All recent comments/discussion

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Showing 991 - 1020 of 1601 comments
Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 04 Feb, Quarteracre Kiwi (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi Peter - Leave them as little or as big as you like. If you pick them when they are about 25cm long, they will be lovely, fleshy and seedless. If you leave them past this point, they will quickly become marrow, which are watery and full of seeds. Give them a twist and they will come off with a bit of stalk. They will keep for a good while in your veg chiller of your fridge. If you get lots, you can grate them and freeze them in ziplock bags for winter. Give them a squeeze in a teatowel after thawing though.
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Rockmelon (also Canteloupe) 21 Jan, Norma Bowden (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Hi, when you say the fruit is ready when it falls from the vine, does that mean the withering of the plant where the melon is attached? Also, should the melons be lifted from the soil as they grow bigger by placing something like a piece of wood under them? Thank you
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Rockmelon (also Canteloupe) 17 Sep, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)
The older varieties when the skin would start to go yellow the fruit would come away from the vine easy. It would be fully ripe in a few days. Some of the newer ones don't turn yellow. How long to harvest is a guide to picking. Try one and see if it is ripe. Put dry grass/straw under them if you have wet soil.
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Eggplant (also Aubergine) 20 Jan, Diana (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I live on the Tutukaka coast and have a healthy looking eggplant with lots of flowers which fall off without fruit forming. Why is this happening and what can I do? Thank you.
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Eggplant (also Aubergine) 09 Mar, Thumbellina (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I’ve found “tea” made from banana skins really does help them to flower and set fruit! So easy. I just water them with it a few days in a row, and hey presto. It worked for me. Google it and give it a go!
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Eggplant (also Aubergine) 13 Sep, Mike (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Google about flowers dropping off egg plants.
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Eggplant (also Aubergine) 03 Feb, Daisy (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi Diana, I have never grown eggplant but perhaps the plant that you have is a male one? I don't really know whether this is even possible. Also, it could be that you need to pollinate the flowers by hand? I hope this helps! xx D
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Eggplant (also Aubergine) 05 Feb, Kristin (USA - Zone 11a climate)
Why someone would suggest maybe yours is a male plant and saying "hope this helps" is hilarious. Eggplants do not need separate male and female plants. A quick google search can tell you that. Several reasons your flowers are dropping - lack of pollination or the plant is under stress being - 1) too cold or hot 2)lack of water or nutrients. Try hand pollinating your flowers and lookup the temperature your variety of eggplant will set fruit. I looked up the temperature for Tutukaka coast and the temperature seems too cold for eggplant. I could be wrong. But you will need find out what variety you have first.
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Salsify (also Vegetable oyster) 20 Jan, Chap (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Where do I buy salsify seeds in New Zealand?
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Salsify (also Vegetable oyster) 27 Apr, Dominique (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I buy mine in the mediteraneen shop in Rangiora. If you need the address, let me know and I will send it. Have a good day.
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Salsify (also Vegetable oyster) 03 Feb, Eliot Thomas (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
I buy most of my seeds from This site and have salsify www.italianseedspronto.co.nz
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Salsify (also Vegetable oyster) 28 Jan, Bruce (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
search for seeds-4u on the net, lists two varieties of salsify amongst their interesting range of unusual and hierloom seeds.
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Eggplant (also Aubergine) 20 Jan, Alison (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I have eggplants in a tunnel house. The plants look amazing and are flowering like crazy and look to be pollinating but then drop off before fruit develops. They are getting plenty of water and tomatoes in the same greenhouse are fruiting happily. What am I dong wrong?
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Rockmelon (also Canteloupe) 16 Jan, Hanneke Koevoet (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Do I need hand pollination if see quite a lot of bees in the flowers
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Beans - climbing (also Pole beans, Runner beans, Scarlet Runners) 16 Jan, Colleen Middleton (New Zealand - temperate climate)
How many years will runner beans regrow for, before having to replant them? I am having a very good yield in their second season...they did take a long time to sprout initially ...possibly due to a cooler than usual early to mid spring.
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Eggplant (also Aubergine) 14 Jan, Paula Mouat (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I am growing eggplant for the first time in a glasshouse. My plant is growing very well with lots of fruit. The fruit are large and pale. How long should I wait before harvesting?
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Jerusalem Artichokes (also Sunchoke) 14 Jan, Phillip (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Does anyone have any JAs at this time of the year? I'm looking for up to 15 kilos but any amount ok. Jan 2018
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Jerusalem Artichokes (also Sunchoke) 24 Aug, Linda (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Phillip, I have 15kgs of JAs if you are still looking. Growing beautifully pretty much in the deep south. Will still have then in Jan next year.
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Jerusalem Artichokes (also Sunchoke) 21 Sep, Pat shannon (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Linda Do you have any seed tubers now (Oct)?
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Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 13 Jan, John Bass (New Zealand - temperate climate)
re the question of 17 December. Tips of new courgettes turn yellow and then die back. Cause and treatment please.
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Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 17 Sep, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Probably not being pollinated by bees. Female flower is only open for a day or so and generally shut by lunch. Read up about hand pollinating.
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Pumpkin 12 Jan, Susan Long (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Can you grow gem squash in South Taranaki, New Zealand? When is the best time to grow them and how?
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Pumpkin 06 Apr, Denise Gibson (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I live in Wainuiomata and have grown gems for two years running and I intend to plant a lot more this year. They were delicious. I planted the seed at the end of August and as soon as they had about 4 leaves, I planted them out in the garden, I also cut off the bottom of a coke bottle, took the cap off and put the bottle over the seedling until they were a little stronger. Hope this is helpful and good luck.
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Pumpkin 14 Jan, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Follow the advice for zucchini/courgettes -www.gardenate.com/plant/Zucchini
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Okra (also Ladyfinger, gumbo) 09 Jan, David (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I have a new glasshouse and wonder whether I will be able to grow okra in this. Any tips? thanks
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Beans - climbing (also Pole beans, Runner beans, Scarlet Runners) 07 Jan, Maurice (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Bumblebees nipping off scarlet runner bean flowers. One writer suggested sugar syrup what quantities and how often do you spray them. Otherwise any other suggestions would be appreciated. .
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Pumpkin 06 Jan, Ngaire Whytock (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Why should you avoid planting near potatoes
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Pumpkin 02 Mar, David Cottle (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Not growing pumpkins with a potato crop is a falsehood . An easy way to grow both together an have a good cropmof both is to let the potatoes grow and when well established and moulded up at least twice after all frosts .I always throw a rotten pumpkin onto the potato patch and along with all of the pumpkin seeds collected from those which have been used . A good crop of both pumpkins and potatoes always happens .The pumpkins help to suppress weeds and are good companion plants for spuds .
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Cabbage 08 Jan, JT (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I've planted few veggies first time, but my cabbage are growing well with dark green leaves but unfortunately the leaves , most of the plants are eaten out , thought it must be snails or whiteflies etc and had checked leaves inside and out but can't find any culprit. I know am missing something here ?
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Eggplant (also Aubergine) 02 Jan, (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Hi, is it worth trying to grow aubergines in Dunedin?
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Showing 991 - 1020 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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