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Question Topics This Month

Bore water on veggies- VIC
Agave attenuata- transplanting - VIC
Replanting a snapped tree fern - NSW
Growing Magnolia x soulangeana - SA
Pasionfruit - QLD
Sheoak Trees - QLD
Grubs - organic spray - WA

Growing zucchini - VIC
Indoor plants fungus - VIC
Soil for vegies - VIC
Growing within a hedge - NSW
Caring for fruit trees organically - VIC
Kaffir lime tree - VIC
Peach tree 'bleeding' - NSW

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Topic and Question

Answer

Bore water on veggies- VIC

We have a bore that we use for our garden, is it ok to use on a veggie patch? I don't know the water's pH level, the lawn is fine, most trees are OK although some trees the leaves are effected. Any help would be appreciated.

BACK TO TOPICS

The quality of bore water varies all around the country. I would be getting your bore water thoroughly analysed before using it anywhere. pH level is important (PH test kits are available from Global garden) but so also are the levels of dissolved minerals and salts. This is particularly necessary before use on vegetables as they are quite sensitive to this sort of thing. The leaves on the trees could have been affected by the recent high temps, not necessarily the bore water.

Agave attenuata- transplanting - VIC

How do I plant this agave? It has  been cut off at the base of the stem with a saw. It is 120cm wide and the stems are 500mm long what is the best thing to do with it now?

BACK TO TOPICS

I rescued an agave like this from a tip and took it home. I recut the stem (at 30cm length) and placed the plant in a bucket of water for 24 hours as it was very withered. The next day the plant had perked up a lot. I placed it in a large pot of potting mix and it grew very well for 8 months until the following winter when it died because all the roots were at the bottom of the (smallish) pot and it got waterlogged. If I did this again, I would make the stem a bit shorter and water very little after late autumn. Hope this helps!

Replanting a snapped tree fern - NSW

i have a giant tree fern which broke off at the base due to a storm, if I plant the bulbous base back into the soil - will it have the possibility of regrowth?

BACK TO TOPICS

You need to dig a hole at least 300mm deep and place the tree fern into the hole and backfill with the soil. Keep the soil moist and water the fern from the top for the next couple of months and it should recover.

Growing Magnolia x soulangeana - SA

I have recently planted this in my backgarden, the tag states that it tolerates full sun although I note that it is getting burnt in the recent hot weather. Do I need to remove this and put it in a pot or will it aclimatize as it grows older - it is about six months old. There is new younger growth at the bottom of the plant. I have a magnolia little gem in another part of the yard, that has already flowered! Amazing! And that was planted at the same time as the other one.  I had thought of getting another tree for the backyard, which gets more sun, and putting the soulangeana in a large pot.  What do you think?

BACK TO TOPICS

Magnolias are a cool climate plant that LOVE water. The recent hot weather will have crisped the leaves of both deciduous and evergreen species and they will be doing it tough. Do not prune off anything at this stage. The plants will decide when and if they are going to put on any new growth so you can help by never letting them dry out. A Magnolia soulangeana in a pot is not a long term proposition I would have thought as it can get to 6m. Also magnolias hate being moved around.

BACK TO TOPICS

This could be due to a number of factors. Not knowing any of your plant conditions I would suggest mulching the plant and make sure it is regularly watered. Also a flower will die and fall off if not pollinated. Have plenty of flowering plants around to attract bees which are the pollinators of passionfruit.

Sheoak Trees - QLD

Can these trees be kept short eg 2m high?
Can they be pruned yearly to keep them to a predetermined height.

BACK TO TOPICS

I have seen sheoaks pruned into mop-tops about 2m high, but it does mean regular pruning rather than an annual lopping.

Grubs - organic spray - WA

What organic safe spray can i make at home to control green grubs (laid by moths) that eat my vegies ?

BACK TO TOPICS

Jackie French has written a variety of books on the subject of organic gardening. She recommends a variety of sprays such as clay spray, garlic spray, onion, garlic and chilli spray and bug spray (you squash up the bugs and spray them back on the plant!). Have a look for her books in your local library. Also Dipel ,available from the nursery, can be safely used to kill caterpillars and Jackie gives a recipe on how to make your own starter culture of Dipel.

