The olive tree, Olea europaea, is a subtropical evergreen tree from the Oleaceae family that is native to the Mediterranean, Africa and China. They grow best in areas with a Mediterranean climate, which is characterised by a long, hot, dry summer growing season and a […]
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Why Do Bean Plants Develop White Spots on Their Leaves, And Is It a Problem?
During the summer season, bean plants may become unhealthy looking, with a mottled or stippled pattern of tiny whitish speckled spots, short streaks or short lines on the upper surface their leaves. These affected leaved may eventually turn yellow, then brown, and become dry and […]
September Vegetable and Herb Gardening Calendar for Arid Climate Australia
It’s September, the beginning of spring, the time of new life and renewal! The weather is starting to warm up, but there are still cold days, rainy weather and winds to contend with. Early spring is the best time to mulch garden beds, as the […]
September Vegetable and Herb Gardening Calendar for Tropical Climate Australia
It’s September, the beginning of spring, the time of new life and renewal! The weather is starting to warm up this month. In Darwin the weather is sunny, and it’s still the dry season but the weather is becoming hotter and more humid. This month […]
September Vegetable and Herb Gardening Calendar for Subtropical Climate Australia
It’s September, the beginning of spring, the time of new life and renewal! The weather is starting to warm up, but there are still cold days, rainy weather and winds to contend with. The weather in Brisbane is mild and warm with some hotter days. […]
September Vegetable and Herb Gardening Calendar for Cool & Alpine Climate Australia
It’s September, the beginning of spring, the time of new life and renewal! The weather is starting to warm up, but there are still cold days, rainy weather and winds to contend with. Weather is still cold in Canberra and Hobart, with frosts in high […]
September Vegetable and Herb Gardening Calendar for Temperate Climate Australia
It’s September, the beginning of spring, the time of new life and renewal! The weather is starting to warm up, but there are still cold days, rainy weather and winds to contend with. Melbourne is cool and cloudy, and averages half a month of sunny […]
Why Do Plant Leaves Sometimes Turn Red Under Artificial Grow Lights?
When plants are grown under artificial lighting, such as LED grow lights, the leaves might turn red in colour, due to a phenomenon known as anthocyanin accumulation. Anthocyanins are water-soluble flavonoid plant pigments that produce the major red, blue and purple colours in flowers, fruits […]
Which USDA Hardiness Zones Correspond to the Australian Climate Zones
Can we convert USDA zones to Australian climatic zones of tropical, subtropical, temperate, arid and cool/alpine regions? That’s a common question many gardeners ask when referencing plant information from the other side on the world. Even though the two are quite different measurements based on […]
Why You Should Never Mulch Pea Plants with Pea Straw!
Mulching the garden is great way to protect the soil and keep it healthy. A good layer of mulch around 5-10cm (2-4″) thick on top of the soil surface prevents evaporation of soil moisture, saving water, and also keeps plant roots cool in summer. It […]
August Vegetable and Herb Gardening Calendar for Tropical Climate Australia
It’s August, the weather is dry and sunny in Darwin, but the end of winter draws near. Days begin to grow noticeably longer and the change of season isn’t too far away. This month is the time to sow the first summer vegetable seeds. Towards […]
August Vegetable and Herb Gardening Calendar for Subtropical Climate Australia
It’s August, the weather is still cold and windy, but the end of winter draws near. Days begin to grow noticeably longer, and the change of season isn’t too far away. The weather in Brisbane is mild, with the possibility of frosts and occasional storms, […]
August Vegetable and Herb Gardening Calendar for Arid Climate Australia
It’s August, the weather is still cold in many areas and moderately windy, but the end of winter draws near. Days begin to grow noticeably longer and the change of season isn’t too far away. This month is the last chance to complete the pruning […]
August Vegetable and Herb Gardening Calendar for Cool & Alpine Climate Australia
It’s August, the weather is still cold and windy, but the end of winter draws near. Days begin to grow noticeably longer and the change of season isn’t too far away. The weather in Hobart is slightly warmer than in the previous month but moderately […]
Using Live Catch Traps for Humane Rat and Mouse Control
Live catch rat and mouse cage traps are humane, non-lethal devices that are used to capture pest rodent. They are designed to trap the animals without harming them, so that any non-pest native rodents that are captured can be relocated or released back into the […]
August Vegetable and Herb Gardening Calendar for Temperate Climate Australia
It’s August, the weather is still cold and windy, but the end of winter draws near. Days begin to grow noticeably longer and the change of season isn’t too far away. The weather in Melbourne and Perth is slightly warmer than in the previous month. […]
How to Control Wooly Aphids, the Fluffy White Pest on Apple Trees
Woolly aphids are sap-sucking pests that are bluish-black in colour that produce a covering of fluffy white wax that resembles wool. They can be found clustered around the bases of new shoots on branches, wounds on trunks and branches, and on exposed roots of apple […]
The Easiest Way to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats from Houseplants with a Bug Zapper
Fungus gnats (Bradysia spp.) are annoying tiny, delicate looking little flies are around 1.5 – 3.0mm (1⁄16 to 1⁄8”) often seen flying slowly around indoor plants. They look like and are often mistaken to be tiny ‘fruit flies’ when they land on the sides of pots […]
July Vegetable and Herb Gardening Calendar for Tropical Climate Australia
It’s the month of July, and Midwinter has arrived! As all of Nature’s energies turn inwards, and life comes to a standstill, we finally have a chance to rest and reflect too. During this month temperatures will hit their lowest for the year in many […]
July Vegetable and Herb Gardening Calendar for Cool & Alpine Climate Australia
It’s the month of July, and Midwinter has arrived! As all of Nature’s energies turn inwards, and life comes to a standstill, we finally have a chance to rest and reflect too. During this month temperatures will hit their lowest for the year. Brief spells […]