FAQs

Who Should Use This Website?

This website has been created by Sharon & Andrew Cooper with the sole intention of providing information on how to grow Superfood vegetables. Concern for the environment and the quality of commercial produce has lead to Sharon and Andrew sharing their commercial knowledge to help educate and provide families with a life long skill…being able to grow their own food.

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From time to time we will send a newsletter to our clients to inform them of new plant varieties, environmentally friendly garden products and organic recipes that we find successful in our production facility, To share this information we will use the email address you give us.

A huge amount of time and money goes into maintaining this free resource to keep you up to date with product research and gardening news.

Remember we will never give your details to anybody else and you can unsubscribe at any time, if you don’t want to keep receiving information from us or have ongoing access to our free resources.

Below Are The 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions We As Commercial Growers Are Asked.

1. How do I prevent pests & diseases from attacking my garden?

Pests are something every gardener encounters. But you must remember that for every plant destroying pest there is a beneficial insect that is probably living just around the corner waiting for dinner to arrive.

Some of the most common garden pests are:
a. Red Spider Mite
b. Aphids
c. Thrips
d. Caterpillars
e. Mealy Bug

Having a balanced garden is a great way to control pests without harming the environment with nasty chemicals. You can do this by planting various herbs and flowering annuals (such as Alyssum and marigolds or any other small flowering plant) at different heights to encourage the ‘good bugs’ to make their home there. For example Lady Bugs LOVE spider mite. Soft body insects such as spider mite, mealy bug, aphids and thrips can also be controlled by watering on a mixture of soapy water in a can. Caterpillars can be controlled by removing by hand.

Disease is something which is usually spread by insect damage or environmental damage, such as heavy rain, wind or drought.

Some of the most common garden diseases are:
a. Powdery Mildew
b. Botrytis
c. Downy Mildew
d. Root Rot
e. Black Spot

To start with, the PH of your soil needs to be checked to ensure optimum growing conditions for the plant to remain healthy. Next, choose disease resistant varieties where possible. Prune plants to maintain maximum air flow and quick drying of leaves. Insect damage is often the start of disease. By using companion planting methods you are reducing the risk of this occurring.

Remember, a healthy plant doesn’t attract pest or disease. By adding compost to your soil and keeping up an organic fertilizer regime you will be promoting happy, health plants.

2. What causes my root vegetables such as my carrots and beets to be forked or out of shape.

Root vegetables need good, friable soil to develop normally. If your soil type is clay, or compacts easily, the roots will suffer while they are developing and won’t have the opportunity to form properly leaving you with odd shaped vegetables. If you have stoney soil you could try adding some peat, otherwise ensure you garden has plenty of organic matter and drains well. This will allow the roots (this is the vegetable you eat) to grow into the desired shape.

3. How do I get more flowers or fruits on my vegetables?

Keeping plants healthy is the first step toward producing more flowers which then leads to a bountiful fruit production.

Regular light feeding and adequate water is essential. Ensure you keep picking the produce on your vegetable plants at the peak of maturity for the best nutrition and flavour. Don’t leave fruit on the vine to overripen. Make sure your plants see plenty of sunshine, this will help vegetables to ripen faster and produce tastier produce.

4. I don’t get much sunlight in my yard. How can I grow vegetables?

This is easy. With some simple hydroponic lighting you can create the extra light required to grow a healthy crop, indoors or outdoors. Don’t forsake good health home grown vegetables provide for the sake of a few $$$ worth of lights.

5. When should I plant my vegetable seedlings – what time of the year?

Different areas have different planting times. Make sure you read the back of the seed packet or label before you sow or plant your seedlings. Spring is the most favourable time of year after the last chance of frost, followed by Autumn. Some vegetables such as broccoli, beets, cabbage and spinach only perform well in cooler months. Always check with your local nursery.

6. The soil in my garden appears to be poor and nothing seems to grow. What should I do?

Organic matter is the best recipe for poor garden soil, but first test your soil PH to see if it needs amending. High PH requires the addition of sulphur to lower it and low PH requires the addition of lime to raise it. If your garden bed needs ph adjusting but is already planted out, you will need to do this slowly, but if you have been clever and tested your PH on a new bed, then throw the whole lot in, wait for about a week, then re test. Mulch is a great way to build up organic matter in your soil. Rotted manure, grass and straw, bark mulch and compost are examples of great organic matter. You will need to add about 1/3 metre of organic matter for every metre of garden soil, and till it well. PH testing kits are available from your local nursery or hardware store. They start at around $10.

