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29 Jul 16 Gerrie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

I am a rookie gardener in Canberra. My winter garden is going well. Silverbeet, kale and cabbages are thriving. Root vegs (radishes and beets) producing too much foliage but not enough root so I'll switch from fertilising with my worm juice and seasol mix and add some potash to reduce the nitrogen part of the NPK ratio. Had good green manure crops (trying to improve the Canberra compacted clay soil). Planted three broadbean (faba) varieties which are still small (20cm) but growing fast. I remembered to add a bit of lime to the soil. Tried a "three sisters" (corn, beans, pumpkins) planting. Planted the corn too late (should have at least a four-week head start on the climbing beans) and got a zero pumpkin crop so I preparing plenty of bee-attracting flowers for my next attempt this spring. BTW I've invested in a cheap large (3.6x1.9m) greenhouse which is now full of small seedlings so that I can get a head start this spring. We have a short growing season here. The greenhouse will change to a shade-house in summer - last summer almost none of our seeds germinated in the harsh Canberra sun. Will keep trying and hopefully learn from my mistakes.

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14 Apr 17 Steve (Australia - temperate climate)

If you want pumpkins to set ,just hand pollinate by picking male flower ,cutting back petals and place in female flower for a few seconds and shake gently .This is the only way I have had success in my garden with pumpkins.

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