Question Time 54!

This episode covers flea beetles, tree borers, climbing pumpkins and melons, soil health, stink bugs, fruit fly, worms, wicking beds and a struggling magnolia.

Plants Mentioned

Vegetables & fruit

• Eggplant — Solanum melongena
• Apple — Malus domestica
• Rockmelon — Cucumis melo
• Pumpkin — Cucurbita spp.
• Butternut Pumpkin — Cucurbita moschata
• Potimarron Pumpkin — Cucurbita maxima
• Wee Be Little Pumpkin — Cucurbita pepo
• Jack Be Little Pumpkin — Cucurbita pepo
• Tomato — Solanum lycopersicum
• Broccoli — Brassica oleracea var. italica
• Cauliflower — Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
• Capsicum — Capsicum annuum
• Chilli — Capsicum spp.
• Passionfruit — Passiflora edulis

Trees & ornamentals

• Elm — Ulmus spp.
• Oak — Quercus spp.
• Pepperina — Schinus molle
• Fig — Ficus spp.
• Magnolia — Magnolia spp.

Questions Covered

• Flea beetles: Managing infestations on eggplants using Eco-Neem, sticky traps and soil treatment.

• Tree borers: What to do when borers attack mature trees, including pruning, aeration and soil health.

• Growing over arches: Delicious rockmelon and pumpkin varieties suited to vertical growing.

• Soil health: pH, compost, rock dust, broadforking and building healthy soil biology.

• Stink bugs: Simple methods to control these persistent pests.

• Worms: Why worms may come to the surface after adding soil amendments and how to distinguish earthworms from compost worms.

• Brassicas: Why broccoli and cauliflower can remain netted throughout the growing season.

• Queensland fruit fly: Netting, attractants and identifying fruit fly damage.

• White grubs: How to distinguish beneficial orange/yellow-headed grubs from damaging black-headed grubs.

• Magnolia: Helping a mature tree recover after extreme heat and drought.

Products & Resources

• Clyde Compost — https://clydecompost.com.au
  Use code MUDDY15 for 15% off.
• Neutrog Go-Go Juice
• Neutrog Populate
• Seasol
• Eco-Neem
• Eco-Oil
• MycoGold — https://biostim.com.au/shop/myco-gold
• Digger's Club
• The Plant Runner — https://theplantrunner.com

Plant Runner giveaway: Congratulations this month's winner.

Live Q&A: Join Elizabeth and Keith at Frankston Library at 1pm on Wednesday 21 October.

For more information, visit muddyboots.net.au.

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