Vegie Patch Gardening Help Please.

Last year I grew in our garden, spring onions, carrots, zucchini, cucumber, tomatoes, beans and they all did brilliantly.

When winter came I planted a pumpkin which started to grow before the frost killed it off (whoops!)

This year I have planted the same seeds again (in rotation) together with some peas, snow peas, broccoli and spinich/silverbeat?. However the zuchinni and cucumber just wont come up in my patch this year. And Pumpkin and rockmelon also wont come up no matter where I put it! Even the seedling pumpkins I bought have died off where as the tomato seedlings are doing reasonably well in comparison. :(

The beans got their heads eaten off so died, but the ones Ive started in pots are doing well. The brocolli has been eaten too, any ideas on how to stop that? Mum suggested putting salt in the garden but wouldnt that just absorb? We cant use egg shells due to one of my little gardeners being allergic to them. They also eat directly out of the garden so Im not keen on any pesticides either. :wall:

Im just not sure what Im doing wrong with my pumpkins, rockmelon, zucchini and cucumber??

Oh and do I need to pull my spring onions from last year out? They're starting to go to flower/seed? Can you eat them still if they flower?

Last year made it seem so easy!

Thanks

how long ago did you plant the seeds? we have only just planted out our vege garden this week. I did plant some seeds (for flowers) in a seed tray and they took a week or 2 longer then the packet said and I think it was because of a cold snap we had here... did you have a cold snap too? you mentioned the frosts, if you live on a river flat like we do then things take a big longer too cause the ground tends to stay colder.

I will get OH to look at your post and see what he says as he use to be a market gardener on the river flats and seems to have a green thumb that I don't have :p

Do you do companion planting? The positions you put each of the plants really matters. Sorry it isn't working so well this year for you guys, I hope you see some fruit soon.

I am not sure but I know that my MIL who is a garden guru suggests planting everything including tomatoes on Cup Weekend but having said that we are in Vic. Also you need to rotate your crops - so where you had above ground veggies last year - plant root vegetables and vice versa. Not sure what else other than getting your hands on the yates Garden Guide - it is my bible!

Kelebek - We planted aggggges ago lol. I think you might be onto something with the river flat and cold etc as not only do we live near a river, we live near a creek AND on a flood plain :rofl: And just yesterday a pumpkin and rockmelon seedling emerged!!! After at least a dozen tries haha.

Maruschke - I will google about companion planting, Ive heard of it but Ive not really done it. Cant hurt to read up on it and try next year :)

Tanstar - yep we've rotated the crops this year so nothing similar to last year is planted in the same position, I read about that last year in a bit of a d'oh moment. Thanks for the guide idea, Ill have a look too :)

Lavender will help keep the bugs away, as do some herbs. We use egg shell as well, but I notice you can't do that. The lavender bush will need to be kep tightly under control, but i've put it next to my snow peas for maximum effect! But I haven't gotten around to spreading any egg shells on my veggie patch just yet and so far the companion planting seems to be working (except for some of my potted chillies).

I like Stephanie Alexander's Kitchen Garden Companion book for tips on what to plant with what, if you like I'll see what she recommends about the plants that are getting eaten in your garden.

Did you buy the seeds or did you use seeds from your last year's crop? If you planted an F1 hybrid type of seed last year and then tried to grow new plants from the fruit of that crop it won't happen. Like trying to breed from a mule.

Good luck with the patch!

Nope, new seeds but same seeds that produced last years crop if that makes sense. The only ones of those that havent come up are the zuchinni and cucumber. And the Rockmelon and Pumpkin were new seeds from this year, but they have finally started growing (now to keep them that way!!)

The brocolli is getting eaten the most, the beans were eaten so bad they stopped growing the new ones I have are growing away from the patch in pots and havent been touched. Then the Spinich and silverbeet are being attacked. The carrots, peas and snow peas thus far remain untouched (yay!) hehe.

Ill have a good read tonight about the companion planting if it works, I think the bugs are getting more than we will at this rate!