How is your vege garden going atm?

[Danni]

Well everyone...our garden is back to life!!!! Apart from 2 cucumber plants. The other one has sprung back!

Just did a huge soak on the pumpkin patch. My butternuts look like nuts. Small little balls. I wish had a big one!!!

[nic]

DH tried to arrange some soil yesterday, but couldn't get onto the only place in town seems the business has been sold and we aren't even sure they have any dirt/soil. We drove past yesterday and couldn't see anything in the yard.... feeling sad now and DH is cranky lol. he has some tomatoes growing from seeds and i think some spring onions as well, and something else that he can't quite remember what it was that he planted.
Not sure what to do now? Will have to try and work something out

[Astrid]

Nic - can you get hold of some mulch instead? We have just done some no dig beds.

We layed down some cardboard and newspaper in the area, then covered it in a mound of mulch (we got some pine mulch from the local tree trimmers).
Where the plants went we scooped out big holes, which were then filled with some old sheep poo, mushroom compost and some slow release fertiliser.
The seedlings were put in that, topped up with some more mushroom compost and then pushed the mulch back.
The pumpkin seedlings we put in are doing so well, we are about to do another bed with various zucchinis from some 98c trays we picked up today.

[rosehannah]

Hi all, I just wanted to pop in and say after much waiting I am the proud grower of a 15.7kg organic watermelon. It is the first time I have tried growing them and I was a bit worried as to how it would go but now I am ecstatic with all the kids and myself enjoying watermelon for afternoon tea yum-o .

[Danni]

15.7 kg? OMG Rh!!! that is awesome! DO you have pics???

[rosehannah]

Thanks Mabello, I just uploaded a pic. https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...hp?photo=12462 I don't think it does it justice it was a struggle to lift it inside to weigh it. I'm so happy because with the hot dry winds we have been having I have been loosing a lot of plants in the garden lately, so it is good to have a win, yay

How are your butternuts going? I don't think our pumpkins will be as good as last year either sadly.

[Danni]

OUr butternuts are tiny. About the size of 50 cent coins. The bush is taking over th yard though so hopefully they grow soon
Your watermelon looks fantastic!!

[nic]

Astrid, the only mulch we might be able to get is the sugar cane mulch i think? It's the one wrapped up in a big block of white plastic. think it is sugar cane mulch? Did see some at the hardware a few weeks ago, wasn't even aware that they were stocking it, so not sure on how long it will be there for.

Nic

[briggsy's girl]

NIc - if you're doing a no dig garden, sugar cane mulch will be fine. it's not ideal, but it's still heavy enough to help out. put down lots of newspaper or cardboard first, then they mulch - between the two of them, they should smother any grass underneath

RH - fantastic news on the watermelon - and so happy it has been delish for you

[Astrid]

Hi all, I just wanted to pop in and say after much waiting I am the proud grower of a 15.7kg organic watermelon. It is the first time I have tried growing them and I was a bit worried as to how it would go but now I am ecstatic with all the kids and myself enjoying watermelon for afternoon tea yum-o .

that is great. Having trouble with ours, the dog thinks they are balls and runs off with them. Now we have to have the plant covered in chicken wire to protect them.

[QueenMab]

I've just started our vegies in styrofoam boxes as we're renting but we have a massive shade house to use which is great.

I'm growing everything from seed & at the moment have zucchini, cos, 2 types of cabbage, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, silverbeet, beetroot, carrots, peas & radish! Herbs; there was a big mint bush already here, I've also got basil, thyme, oregano & onion chives.

The zucchini is going great guns - I can't believe how fast it grows!

Have some hanging baskets I'm planning on planting strawberries & cherry tomatos in too.

[Danni]

Just got back from bunnings and have decided to turn one of ou front garden beds into another patch!
Bought some broccoli, cauliflower and some moe capscium seedlings.

They really didn't have much variety!

ohhhh our Romas ae just devine!!

[Rivlas]

We have had a so,so year so far. DH planted sugar snap peas and snow peas that did produce something, well enough for GS to go out and pick them of the plant. You should have seen his face when there were no more left.
The strawberries are doing really well and have been fruiting for months and look like they will do so for a while.
The snails ate the cucumbers, all three of them even though we put down snail bait.
The beans plants are big & green but not much on them.
The pumpkin vines are deciding what to do, we have a few but the butter nut spate the dummy and died in the heat. Have managed to keep the other 2 varieties alive.
Keep plenty of water on your butter nuts and they will take off. We pick our last one in April last year.
We have lettuce on the deck which we grow all year. Its great to walk out the door and pick it fresh. The potatoes we have are self sown and we dig them up when we need them.
We got our first crop of nectarines this year and have fruit on the peach, apple, lemon & mandarine trees.
Our biggest heart break is the Chinese gooseberry. After the heat last week or so it has dried up most of the fruit and many branches have died. This is a plant that produced 700+ fruit a year. Also the passionfruit is a write off.

[Danni]

gooseberry as in kiwi fruit? Did you really get 700 a year? WOW!
I saw mr and mr kiwi plants at bunnings for around $20 a plant and i thought that was expensive. Well not so expensive when you get so much fruit off it!

How do you do your potatoes? I got told today I could use tyres stacked on top of each other to plant the potatoes. I might try that. BUT I cant find anywhere who sell potato seeds or seedlings?

[Kazbah]

seed potatoes are certified disease-free and I've seen them at bunnings. You can also try Diggers' Garden Club (very much worth it).

I've gone to the organic market & bought varieties of potato, waited until the eyes sprouted and planted them. If using tyres, Peter Cundall recommends each time the leaves appear, to put another tyre on top with more soil / compost / straw etc.

Our garden's pretty bad - the silverbeet is seeding, the peas are drying on the vine and the garlic was like a shell. The tomatoes are pretty darn good though, all heirloom varieties.

[Danni]

Is anyone a member of diggers club? I really only need the potatoes from them.

Does it cost to join? Cos i dont really wanna do that

tight ass alert

[Kazbah]

I'm a member But you can also order without being a member, and if you live near either of the 2 places (St Erth & Dromana) you can visit there and buy direct. Dromana gardens ae really pretty and they are a wonderful spot for a picnic, or the cafe there is great.

[Junglemum]

You girls will understand................ i was so dissapointed to lose my beautiful veggie garden in the fires. I had an awesome crop of tomatoes growing, my best yet i think, not to mention my corn, pumpkin, zucchini, peppers, rocket, and all my herbs. Guess i'll have to wait until next year.
I had recently harvested some zucchini and made zucchini pickles, but now they're gone too! Not much luck with the garden this year, but look out, next year it will be bigger and better than ever.