My Veggie Garden Compost

I've got bugger all grass here at My Veggie Garden so the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

Clover in this case, the neighbours, high in nitrogen clover and just what I needed for a good compost making session.

 Pinched the neighbors clover, added some prunings I mulched and a pile of horse manure and sawdust together and made a super pile of composting compost. 




Cheers, and I'm pooped now,

Stewart

A Bee Post.

Who's keen to have native bees in their backyard? I know I am.

This morning on 612 ABC Brisbane had Tim Heard, a native expert, on talking native bees.

Here is a link to the SoundCloud recording of the interview.

Two links I got form the native bee talk. 

Tim Heard http://sugarbag.net/ and Aussie Bee http://www.aussiebee.com.au/

Freckles the Lettuce.

Freckles! The Lettuce

Have you ever bought a packet of seeds just because you like their name?

I have and only just the other day.

Freckles, lettuce. When I was a boy freckles meant three things.You had them on your face, you had a chocolate treat covered in hundreds and thousands and the third one, um, well that's a story for another day.

I don't recall anything triggering my desire or need for freckle seeds, I have know of them for quite a while, but it became a mission for me about two Sundays ago to get some freckle seeds.

Searching all my favorite seed suppliers proved seedless, um fruitless, so I went the eBay route and came up with a few options. Way Way Creek Seeds an eBay store was chosen and money was sent.

They arrived! Phew.

When they hadn't  arrived by the following Monday I was beginning to worry, the seeds only had to come from Victoria.

Tuesday I was giving up hope but they arrived in the mail that day and excitement reigned.

Well as much excitement as you can muster over a packet of seeds. At $2.60 delivered it wasn't going to break the bank if I had to reorder.

They were nicely packaged and quickly dispatched to the planting area. Now I just need to wait patiently.

Planted

Geography/History

Freckles lettuce is an heirloom lettuce variety with documentation citing it native to Austria circa 1793. It is not as commercially successful as common Romaine lettuce, yet it continues to be widely favored in both Europe and America. It thrives in warm climates with fertile soil and moderate rain or irrigation. Its tolerance for heat and sun make Freckles lettuce a slow-bolting, choice variety for hotter climates in the summer months. Because of its non particular growing needs, Freckles is a great home gardener's lettuce. It can be sown directly, planted in containers and raised beds. The lettuce can be harvested as soon as small heads form.
- See more at: http://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Freckle_Lettuce_4810.php#sthash.owAYUhlB.dpuf

Here's a bit of PR I picked up from the web so it must be true.

Geography/History

Freckles lettuce is an heirloom lettuce variety with documentation citing it native to Austria circa 1793. It is not as commercially successful as common Romaine lettuce, yet it continues to be widely favored in both Europe and America. It thrives in warm climates with fertile soil and moderate rain or irrigation. Its tolerance for heat and sun make Freckles lettuce a slow-bolting, choice variety for hotter climates in the summer months. Because of its non particular growing needs, Freckles is a great home gardener's lettuce. It can be sown directly, planted in containers and raised beds. The lettuce can be harvested as soon as small heads form.

Geography/History

Freckles lettuce is an heirloom lettuce variety with documentation citing it native to Austria circa 1793. It is not as commercially successful as common Romaine lettuce, yet it continues to be widely favored in both Europe and America. It thrives in warm climates with fertile soil and moderate rain or irrigation. Its tolerance for heat and sun make Freckles lettuce a slow-bolting, choice variety for hotter climates in the summer months. Because of its non particular growing needs, Freckles is a great home gardener's lettuce. It can be sown directly, planted in containers and raised beds. The lettuce can be harvested as soon as small heads form.
- See more at: http://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Freckle_Lettuce_4810.php#sthash.owAYU

Ready to go.

Cheers

Stewart.

Planting Lettuce in a Styrofoam Box/Pot/Container.

I made this video a week ago (19/08/14) now and there is already a noticeable increase in growth already.

If you like lettuce and don't have much room then this is for you.

And it doesn't get much more straight forward than this.

26/08/14

Another busy day

Busy day for weeding and planting seeds after 13 and then another 5mm of rain over the last two days. And a beautiful gardening day at that.

Planted

*Purple King, climbing bean. Phaseolus vulgaris

*Cherry Belle, Radish. Raphanus sativus

*Fennel. Foeniculum vulgare

*Red and Green Salad Bowl Mixed, Lettuce. Lactuca sativa

*Pak Choi. Brassica rapa var, chinensis

*Gourmet Mixed, Lettuce. Lactuca sativa

*Rocket. Eruca sativa

*Capiscum. Capiscum annum

* Lyon Prizetaker, Leek. Allium porrum

*Crimson Globe, Beetroot. Beta vulgaris

*Three struck cuttings of Sweet Potato. Ipomoea batatas

Now I've only got to get them all to grow.

How's your garden growing? 

Cheers

Stewart.

NOW

I picked up on this from the current (September 2014) issue of the organic gardener mag.

In case you don't have a copy 'yet' I'll share it here as well.

