Cabbage and Plant Basics

Hi Everyone. Recently I had a newcomer to Australia wanting to know why his cabbage seedlings shot up and then died. He came from the cooler South Island of New Zealand and he said he had no trouble growing seedlings there.

On questioning him I found out (1) He had not asked any locals for advice. (2) He had not used seed raising mix. He said he had used the best potting mix that he could buy, and he had no trouble growing plants in New Zealand.

He seemed surprised when I told him it was a really hot period and you can’t grow seedlings until the weather cools down. You can grow Emerald Acre cabbage plants all year round here, but you have to space out your planting times. Well, we do live in the sub tropics after all.

If your neighbour grows flowers, plants or vegetables, ask them what is the best way to grow whatever plants you are wanting to grow. You will find that they will be only too happy to be able to help you out.

IF you are growing new plants for the first time please ask your local garden centre what they recommend, they are your local experts after all, and if they don’t know how to grow plants they wouldn’t be in business long.

I think we all take certain things for granted and we forget that some people especially newcomers need to have the basics explained to them.

Canola oil and Garlic spray

You do not need to buy costly chemical fertilizer or pesticides sprays, some good pesticides come straight from your kitchen cupboards.

(3) This is a recipe for Canola oil spray which suffocates soft body insects, use one cup of Canola oil and add to one gallon of water. Do not try to make it work better by using more canola oil, you will only harm your plants. It is great for your cabbage seedlings

(4) Garlic spray kills your soft bodied insects, use one bulb of Garlic and blend it with two cups of water, leave overnight and strain, mix with one gallon of water and spray all over your plants.

(5) You can make up ½ a bulb of Garlic and ½ a cup of canola oil and mix together. With all these recipes spray liberally on both sides of the leaves.

If you have animals eating your plants put some hot peppers into your Garlic spray, cut the hot peppers up finely and soak overnight with your Garlic.

You won’t believe the easy cure for ‘Powdery Mildew’, on pumpkin and cucumber plants, in fact the whole family of ’Curcubitaceae. Get this: One cup of Trim milk or non-fat milk to nine cups of water, mix and spray both sides of your leaves.

Plant lots of beneficial flowers in and around your garden, this has a twofold benefit, one, the flowers attract bees and some plants discourage pests and insects.

For instance Marigolds help to repel aphids from your vegetable garden. Companion planting is really beneficial.

Gordi Hall is a keen gardener who just loves teaching others about gardening. To learn more about gardening and to get other great gardening tips visit: http://www.best-home-gardening-tips.com

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