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27 Feb 18, Phil (Australia - temperate climate)

I'm not sure the best section to post regarding bitter melon, so have ended up here. Can someone possibly explain what would cause a bitter melon to get a horseshoe shape, in fact one is almost full circle. Stress?

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01 Mar 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

You may be right - water or nutrient stress. Cucumbers can do this sometimes.

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04 Mar 18, Phil (Australia - temperate climate)

For a while I thought it was poor pollination but I've been noticing the tiny bitter melon behind the opening female flower is already horseshoe shaped on many occasions, and only on plants in one part of the garden near grapevines while further away they are unaffected. They all get the same water and fertiliser treatment. Perhaps the grapes are stealing a lot of the nutrients. I'll take a chance and increase the fertiliser routine for those two closest to the vines and see what results. I have seen some badly shaped cucumbers and that has generally been caused by poor pollination.

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13 Feb 18, Len (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi all...i'd like some advice on chilles..i have two or three plants in that produce pretty well,not sure of the name,there pretty good and hot lol however i seem to be growing the small ones,then i go to the super market and they have quite large ones that look pretty good and juicy so they must have a name as i'd like to grow some of them large ones...i live the other side of Mildura in the North West of Victoria near the N.S.W border. whatcha reckon? cheers Len.

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13 Feb 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Len - I have never grown chilies but here is my two bobs worth. I have read the smaller the chilli the hotter it is. If you want to know what kind of chilies you have or the supermarket have, then go to a few seed selling companies websites and check out the different varieties. Try Seed collection - Boondie Seeds - New Life seeds. Plenty of photos there to check.

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22 Apr 18, Alex (Australia - temperate climate)

The big ones in the supermarket are possibly jalapenos which are relatively mild. We have just grown Anaheim for the first time this year & they are very large & mild. Might be worth giving them a go (our plant was in a mixed pack from United Nurseries).

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10 Feb 18, Desiree (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)

Hi I planted habeneros and jalepenos but the insects are eating the leaves, any natural insecticide I can use

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11 Feb 19, Andy (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)

fill a drum with kakie bush then fill with water, after 1 week put the water on it. Problem gone Happy planting

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06 Oct 18, RL (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)

Pour boiling water over a handful of chopped up tomato leaves and 3 subsections of garlic. Allow to infuse for 24 hours then remove vegetable matter, add a drop of dish washing liquid and spray on chilli leaves about once a week. If you want to get fancy you can also add a drop of linseed oil to the mix but I've found it works fine without.

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18 Mar 18, hain (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)

you could use the chilly itself to deter the pests .............you take the fruit pulp it and pour warm water over the pulp let it stew for a few minutes ......one cup to one fruit ...........and use a bottle sprayer to spray the whole plant making sure o spray the underside of the leaves too............that should hold the pests at bay for a while if not working the up your ratio of fruit to water.... hopefully that works well

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