Taste the Difference, Feel the Difference, Make a Difference

Friday 3 – Sunday 12 October 2014






From the 'About' tab on their Facebook page.

About

Taste the Difference, Feel the Difference, Make a Difference! 3-12 October 2014!

 

Mission

 

Objectives
The main objectives of National Organic Week are to:
• Increase consumer demand for, confidence in, and appreciation for organically-grown produce and goods in all extant and potential markets, with a dual focus of mainstream retail (large and independent) on the one hand and farm direct marketing and farmers’ markets outlets on the other.
• Raise the general public's awareness of the vital connection between organic farming methods and genuine global environmental sustainability: especially between climate change abatement, organic farming practices, food waste avoidance and composting.

• Increase knowledge among members of the general public, food sellers, purveyors, restaurateurs, retailers, café owners and farmers Australia-wide about the stringent and world recognised standards for Organic and Biodynamic Products and about identifying certified organic products by independent certification logo marks.

• Engage and build capacity for non-organic and non-biological farmers to convert to organic and/or biological farming methods where appropriate, based on assessment of market demand and future industry growth needs, as well as for its environmental benefits and more resilient agricultural outcomes.

• Raise political awareness at relevant federal, state and local government levels of how sustainable organic and biological farming methods and products directly meet the agricultural and environmental challenges of the 21st Century; especially vis-à-vis climate change, resilient and diversified agriculture, food waste avoidance and water efficiency.

• Give media profile to NOW's week of activities including seminars, tastings, launches, while supporting industry stakeholders and sponsors to promote their organic products and organisations to the general public.

 

Cheers

 

Stewart

Carrot and Radish Seeds Progress.

Here's a short video showing the progress of the Carrot and Radish seeds planted in pots.



Cheers and happy gardening

Stewart.

Starting Sweet Potatoes

I know little about Sweet Potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) and even less about getting them started but I'm not going to let that stop me from having a go.

Forest Hill Farm Stall

A few weeks back riding home from Jerry Colby-Williams open garden I stopped at a roadside stall outside Forest Hill called Forest Hill Farm Stall.

Phil Dudman

Now I'd been reading in the September issue of Organic Gardener a story by Phil Dudman about growing and getting sweet potato started.

So when I saw the sweet potato at the farm stall I just had to get one and have a go at starting my own.

Roughly following Phil's advice this is what I've come up with.

He also says you can start from cuttings, aka slips, if you know of someone that has a crop already which I don't.

It's planting Time.

I cheated and copied and pasted this list but it is a good comprehensive list so I'm putting it up here.

Where did I pinch it from? Well here of course. Eden Seeds Newsletter.

It's time to plant for your spring veggie garden

 

Check your needs of the following vegetable seeds now, or whatever you need for your area from the full catalogue.

Amaranth Artichoke Asparagus Bean, Bush Bean, Climbing Bean, Climbing Snake Bean Beetroot Capsicum Carrot Celeriac Celery Chilli Corn Cucumber

Eggplant Gourd Lettuce Luffa Mustard Greens Okra Pumpkin Radish Rhubarb Rockmelon Rosella

Salad Greens, Endive Salsify Spinach, Ceylon Spinach, New Zealand Squash, Button Sunflower Tomato Turnip Watermelon Zucchini Herbs

Seed planting

I didn't have a whole lot planned for today due to the forecast for rain in our area.

We ended up with 23mm yesterday (Saturday) and woke up to bright sunshine this morning.

As it turned out it became a good day for planting seeds.

Seed planting

Water Cress - Nasturtium officinale. Started out by sprinkling some Water Cress seeds over about a one meter square area and watering them in.

I've never grown Water Cress before so this'll be a new learning curve for me. Seed purchased from The Seed Collection.

Tomato - Australian Red. A bush tomato with medium sized fruit. This plant produces large flat red fruit and it is noted for its ability to form ripe tomatoes in cool summer areas.  Seed purchased from Rangeview Seeds.

Eggplant -Taskeniki, Rosa Bianca and Red Square. What was I thinking? Three varieties of eggplant. 

That's right, I was trying to make the order up to ten dollars so I could get free postage  and  they were appealing to me too. Seed purchased from The Seed Collection.

Alyssum - Royal Carpet. Something to feed the bees with. Seed purchased from The Seed Collection. 

Tomato - Cherry Roma. Picked these up from Bunnings. 

I was looking for a cherry tomato when I saw these. This will be the first time growing these so I'm curious to see how they turn out.


 Coriander. These seeds are from a coriander plant I let go to seed and then collected the seeds for my self to see if I can become more self sufficient.

Other seeds I've collected are Basil, Pumpkin and Beans (dwarf), not a huge list by all means but I have radish and rocket going to seed now that I'll collect. As I get better I'll increase my varieties.

A part from weeding and mulching some rose and bamboo prunings that just about covers my day in the veggie garden. One more thing, the bamboo prunings were from a lattice structure I built for some climbing beans, Purple King, also purchased from Bunnings.

Cheers

Stewart.

Raining.

It's been raining lightly here on and off all day.

Very nice.

