I made a momentous decision today.
The chook pen that I was going to use for the winter garden has solid clay soil that can’t be forked over. This is despite a past history of 40 wheelbarrows of organic matter and two previous winter crops and a failed spring crop. (It also has three deciduous trees that have not started leaf drop.)
So I’m going to plant the garden by the ponds which was used for last winters spud crop. This soil is easily forked – it had three trailer loads of – cowdung, sand and mushroom compost added a year ago. I will use this three-trailer-loads systems on the soil I can’t fork over and plant spuds. Hopefully this will condition the soil for next year.
It is a momentous decision for me – but of no consequence to you lot except it shows how solid clay can be turned into friable soil.

pepper said:

I made a momentous decision today.
The chook pen that I was going to use for the winter garden has solid clay soil that can’t be forked over. This is despite a past history of 40 wheelbarrows of organic matter and two previous winter crops and a failed spring crop. (It also has three deciduous trees that have not started leaf drop.)
So I’m going to plant the garden by the ponds which was used for last winters spud crop. This soil is easily forked – it had three trailer loads of – cowdung, sand and mushroom compost added a year ago. I will use this three-trailer-loads systems on the soil I can’t fork over and plant spuds. Hopefully this will condition the soil for next year.
It is a momentous decision for me – but of no consequence to you lot except it shows how solid clay can be turned into friable soil.

Clay can be so unforgiving at times……

It sounds like a good plan Peps.

Lucky1 said:

pepper said:

I made a momentous decision today.
The chook pen that I was going to use for the winter garden has solid clay soil that can’t be forked over. This is despite a past history of 40 wheelbarrows of organic matter and two previous winter crops and a failed spring crop. (It also has three deciduous trees that have not started leaf drop.)
So I’m going to plant the garden by the ponds which was used for last winters spud crop. This soil is easily forked – it had three trailer loads of – cowdung, sand and mushroom compost added a year ago. I will use this three-trailer-loads systems on the soil I can’t fork over and plant spuds. Hopefully this will condition the soil for next year.
It is a momentous decision for me – but of no consequence to you lot except it shows how solid clay can be turned into friable soil.

Clay can be so unforgiving at times……

Will all that manure make it friable ? How long will that take ? Will the bed be built up with the goodies added .. and after some time, do the added goodies ‘dissapear’ into the soil after a time or stay built up ?
Sorry for the 3 rd degree…

Will all that manure make it friable ? How long will that take ? Will the bed be built up with the goodies added .. and after some time, do the added goodies ‘dissapear’ into the soil after a time or stay built up ?
Sorry for the 3 rd degree…
——
its a situation where i don’t understand why 40 wheelbarrows of organics had no effect but three trailer loads do. maybe its the spuds. i don’t know the answers but it has worked ao….

orchid40 said:

It sounds like a good plan Peps.

i hope to have it in place within say 2 weeks so will post pics.

looks like a good idea plz keep us updated

veg gardener said:

looks like a good idea plz keep us updated

ok – when forking the soil over i dug up a brick and an old electrical cable. when i renovated my house this was where all the old demolished materials were thrown.

wood heap

Lots to keep you warm there:)

compost and the winter bed waiting for rain

great to see the chook earning his keep LOL

The Estate said:

great to see the chook earning his keep LOL

she’s a poser i think – just hopped up when i took aim.
i’m just about to check out your melbourne show pics thee.

okies take your time, get a cuppa, there is a lot LOL

pepper said:

wood heap

Ill bring the marshmallows;)

heres my lemon verbena tree
if you are going to have a herb bed this is a pretty tidy sort of tree – mine needs pruning.

pepper said:

heres my lemon verbena tree
if you are going to have a herb bed this is a pretty tidy sort of tree – mine needs pruning.

I’ve got a penchant/tendre (ooh two French words at once!!) for lemon verbena, but in the cold climates I’ve been living in for the last 15 years, they always get obliterated by the frosts every year. So I’ve never had one go as bushy as that ‘un in your photo, Pepper! Sometimes, if I’m lucky, what I think is a dead loss will re-shoot from the base/roots in the spring, but it’s never a sure thing.

I’m hoping, when we build the new house, that I’ll find – or create – a microclimate for a few frost-tenders … like a lime and a lemon tree, a cumquat or two, lemon grass. Got no hopes of ever having mangoes or bananas though!

turning the compost

I’m hoping, when we build the new house, that I’ll find – or create – a microclimate for a few frost-tenders… like a lime and a lemon tree, a cumquat or two, lemon grass. Got no hopes of ever having mangoes or bananas though!
—-
yep – a north facing wall protected from the wind is a very popular spot in frosty areas. i lived in the frosty adelaide hills for thirty years and my lemon verbena had to have such a warm spot.

I see you had some little helpers, Peps :) Very nice compost too.

orchid40 said:

I see you had some little helpers, Peps :) Very nice compost too.

yeah the silly birds will sit on a fork load as you transfer it to the other bin. they do a nice job of detailing after i’ve left.
that big bug in the second photo is now called ‘atomic beetle’ because the chooks don’t touch it.

i have planted out -
seedlings – broccoli, savoy cabbage, english spinach, celery, 3 asparagus and a lot of leeks.
i will plant out lucky’s carrot seed, my parsnip seed and some raddichio, mesclun and more brassicas in the coming week.
soil is still dry but clouds and hopefully rain about.

pepper said:

i have planted out -
seedlings – broccoli, savoy cabbage, english spinach, celery, 3 asparagus and a lot of leeks.
i will plant out lucky’s carrot seed, my parsnip seed and some raddichio, mesclun and more brassicas in the coming week.
soil is still dry but clouds and hopefully rain about.