Don’t forget, soil that’s not healthy doesn’t produce healthy, happy plants. So get your soil right and your plants will thank you.

7. I planted vegetable seeds and they didn’t grow. What went wrong?

We often hear this complaint. Firstly, ensure your seed is not out of date. Old seeds won’t sprout. Second, ensure your seeds are kept in a cool, dry place. Third, seeds need to be planted at the correct depth according to the packet, in a warm, light medium that has good drainage. If you’re unsure about your seed’s viability, plant just a few in a pot to see if you have success with germination. If you don’t, throw the packet in the bin.

If seeds are planted to deep they may not be able to sprout above the soil line. Starting indoors is best for some varieties of seeds. Seeds sown outdoors can risk becoming dinner for birds or rodents if they aren’t offered protection with row crop covers.

8. I planted my seeds and they started to grow. They looked great then suddenly started to brown off and die. What went wrong?

The main cause of this problem is called damping off. This is caused by overwatering. A cold snap doesn’t help either. Unsterile soil is also a common cause. Wildlife often enjoy a snack in between their meal and can’t resist your freshly sprouted seedlings.

Be careful not to over water…raised garden beds can help. Ensure your germination mix is sterile.Plant a little later in the season if your area is at risk of cold snaps. Ensure your seedlings are covered with row covers to protect them from wildlife devastation.

9. My vegetable plants look great but the vegetables they produce are very small and look deformed.

Nutrition is often the cause of small fruit or vegetables. Plants that are lush green have a good dose of nitrogen to keep them looking there best, but a balanced dose of potassium is required to produce flowers which then produce the fruits or vegetables.

Pests are also another problem. Root eating maggots can attack root crops such as carrots and potatoes. Try hot pepper and wood ashes sprinkled around your carrots and other root crops. This can help deter adults from laying eggs.

10. Is it safe to use manure on my vegetable garden?

Fresh manure can contain bacteria called e coli. If you use fresh manure on your vegetable garden there is a small chance you may contaminate your crop. Root crops such as Carrots and Potatoes and leafy crops such as lettuce and spinach are the most susceptible.

For best results allow your manure to age. Play it safe, only use fully composted manure at least sixty days old and always wash your vegetables well before consumption. Never use cat, dog or pig manure because the bacteria contained may be harmful to humans.

By using fully composted (broken down) manure we are giving the soil the organic matter it needs to build up the nutrients in the plants that our body requires form maximum health.

Remember to keep children away from fresh manure and always wash your hands well after gardening.

We have also added 10 Most Should Be Asked Question that you should consider asking next time you visit your local garden centre.

1. How can I attract beneficial insects to my garden?

One of our favourite ways to attract beneficial insects into a garden is to plant an Insectary Garden. This is a garden specifically designed to attract the good bugs. You can create a small plot close by your veggie patch which will not only look attractive but provide a home for a variety of beneficial insects such as patasitiod wasps, lacewings and ladybeetles.

By planting tiny flowering plants such as alyssum, marigold, lavender, statice, shasta daisy, tansy or herbs such as fennel, coriander and dill, you will make an attractive home for natural predators. And don’t forget to include a water source for your new neighbours. Any small container will do the trick.

If you don’t have any spare ground close by you can plant theses varieties in between your vegetable crop. It’s important not to spray with chemicals as they destroy all bugs, good and bad, and you don’t want chemical residue on the food you plan to eventually consume.

2. What is the difference between Heirloom and Hybrid seed varieties?

Heirloom seeds are seeds that have been collected for generations (of plants). They are varieties that gardeners have found over the years to be great performers, producing an abundance of flowers and fruit and have fair resistance to pest and disease. They are capable of being saved and of reproducing.

