Other

All my vegetable plants (leeks, beetroot, cauliflower, and cabbages) went straight to seed this year. Is there any way to prevent this or is it just the weather?

What is the best time, and condition, to plant Basil in Dunedin to maximise the crop? To achieve this what is the best condition of the state of soil and what is the best position/situation of the planned new Basil bed, should it be fully sunny or partly shaded? In addition to this, what is the best fertiliser to use? Can the seedlings be planted in succession to achieve the most continuous use of the herb?

How do I get coriander and basil to flourish?

Should I start planting my seedlings now for my summer veggie garden? During the month of August in NZ?

My wife is a big lover of seeing flowers and colour in the garden. My motto is; “If you can’t eat it, don’t grow it”. What can be planted to give awesome colour and yet be edible?

What is going on in my garden this summer? Healthy tomato plants but few flowers set and very slow to ripen. Ditto the scarlet runners - so few beans. Radish - all bolted with no edible radishes. Spinach bolted. Stunted corn cobs and courgettes which set and then wither at about 5cm long. But great carrots and turnips. It’s not lack of water - I’ve watered very regularly with soak hoses.

I am fairly new to vegetable gardening. Which vegetable plants are most suitable to grow in March and over winter for the Wairarapa region? I also want to start a compost bin. How can I make compost out of my kitchen scraps?

Can I grow eggplant and chilli in Dunedin?

I would like to know why the zucchini and pumpkin plants we grow produce an abundance of male flowers and very few female flowers. How can I improve this ratio?

Can you give me some advice about suitable vegetables to plant in a coastal, south-easterly, windswept plot?

I am hoping to plant green chillies, little Jalapenos, this weekend. Last year I had a super harvest. Is it okay to plant in the same area or is a new area better? I noticed that my lettuce is not doing as well this season as the last. Is it because I planted in the same spot as the previous season?

Last November I purchased an eggplant and planted it in my glasshouse. It grew really well with lots of branches and flowers; however, the flowers never developed the eggplant fruit. Why is this?

When your herbs (parsley) and vegetables (leafy greens, spring onions and leeks) start going to seed, is it best to remove the whole plant, or can you cut the central seeding stalk and keep harvesting as and when you need them?

When do I need to feed them and what do you recommend? I‘ve heard you have to pick some growths off but not sure what to do and from where. Also, do you have to do anything for white flies or bugs that may eat them?