Cheers

Stewart

Comfrey Tea

Really not to sure how well it would work but this looks it might be worth a go.

Has anyone tried to make comfrey tea this way before?

How did it go if you did?

Post by My Veggie Garden.

Busy day and I'm Buggered.

Busy day and I'm now more than buggered. But plenty was achieved.

I planted the Dwarf Sunray Jerusalem Artichoke that I rode all the way to Brisbane to see Jerry Coleby-Williams open garden for.

Helianthus tuberosus
 
(Dwarf Sunray Jerusalem Artichoke)

I prised a small chunk off my rhubarb some months ago and put it in a pot to hopefully grow on which I'm happy to say it has.

 So today was planting day.

A bucket of  'Witches Brew,' a hole, mix it up a bit and bung it in. Job done.

Just need to mulch it up and we're done.














The coldest and frostiest winter aroung here for years and I decide to try and over winter tomatoes.

Needless to sat they copped a hiding and aren't looking to good at all.

But with the weather slowing warming up a touch of fertiliser and a good watering I thing I'll get a good start on some tomatoes during spring.

I gave a handfull of Rooster Booster fertilised to the Lisbon Lemon I planted a few months back.

Added some mulch and gave it a good drink.

It shouldn't need much more than a regular drink from here on in. Then around the beginning of Autumn I'll give it some more Rooster Booster.

I also placed an order with The Seed Collection who were talking themselves up big on facebook so I thought I'd give them a go.

Turns out they walk the talk and I had my seeds within two days. Very efficient, I must say.

Of the seeds I ordered I only managed to get a few Red Amaranthus and some Red Cabbage planted.

But hey, It's a start.

The BoM is talking up some rain for us here on Saturday and Sunday so fingers crossed I'll get to hear the sound of rain on my tin roof this weekend and get my rainwater tank filled again.

Saturday 16 August

Cloudy. Very high chance of rain. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming east to northeasterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening.

Also did fair bit of liquid fertilising, mulched up some prunings, fixed a gutter that had a hole in it and the rain wasn't getting to the tank.


Cheers and I hope you get some rain

Stewart.

Sorry.

Post by My Veggie Garden.

Jerry Colby-Williams garden 'Bellis'

Australian Open Garden Scheme.

 A collection of photo's I took at Jerry Colby-Williams garden 'Bellis' that he opened for the Australian Open Garden Scheme.

I was tossing up whether to go or stay at home with my garden but the morning was so nice the decision to ride to Bellis was made.

There was also a half promise of some dwarf Sunray Jerusalem Artichoke corms for extra incentive. 

Which I did get. He even went to the trouble of digging them out of his garden for me.

 

 

 

 

My impressions?

My impressions? What did it look like?

• Pretty much how it looks on TV but you get a better idea of the garden's scale and proportion. 
  
  There was as you might expect, lots of people, and the garden was a littler smaller than I'd imagined it might be. 
  
  I did expect larger or more veggie beds but he makes good use of the space he has. Very glad I went and scored two dwarf Sunray Jerusalem Artichokes for my trouble.
  

  The last photo in the video was of the footpath or verge if you like just around the corner from Bellis to give you some idea of how dry things are there and pretty much all the way down and back (I came home a different way) 

   

Cheers and happy gardening

Stewart.

Let's do this:- Toowoomba area Backyard Veggie growing club

On Thursday, the 22nd of January, 2009 I put up a post about  forming a Backyard veggie growing club or group.

I can't believe it's taken so long to act on this idea but over the years there has been some keen interest shown and even more recently as well.

So in light of this I'm suggesting we can have a Backyard veggie growing club/group inaugural meeting.

This coming Monday, the 11th of August, 2014. Bon Amici in Margaret st.

Starting at 6:30 pm at

Cheers and tell a friend

Stewart

Asparagus Kick Along

Time to give your asparagus a little kick along for spring.

After putting my asparagus to bed for winter the days are getting longer and warming up so it shouldn't be too much longer before asparagus spears start popping through the mulch.







Cheers and may your asparagus spears be plenty.

Stewart.

Amaranth, the Low Down

 Here's the low down on Amaranth by Savour Soil Permaculture.

I ordered seed from TheSeedCollection.com and I included a packet of amaranth seeds so this is a handy post by Savour Soil Permaculture.

Post by Savour Soil Permaculture.

Cheers

Stewart

Planting Radish Seeds.

It doesn't get any easier than this.

Bunging a few radish seeds into a pot and six weeks later you're eating the little buggers.

Once you've planted your seeds you'll need to keep them moist and not let them dry out.

That's it, enjoy your radish.

I've also written about 'Why Are My Radish Hot.'

I'm a planting ma' Camomile seeds.

Post by My Veggie Garden.

Cheers



Stewart

Herb and veggie mix.

Post by My Veggie Garden.

Cheers

Stewart

Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums Galore 

I've got Nasturtiums self sowing all over the place here but I think I might have to have a closer look.

Here's a whole heap of guff about Nasturtiums from Savour Soil Permaculture that I never new.

Hope you find it helpful.

Post by Savour Soil Permaculture.