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Showing 1 - 30 of 1580 comments
Sweet Marjoram (also Knotted marjoram) 29 May, Katherine boys (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
My sweet marjoram did not show knots as I'm accustomed to when I had it in another garden. Instead, it showed long (2cm) flower heads. I like the knots which are very pungent and wonderful in salads. Could the plant have been too well nourished? The leaves aren't really grey-green, just green, and not at all strong in taste.
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Burdock (also Gobo (Japanese Burdock)) 22 May, Sheree Boyd (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
You can buy burdock seeds from Kings Seeds online, product code #6500.
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Choko/Chayote (also Chayote squash, christophene, chouchou, mirliton) 31 Mar, Robyn Douglass (New Zealand - temperate climate)
How to prune choko plant to keep it s.all as I only have a small garden area
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Choko/Chayote (also Chayote squash, christophene, chouchou, mirliton) 28 May, (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Not the crop to grow in a small area.
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Sweet Potato (also Kumara) 25 Mar, Peter (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Planted 10 kumera slips in October 2023.... Harvested 50% of them 5 in March 2024....massive green foliage but sadly 6small (very small) finger sized harvest kumera is the only result...starting to get cooler but leaves still dark green....do I leave them in till the weather of leaves change. ( Auckland grower)
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Sweet Potato (also Kumara) 07 Apr, Marc (New Zealand - temperate climate)
leave Kumara in the ground at least until mid April. Leaves start to die off or in Auckland slow down in growth. Make sure the edges of the bed are well mulched, this will keep the moisture in the ground and the top soil cool (cooler). I harvest the orange (Beaumont) ones first, followed by the red, then purple and gold as last. there is about a week between harvests. Allow the kumara to dry before storage other wise they will rot. Keep them well protected from rats, my first red kumara harvest was approx 20kg until the rats consumed them in 4 nights to 2 kg.
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Sweet Potato (also Kumara) 29 Mar, Celeste Archer (Canada - Zone 7b Mild Temperate climate)
Harvest once about HALF of the leaves start to fall over and die off (turn yellow) -- HOWEVER I'm not sure if you planted at the being of October or the end. Given good growing conditions it should take about 120 days -- if you planted at the end October then that is about 120 days.... but it could take longer -- and since the leaves have not fallen over, then I would say, it will take more time. If you planted at the beginning of October, then you are taking a lot of days -- and it could be that the growing conditions have not been optimal for the whole time.... and I would still wait for leaves to fall over... but I would start to wonder if perhaps for some reason all the conditions that your plant needs to have met in order to set tubers have not been met (nutrition, soil type/ph, water, sun light, temperatures etc.). Same rule for potatoes, harvest once the leaves started falling over and turning yellow. That is to say: as long as the leaves are a upright and green they are still collecting light and storing energy (making tubers - and making them larger)
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Spring onions (also Scallions, Bunching onions, Welsh onion) 23 Mar, Dot (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
If you grow spring onion in a container inside, can you grow them earlier?
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Jerusalem Artichokes (also Sunchoke) 21 Mar, (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Try the local organic stop
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Cape Gooseberry (also Golden Berry, Inca Berry ) 09 Mar, Diane (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I have been given some Cape Gooseberry seeds from and existing bush. I see that it is too late to sow these in March. Can these seeds be kept until August, or am I better to discard them and start again at sowing time.
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Cape Gooseberry (also Golden Berry, Inca Berry ) 02 Apr, Caity (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Diane they will be fine. Just store them dry cool and dark
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Cape Gooseberry (also Golden Berry, Inca Berry ) 15 Mar, Dave in California Zone 10A (USA - Zone 10a climate)
Diane, I keep seeds from a lot of the common vegetables I grow like spinach, peas, carrots, beans, tomatoes, corn, and such, but I have never grown Cape Gooseberry and do not know what the days for germination are supposed to be, but as general rule I would keep the seeds and maybe start them in trays or pots a few weeks before it's time to transplant them outside. That way you will see how many sprout and then decide if you need to get other seeds. All the seeds I save usually have very good germination rates for a minimum of a couple of years, and I have been getting good results from a lot of the seeds I saved from three and four years ago.
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Sweet Potato (also Kumara) 24 Feb, Gerry (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hello can I grow sweet potatoes in Clyde Central Otago?
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Sweet Potato (also Kumara) 18 Mar, Lex (New Zealand - temperate climate)
We have grown them successfully in Balclutha 2021/22 2022/23. This years crop 2023/24 Was slow getting going but perked up in December. The tops havn't grown as much as the previous 2 years but we are hopeful of getting a worth while crop when we dig them up. I would say just have a go. Because we have a shorter season it is tempting to put them in early like 1/11 but we think it is better to wait until the ground has warmed up. cheers Lex
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Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 10 Feb, paul swan (New Zealand - temperate climate)
why does the young growing marrow/zucchini go brown or rot on the flower end of the vegetable before maturity.
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Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 14 Mar, Harry (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi Paul, blossom end rot can also be associated with water issues and/or calcium issues. Sometimes the plant suffers because water is too unreliably available, i.e. it dries out between adequate waterings. The growing zucchini will be
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Zucchini (also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash) 15 Feb, Liz (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Rot in young flowers usually means that they have not been pollinated. You might have to try hand pollination
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Watermelon 10 Feb, Rob Taege (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
After last year's disappointment of being so wet, this year has had lots of sun hours with intermittent rain. However, a few weeks ago I noticed two watermelon fruits had their skin punctured. I just chucked on them today and now half of my fruit has punctured holes in them. I have a few pukekos in the paddock that come over and pick my unripe tomatoes from the plants. Would they peck at watermelon fruit as well? If not, what other animal or bird would do this and how do I stop them? I'm 100% sure it isn't rats as the holes are punctured not gnawed, Any suggestions, please before I lose my whole crop.
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Eggplant (also Aubergine) 05 Feb, Annette James (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I have 2 healthy looking plants of the large purple variety. They are producing flowers ok but no fruit. Any ideas on why this is happening?
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Eggplant (also Aubergine) 12 Feb, (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
May be no bees - try hand pollination in the mornings.
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Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 25 Jan, Dot (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Is it ok to plant brassica (not celery) after corn, in the same spot?
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Sweet corn (also corn,maize) 30 Jan, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Yes
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Yacon (also Sunroot) 07 Jan, Di (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I have yacon if you'd like some tubers. I live in Tauranga.
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Yacon (also Sunroot) 10 Jan, Evan (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I would love some Yakon tubers Di, I am in Tauranga also
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Yacon (also Sunroot) 09 Jan, Bruce (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I'd love some too. I'm local, can pick up
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Yacon (also Sunroot) 07 Jan, Jane Pearce (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I would love some yacon! I live in Christchurch. Obviously I would pay postage, but would you also charge for the plants? Thanks.
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Cucumber 05 Jan, Debbie (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi, I planted 2 Lebanese cucumbers last year and again this year. Both were/are healthy plants. Issue is..there are many female flowers (hundreds) and they just wither and die. Not a single male flower both seasons. Should I be planting a different variety of cucumber nearby to help with male flowers and pollination? Help!
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Sunflower 30 Dec, paul (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Do Sunflowers and beans grow well together
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Sunflower 04 Jan, Megotu farms (USA - Zone 8b climate)
Paul We grow sunflower with our yard-long beans in North Louisiana to redirect stink bugs .... they grow well together here as the soil does not need anything different ... Marigolds grow well to help with the horn worms ....
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Sunflower 02 Jan, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You can.
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Showing 1 - 30 of 1580 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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