15 vegie problems solved
Why did my pak choy flop over and die? How do I know when my carrots are ready to pull up? You asked PHIL DUDMAN these questions and more during our recent Facebook Live session on growing vegies. Here are the answers
Q I want to move a couple of lush rhubarb plants into a new garden bed. Is now a good time to do it? I’m in North East Victoria. Cashandra
A Yes, winter is the best time to dig up rhubarb because the plants are dormant, which means they are less prone to transplant shock.
Q I have a strong-growing rhubarb variety that gets to 60–70cm tall. It’s been growing in the same spot for several years. The stalks are usually red, but they've been predominantly green of late. Can you tell me why? Liz Harris
A This lack of redness in the stems can happen when rhubarb plants are stressed, and overcrowding can be a cause of stress. When rhubarb hasn’t been dug up and divided in a while, the crowded clump loses vigour and shows related signs of stress. Winter is the ideal time to dig it up, divide it, and replant the smaller sections.
Soil pH can have an effect, too. Rhubarb plants grow best in soil that has a pH of 6.0–6.8. While the pH of your garden soil may be suitable, the soil around your rhubarb clump may have become more acidic over time because of the make-up of the plant itself. The tissues in rhubarb are acidic, and as the leaves and stalks break down when the plant dies back in winter, they acidify the soil. With this in mind, plant your divided rhubarb in a new spot, adding lots of compost when preparing the soil.
Also, excessive heat stresses rhubarb plants, so it helps to provide shade to keep them cool when conditions are hot. Bang in a few stakes around your rhubarb clump, and throw some shadecloth over the top.
Q How do you know carrots are ready to harvest without pulling them out of the soil? Jennifer Lukje
A As carrot roots swell, the ‘shoulders’ are pushed up above the soil surface. The width of the shoulder gives you some indication of how big the root may be below ground, but you never really know until you pull it up. That element of surprise is half the joy of harvesting carrots!
Q Why is my pumpkin vine growing madly with only male flowers? Gloria Hayman
A It’s common for pumpkins and related plants, such as cucumbers, squash and melons, to produce mostly male flowers in the early stages. Female flowers appear eventually. The flowers open for only a day, so check daily. Some gardeners cut off the
tips of the vines to encourage side branches to form, which generates more male and female flowers.
Q Can you suggest ways to protect crops from birds, lizards and other creatures? I don’t have any power tools, so the solutions need to be easy, without too much elbow grease required. Robyn Speerin
A If birds are pulling up your seedlings, protect these vulnerable plants by installing chicken wire or plastic mesh bent in a U-shape over the rows. You can cover fruit with cloth or paper bags, or use a wildlife-friendly bird net to protect entire bushes and fruit trees. For more details on wildlife-friendly netting, visit wires.org.au
Q How can I keep cabbage white butterflies and their larvae out of my patch? I have tried eggshells, a garlic and chilli spray, and derris dust. I would prefer a natural method, if possible. Jenni Coomber
A Covering your crop with a pest exclusion net, such as vege net, is the simplest way. This barrier stops cabbage white butterflies landing on the plants and laying their eggs. Before you cover your cabbages with netting, make sure you check the plants thoroughly and remove any yellow eggs or green caterpillars that you find. Alternatively, use an organically approved caterpillar spray such as Dipel.
Q Should I pinch the tops from my sugar snap peas? If so, what height should they be when they’re pinched? Patricia Tillett
A Yes, pinching is a good idea because it encourages branching, which means you’ll have more pods. Pinch off the tips when the plants are 20–30cm tall.
Q How can I stop ants stealing seed that I’ve sown in my vegie beds? Marissa Stevens
A The best way to avoid this is to start your vegies in punnets, and transplant them once established. Most vegies can be started this way. The only ones requiring that you sow seed directly are carrots and parsnips, as they rarely perform well when they are transplanted. You could try creating a barrier around the rows or the carrot seed. Some people say a ring of baby powder around plantings helps to keep ants out because they don’t like crossing it. If you want to try this, avoid wetting the baby powder when watering, as it will need to be reapplied. You might like to follow the ant trails back to their colony. Pouring boiling water into the nest a few times will reduce their numbers... if you’re comfortable doing this.
Q The foliage of my potatoes is being decimated by lady beetles and flea beetles. How can I deal with these pests? Kathleen Beckenham
A These leaf-chewing insects sure do a lot of damage. Check your plants daily, and squash the beetles or spray them with natural pyrethrum. When using pyrethrum, it must make contact with the pest to be effective. Alternatively, you could cover your plants with pest exclusion netting to protect them from invaders.
Q I transplanted some pak choy seedlings into my garden bed, but only a few survived. Most of them flopped over and died. What did I do wrong? Sandra Lee
A Your seedlings may have suffered some root disturbance when they were transplanted into the garden bed. They need to be handled carefully and protected. Cover them with shadecloth for a few days to reduce heat stress, which makes it easier for the damaged roots to regenerate, and helps the plants settle in. Seedlings are also susceptible to damping off, a problem caused by a soil-borne fungal disease that results in the plants rotting and falling over. To reduce the incidence of this disease, be careful not to overwater your seedlings.
Q How can I prevent my dog from digging up my vegetable garden? Anita Jercic
A Early training works. The first time your pup jumps onto your patch, let them know in a stern tone that it’s a no-go zone. If you’re finding it hard to teach an older dog new tricks, consider setting up a barrier. It could be as simple as a few tomato stakes and chicken wire around your growing area, or an attractive picket fence to add a little charm to the solution. If you have a breed of dog that just has to dig, perhaps you could section off a part of the garden to create a dig pit where digging is celebrated and even rewarded.
Q How do you make seed-raising mix? Tanya Corelli
A A good seed-raising mix has the ability to stay moist for an extended period, and has lots of fine particles to make good contact with the seed and stimulate germination. It should also be light and airy so the new roots can move freely and develop easily. Try this recipe: 2 parts sieved compost, 1 part coir peat, 1 part worm castings, and 1 part coarse sand. Mix thoroughly.
Q When I’m sowing winter vegie seeds, should I bring them inside until they start to shoot? Jayne Harris
A If winter days are particularly cold where you are, it may help to sit seedlings on a heat pad indoors to kickstart germination. These can be found at garden centres. You could also place punnets on a sunny windowsill, or in a mini greenhouse in the sun. Where I live, in northern
New South Wales, the winter days are warm and sunny, so my winter vegie seeds need very little help to germinate. The nights get cold, though, so I bring the punnets inside in the evening and place them in a heated room to keep them warm and toasty.
Q I’ve planted beetroot seed, which has sprouted, but the true leaves haven’t emerged. What could be the reason? Gayatri Krishnan
A Every seed comes packed with enough energy to throw out some roots and its first two simple leaves, which are called seed leaves. Once that incredible natural process is completed, the seedling must rely on the fertility of the soil or growing medium to continue developing, otherwise it will just sit and do nothing. Some potting and seed-raising mixes contain very little or no nutrients, so you need to add them yourself. A weekly dose of liquid fertiliser mixed at half strength is just the thing to restore your seedlings’ enthusiasm.
Q Is there a vegie I can plant now, in full shade? Chris Doneley
A All vegies need a bit of sun. Many of the leafy vegies, including lettuce, spinach, beets and crucifers, will grow in as few as three hours of sun a day, but won’t grow well in full shade. You might have to put some pots on your roof!