Your comments and tips

13 Jan 17, noluthando (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)

I have grown some butternut and its already big in size im not sure if i should harvest or not.what should i look for before harvesting.the same goes for pumpkin its already size of a ball.its so hard and green on the outside

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15 Jan 17, Andile (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)

Hi you know what Noluthando every crop takes 4 months to be ready, the first day you plant you must write down and count the days from day of planting and you will be able to know when to harvest, even the leaves show you when its time to harvest, they get dry from 3-4 months.

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10 Jan 17, Jen (Australia - temperate climate)

When is the best time to plant pumpkins in Warrill View - near Ipswich please. Would it be too hot now?

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16 Jan 17, John (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Pumpkins could be planted up until February providing you don't get frosts. Plants take up to 4 months to mature so work out when you are likely to have a frost, if any. Unripe pumpkins do not keep so if you get caught make pumpkin soup or shred them into batch quantities as you would for Zucchini Muffins or Slice and freeze them for later use. Trust this helps.

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09 Jan 17, Joanne (Australia - temperate climate)

I planted pumpkins in early December & they are huge already & have long stalked male flowers not seen any female yet but am wondering if theirs still time for fruit to appear

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17 Jan 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)

Pumpkins, for some reason, are often reluctant to produce female flowers early in the seson. They take from two and a half to four months to grow and ripen from flowerset.Turn them on their edge as soon as they are big enough to stop water pooling around the stalk. When the cold weather sets in and the tops die off, harvest the ripe ones and store them in a dry place. Unripe ones can be used to make pumpkin soup or shredded in recipe quantities as you would for zucchini muffins thenfrozen in recipe quaantities for later use instead of zucchini. Trust this helps

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27 Dec 16, Dominic (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)

For the sake of my customers, I would like to know the nutritional and/or health benefits of pumpkin and/or pumpkin seeds?

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12 Jul 17, Kerry (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)

Have a look at this website. www.sparkpeople.com it has a free nutrition calculator.

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24 Nov 16, Jenny (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi, our house is on rock so we have very little garden. I have been trying to grow buttercup in large pots with varying degrees of success. I was wondering why sometimes the fruit or females are yellow as soon as they start to form.

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25 Nov 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)

Hello Jenny, The most likely cause is they haven't been pollinated. When a female flower opens pick a male flower and carefully remove the petals then put the male part of the flower onto the centre of the female flower and turn it slightly to transfer pollen (male sex cells) onto the female flower. Insects would normally do this but a shortage of bees will affect pollination rates. Pumpkins are hungry and thirsty plants so ensure watering is consistent and that they are well fed. Trust this helps. John

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