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Showing 31 - 60 of 2214 comments

Sage (also Common Sage) 02 Nov, Delea (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): Can I plant sage with beetroots?
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Sunflower 22 Oct, Merlyn Adams (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): I have a high lying farm in magaliesburg. I want to start farming with sunflower in the area. Please advise which cultivar of sunflower seed can I use
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Sunflower 22 Oct, Celeste Archer (Canada - Zone 6b Temperate Warm Summer climate): Sunflowers have multiple uses: edible oil, seeds to feed for livestock, snack seeds, flower production etc. You didn't mention your intended use. End use will impact cultivar selection. My best guess is you are trying for oil seeds -- since this is probably the most lucrative sunflower product. Most likely there are University studies for sunflowers in your area to help you with cultivar selection. Your looking for Sunflower seed trial results -- or something like that -- favoring agricultural publications and University papers over other sites. Many of these publications will not be applicable -- so it is a matter of wading through the various publications (from creditable and "neutral" sources) -- clearly much of the information will be "excessively detailed" -- but eventually, hopefully you will find a nice chart the compares the YIELDs for the various cultivars in your area, or an area similar to yours. My search engines always seem to throw me back to North America -- so I am unable to hunt down a good publication/article for you.
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Sunflower 24 Oct, Celeste Arcjer (Canada - Zone 5a Temperate Warm Summer climate): One last thought -- and whether this is a good idea or not will depend on the "tastes" in your area. (using info from the net): The Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) is closely related to sunflowers. Specialty producers treat Jerusalem artichokes as a very versatile, gourmet root vegetable under multiple names such as Sunchoke (created and trademarked by Frieda Caplan) and lambchoke, as well as sunroot, wild sunflower, earth apple, earth pear, and topinambour (in France and Germany). They have also been called French potatoes, German turnips, and Canadian artichokes or truffles. They can be sliced and eaten raw (after washing the edible skin) and are variously described as sweet, savory, nutty, and crunchy, similar to water chestnuts, jicama, or milder radishes. They are often boiled, roasted, or mashed, with a flavor very similar to potatoes or artichoke hearts. They can also be fermented or pickled, and ground into flour. Jerusalem artichokes look similar to ginger root or turmeric and potatoes. They can be short or long and brown, white, red, purple, or grey in skin color. Wild tubers are often red and plants are spread across fields; when cultivated, they appear white and clustered together. Tubers are oblong, with lumps or knobs. The inside is white until exposed to air when the flesh will begin to darken. More than 200 varieties of Jerusalem artichokes exist including Clearwater, Columbia, Mammoth, Oregon, Red Fuseau, Stampede, and White Fuseau. Jerusalem artichokes are a hardy perennial able to grow well in most soils. Ideally, the ground is loamy, loosely packed, and with a slightly alkaline pH value of around 7. Temperatures between 65 to 80°F (16c - 26 c) are preferred for optimal growth, along with 125 or more frost-free days. More sunlight is needed for the initial growing stages, then less is preferable as the tubers form. Precipitation will aid in growth, especially during sprouting, but too much moisture will waterlog plants. In commercial production, Jerusalem artichokes are raised annually, despite their perennial nature. Growth takes 7 months on average, seeds are often planted in early spring for best yields. ...................... certainly worth thinking about. Sunflowers for oil production probably have more "certainty" when it comes to demand. Sun chokes may not have the demand (initially - or maybe ever) in your area to support a farm dedicated to Sun chokes and Sun Chokes are know for their "delicate" skin which may make shipping tricky (avoiding spoilage)..
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Sunflower 24 Oct, Celeste Archer (Canada - Zone 6b Temperate Warm Summer climate): I found this publication, which might be a good starting point for you: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02571862.2024.2352174#d1e710 ----- the Abstract starts ---------- Abstract Suitable planting dates and hybrid selection are crucial in optimizing yield, component traits and oil production in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). In South Africa, there is limited information on the effects of planting dates on currently available sunflower hybrids in the marketplace.....