Hybrid seeds, sometimes known as F1 or F2 are varieties that have been cross bred by commercial breeders to try to create a plant that’s disease resistant, has improved yield, looks great and has a long shelf life. Most varieties today are a result of this practise. The down side is that after all this cross breeding the nutritional value of the fruit (or vegetable) produced by the plant can be lost. Some seed companies are now placing a patent on certain varieties so they legally can’t be reproduced by anyone else. They are also breeding vegetable varieties than are seedless, leaving the grower unable to collect and sow their own seeds. Sitting on the back porch, eating a bunch of grapes and spitting out the seeds appears to be now a childhood memory!

3. Should I mulch my garden bed before I plant my seedlings?

This is a must. In the haste to establish a robust garden most of us can’t resist planting out our beautiful vegetable or flowering seedlings the minute they arrive home from the garden centre. But if your soil has not been prepared by adding mulch or organic matter a good couple of weeks prior and the PH TESTED and amended if need be, you could well be in for some heart ache.

Make a plan. Check growing charts as to when is the best time for your area to plant your seedlings and a couple of weeks prior add your mulch and/or organic matter, fork in all in, then complete a PH test before you begin to plant.

4. When should I water my plants, morning or afternoon?

Opinions are varied in answer to this question. Traditionally, we are told to water in the morning as the water will drain into the soil to the root system and prepare them for a day of sun. But many of us are too busy trying to get out the door delivering children to school and arriving at work on time. That only leaves us with the afternoon. This is fine too, though try to water before sun set to allow the leaves to dry out a little. We don’t want to leave the plant susceptible to fungal disease. A simple drip irrigation system is cost effective, saves water and is ideal for the time poor family member who’s responsibility it is to keep the garden watered. Once it’s set in place it’s just a matter of turning on the tap for the required time. A tap timer is another great idea.

5. What fertilizer should I use on my seedlings and when should I use it?

If your growing plants from seed, the plant will feed itself until the first true leaves appear. It’s when the plant produces the second set of leaves that you need to begin to fertilize. Use an organic liquid fertilizer with a higher level of phosphorous for good root stimulation. Fish emulsion is organic and good to use. You should then liquid fertilize about once each week from there.

If you have purchased seedlings and are planting them into your garden bed, add compost for added nutrients and protection after you plant. After one to two weeks start with organic liquid fertilizer to keep them growing.

6. How do I have a weed free garden?

We must remember that weeds are just plants growing in the wrong place. They need water, sunlight and nutrition to survive. Controlling weeds without harsh chemicals is possible. Here’s how to do it:

1. 1. Use the Sun. Before mulching, undercut the roots with a hoe and remove the plant roots and all. Turn the soil. This brings the roots that were left to the top of the garden bed where the sun will dry them out.
2. Mulch to Prevent Weed Seed Germination. Mulch is great for weed control. Before mulching, place newspaper (about 8 layers thick) over the soil and place the mulch on top. The newspaper blocks the sunlight form reaching the soil and reduces weed growth. The newspaper will also add a little nitrogen to your soil as it decomposes.
3. Weeds growing in between patios, walk ways and driveways are a menace. Try boiling water. Simply boil the kettle and pour it on the offending weeds. They will immediately fall flat and will be gone in a couple of days.

7. I only have a small yard – don’t I need a big area to plant vegetables. What should I do?

Small yards can also be turned into an organic food producing oasis. New plant variety development has seen compact grower varieties. Plants with tine, baby, dwarf or similar in their name is an indication of a small growing variety suitable for small areas. Container gardening is a great way of producing vegetables in a small area. As long as you have good soil, some sunlight and a water source you can grow plants.

8. How do I tell the PH of my soil?

A PH meter, available from retail garden centres and some home hardware stores is a must for any garden tool box. The in expensive meters start at around $10. The process is simple, just insert the probe into the soil and the meter will give a reading.

9. How do I correct the PH of my soil?

Different plants require different PH levels. Check what your plant variety performs best in. Some like it Acidic and others like it Alkaline. If your PH is to low it will need to be amended with lime to raise it. If your PH is too high it will need to be amended with sulphur to lower it. The mid range level is around 6.

10. I’ve used organic methods to get rid of pests and disease. It didn’t work and I don’t like using chemicals. What should I do?

We have all had this problem from time to time and there’s nothing more frustrating. For larger insects such as grubs you can remove them by hand. For disease riddled plants the easiest and quickest way is to start again with fresh seedlings. Make sure you destroy any infected plants and treat the soil as well. You don’t want to reinfect you newly planted crop.