as I had my cup of tea each morning. When finished I threw it under the mango tree. I have had 2 big flushes (dozens of plants) of seedlings come up in the last 6 weeks. I find it hard to germinate the seeds but under the mango heaps.
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Parsley (also curly leaf parsley or flat leaf (Italian) parsley) 30 Nov, Brigitte (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Is there a difference between 'bolting' and 'going to seed'? Our parsely was wonderful for quite a long time then large thicker stalks started to appear with sparse leaves, no flower heads that I could detect. I cut off the stalks as close to base as possible but more are appearing.
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Parsley (also curly leaf parsley or flat leaf (Italian) parsley) 02 Dec, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)
They mean the same thing - bolting to seed. If it is an annual it is coming to the end of it's life and setting seed.
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Asparagus 29 Nov, Ainsley Armishaw (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Our asparagus is in its third year, grown from crowns, how many stalks should I leave each year to flower and when can you cut off the stalks that have been left
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Asparagus 29 Nov, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)
In the spring you pick the spears after they come out of the ground - stop late Oct early Nov. To have a good crop next year you need to leave all spears/ferns to grow. These then provide food for the crown to grow for next year. Stop watering about early May and let the ferns die back. Cut the ferns off in August. As soon as I cut mine the spears start growing.
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Rhubarb 28 Nov, Heather (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
We have just arrived In New Zealand and our place has a rhubarb plant in the garden. I have been trying to find out how to look after it and I think I have that information but I can't find out the best time to harvest the rhubarb in New Zeland. Can you help tell me when to harvest please? Thank you.
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Rhubarb 29 Nov, Mike (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
It says dormant during winter so when it has a good production of leaves/stalks in the spring you could start harvesting depending on the age/size of the crown. Probably ease off harvesting late autumn. Other people here might have a better idea than me as I don't grow it.
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Showing 781 - 810 of 1601 comments
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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. GardenGrow is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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