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Sunflower 22 Oct, Liz (Gardenate) (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate): You would probably have more help from a local agricultural advisor. Gardenate is intended for home gardeners, not farmers.
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Cabbage 18 Oct, Ntando (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): What type of cabbage I can plant in November I am planting in the north coast at Kwa Zulu Natal
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Cabbage 15 Nov, Bee-Pie (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate): Hi. It is not advisable to grow brassicas in summer as they are cool weather plants. That said, there are certain varieties that have been developed to withstand hotter weather. So, when buying seed, look for those.
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Watermelon 14 Oct, Moses (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): Please need your advice to one of my favorite crob.Watermellon. when exactly can I plant this crop.and what seeds please I been trying to put seeds of watermelon but nothing come even the small plant.to show the plant is coming up and growing in south Africa is October please help me.Thanks Moses.
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Watermelon 31 Oct, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Plant Sept to Nov - plenty of water after they start growing.
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Rocket (also Arugula/Rucola) 08 Oct, Petrus (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate): Should one nip flowers off to promote leave growth.
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Chilli peppers (also Hot peppers) 29 Sep, Hannelie Wall (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): I want to plant .5ha with Jalepeno from seed and need some advice pls.
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Chilli peppers (also Hot peppers) 31 Oct, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): Talk to an agricultural department person.
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Watermelon 12 Sep, Dorothy Sinclair (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): Hi, I stay in Witbank, Mmpumalnga, South Africa. Which fertilizer can I use to help my watermelons grow well? Thank you Dorothy
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Ginger 10 Sep, Mike (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): Is it available to plant ginger in Limpopo, Capricorn
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Basil 23 Aug, John (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): I used to have a basil bush that was perennial not annual. It was very conveniant and produced very good basil, however it was removed during renovations What is it known as, as I would like to plant more of them
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Horseradish 01 Aug, Dolf Visagie (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): Hi I would love to buy horseradish roots to plant, could you please tel me where I could get
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Watermelon 23 Jul, Modise Moeketsane (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): Can i start planting watermelon now??
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Watermelon 24 Jul, Janene (Australia - sub-tropical climate): September to November is the best time for your zone
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Ginger 16 Jul, Glen Vanderwalt (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): Hi, I would like to know where in South Africa I can find black ginger plant root to grow ,hoping for some advice.
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Ginger 21 Aug, Dave (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): Try Sean at Living seeds, he might have that variant available when they are in season for planting. https://www.livingseeds.co.za/index.php?route=information/contact
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Chinese cabbage (also Wong bok, wong nga pak, napa cabbage) 13 Jul, (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): Where can I get it
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Horseradish 10 Jul, Bruce Lesur (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate): Hi. Could you please advise where I can buy horseradish root or seed to plant. Thank you
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Ginger 05 Jul, Dhirajlal Daya BHIKHA (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate): Soil preparation planting Ginger in late winter/early spring. Is it advisable to place ginger in black/dark bags to encourage "eye" sprouting? I live in Durban, South africa with summer rains.
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Potato 14 Jun, Maseven makhunga (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): I want advice because it my first time to plant the potatoes
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Potato 17 Jun, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): Go summer rainfall and read all about what is required. Also google a lot about growing in your climate zone.
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Onion 12 Jun, Portia (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): Can I plant onions in south Africa September month. I'm mpumalanga lowveld nelspruit.
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Jerusalem Artichokes (also Sunchoke) 22 May, Barbara (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): Varieties of Jerusalem artichokes available at Livingseeds
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Basil 16 May, Merle Boshoff (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): How would I keep Asian blue basil growing in winter. Con one cover the plants with light weight fabric over night ? I make pesto to sell and need this basil in winter once the Holy basil season ends. Regards and thanks Merle P.S. selling only small quantities at a weekly market day in very small town
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Basil 28 May, (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): Moist plants have a life cycle. Plants generally have a temperature range they grow in.
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