Growing zucchini - VIC

Why shouldn't you water zucchini at night?

BACK TO TOPICS

Water on the leaves at night of zucchinis, pumpkins and cucumbers can promote powdery mildew. I water all mine through drip irrigation so the leaves stay dry.

Indoor plants fungus - VIC

I live in an apartment in inner Melbourne. Because of possums, I can't grow anything on my balcony, so I have taken to growing some plants indoors, namely, tiger lillies.
I have the plants in pots on window sills and I water (very little) daily. I seem to be getting great results. But of late, small, yellow toadstools have been sprouting. The largest fungus is around 2cm in height and about .5cm in diameter.
My question is; are these fungi damaging to my lillies (I'm guessing they are) and how do I eradicate the fungi.
I'm also a little concerned about having fungus growing inside my home.

BACK TO TOPICS

I’m guessing either the toadstools have come in with the potting mix, on the tiger lily corms or have been borne inside on a breeze. I would just remove them as soon as they appear and dispose in the rubbish. I occasionally have toadstools appearing in the potting mix of my indoor plants and they seem to be fine.

Soil for vegies - VIC

My soil does not seem to absorb water. I am using compost and garden lime, but although they have mixed in well, the soil tends to repel water.

BACK TO TOPICS

Very dry soil will often be hydrophobic (water repelling). Using compost is a great idea but you would only need lime if your soil is acidic (have you tested the pH?) Try adding a wetting agent in either granular or liquid form – these need to be watered in but they help to break down the soil’s hydrophobia and last for quite a while. Note: a wetting agent is different to water storage crystals – this is a different product with a different use.

BACK TO TOPICS

Some plant species can be cut back very hard (usually in winter) with a view to rejuvenation. You don’t say what species your hedge is so I don’t know if this is worth trying. You could grow something through the hedge but be aware that it might be more trouble than its worth in the future if it really takes off. The two climbers that spring to mind are ivy and maidenhair creeper (Muehlenbeckia complexa).

Caring for fruit trees organically - VIC

Last Spring I got myself busy planting up some fruit trees. I ideally want to look after them organically. Some I will espalier along the fence, others I intend to keep pruned fairly short. I am a bit over whelmed as to the maintenance cycle for each and the selection of organic sprays etc.
The fruit trees include: 3x apples; 3x plums; 2x nectarine / peach; 1x dwarf cherry; 1x fejoa - pineapple quava; 3x kiwi fruit. I've got a bit of learning ahead of me but am very keen, can you please advise?

BACK TO TOPICS

You need to get a good book on the topic. Jackie French’s books are well worth reading. Ask at your local library. Also Allen Gilbert has written a number of books on fruit trees and vegetables and Louis Glowinski’s book on fruit growing is a must.

Kaffir lime tree - VIC

I have had a very healthy Kaffir lime tree growing in a pot for about 2 years. The leaves are beautiful and plentiful but it has never flowered. Does this mean there is something wrong with it? Is there something I need to do to encourage flowering?

BACK TO TOPICS

Growing a Kaffir Lime where you live is a great achievement! They are grown mainly for their leaves but lack of flowering may be just due to the age of the tree or maybe because it has received more nitrogen (which helps leaf growth) than phosphorus and potassium (which aids flower development). Try a balanced citrus fertilizer in autumn and water in well.

Peach tree 'bleeding' - NSW

We have a peach tree about 12 years old.  Lately it has been bleeding resin at an alarming rate, great globules of it but we still had a bumper crop.  We had to cut off quite a big limb as the leaves were dying.  Is our tree dying?  Can we save it? 

BACK TO TOPICS

It sounds awfully like your tree has got gummosis. All you can do is cut off the limbs as they die and hope for the best. I found the following advice on a US website “There is no practical chemical control available. Keep trees healthy, since the most severely infected trees are water-stressed. Dead wood should be removed during winter pruning, and destroyed. When pruning during the summer months, remove and destroy all pruned wood.

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