very nice pep i am having my lunch break will head back out into the garden very soon….i have alot of agapanthus going to seed all of the mixed colours blue and white may save the seeds and put the in plastic bags.

very nice pep i am having my lunch break will head back out into the garden very soon….i have alot of agapanthus going to seed all of the mixed colours blue and white may save the seeds and put the in plastic bags.
———-
thanks veg.
agapanthus are a real aussie classic and very drought tolerant. so saving seed is a good idea.

i’ve bought the bentonite soil and potted up the tomatoes i’m growing under glass over winter.
it looks like white clay granules but does react to water by becoming sticky.

pepper said:

i’ve bought the bentonite soil and potted up the tomatoes i’m growing under glass over winter.
it looks like white clay granules but does react to water by becoming sticky.

G’day Pepper, bentonite is used as a fluid loss additive when drilling too. It thickens the water and forms a ‘wall’ on the hole, preventing the drill fluid from leaking out. It also adds weight to the water and gives a barrier against high pressure, using its increased hydrostatic weight.
It is OK to handle but it really dries your skin out, so use gloves or your Mrs will tell you to keep your hands to yourself…
Where did you purchase it?

It is OK to handle but it really dries your skin out, so use gloves or your Mrs will tell you to keep your hands to yourself…
Where did you purchase it?
——
chuckle – thanks for the pampering tip.
i got it from stratco – $18 per 10kilos – a bit dear really – will try elsewhere if it works. it comes as Munns ‘betta lawn and garden’

pepper said:

It is OK to handle but it really dries your skin out, so use gloves or your Mrs will tell you to keep your hands to yourself…
Where did you purchase it?
——
chuckle – thanks for the pampering tip.
i got it from stratco – $18 per 10kilos – a bit dear really – will try elsewhere if it works. it comes as Munns ‘betta lawn and garden’

Yeah i thought it might be dear. See if you can source a drilling supply store, they’ll have them in Adelaide or talk to a local water bore fella.
You’ll get it for under $10 for a 25KG bag.

hi Peps,
the bentonite has a high Cation Exchange Capacity, or in normal language, retains fertilizers/minerals (and water) for the plants to use. interested in hearing how the bentonite fares in your gardening efforts, when the results are in.
cheers

aquarium said:

hi Peps,
the bentonite has a high Cation Exchange Capacity, or in normal language, retains fertilizers/minerals (and water) for the plants to use. interested in hearing how the bentonite fares in your gardening efforts, when the results are in.
cheers

– like longy said it makes water heavy – or in my case the pots are heavier than i’ve felt them before- interesting.

well i have grown the daikon my cook requested – big isn’t it?
the plate has savoury pancake rolls we had for dindin.

pepper said:

well i have grown the daikon my cook requested – big isn’t it?
the plate has savoury pancake rolls we had for dindin.

What does the daikon taste like??? Isn’t that a A/C brand?;P

Lucky1 said:

pepper said:

well i have grown the daikon my cook requested – big isn’t it?
the plate has savoury pancake rolls we had for dindin.

What does the daikon taste like??? Isn’t that a A/C brand?;P

Its a mild radish – japanese. i have doubts that the cook can handle the bulk though – this thing is over 30cm long and if it all when into a single meal a lot of other favours would be needed..

lots of lemons – ripe ones now – is this normal timing?
my postrate capsicum is yielding good fruit.
the summer garden has still got basil, cabbage and w/melon growing.

pepe said:

is half of that watermelon in the ground.

veg gardener said:

pepe said:

is half of that watermelon in the ground.

very funny – no its late and we hadn’t had a lot of rain so i will not be entering it in competitions.

pepe said:

veg gardener said:

pepe said:

is half of that watermelon in the ground.

very funny – no its late and we hadn’t had a lot of rain so i will not be entering it in competitions.

look at it from far back it just looks like it is and i wasnt trying to be funny

look at it from far back it just looks like it is and i wasnt trying to be funny
—-
fair enough – it does look like its been planted.

pepe said:

lots of lemons – ripe ones now – is this normal timing?
my postrate capsicum is yielding good fruit.
the summer garden has still got basil, cabbage and w/melon growing.

either you’s is out of timing or mine is Pepe , lots a lemons ..mine has just finished blossoming and has 100s of tiny forming fruit.
I know my area is more southern but the climate is about the same..I think.

pepe said:

lots of lemons – ripe ones now – is this normal timing?

my lemons are getting ripe now too…

Happy Potter said:

pepe said:

lots of lemons – ripe ones now – is this normal timing?
my postrate capsicum is yielding good fruit.
the summer garden has still got basil, cabbage and w/melon growing.

either you’s is out of timing or mine is Pepe , lots a lemons ..mine has just finished blossoming and has 100s of tiny forming fruit.
I know my area is more southern but the climate is about the same..I think.

Won’t it depend on the variety of lemon?

cackles said:

Happy Potter said:

pepe said:

lots of lemons – ripe ones now – is this normal timing?
my postrate capsicum is yielding good fruit.
the summer garden has still got basil, cabbage and w/melon growing.

either you’s is out of timing or mine is Pepe , lots a lemons ..mine has just finished blossoming and has 100s of tiny forming fruit.
I know my area is more southern but the climate is about the same..I think.

Won’t it depend on the variety of lemon?

The lable on mine says meyer lemon, but it has thorn’s and I was told meyer don’t have thorn’s, these huge thorns are deadly. So I’m suspecting it’s a lisbon.
There is ripe fruit on it, picking them as we use them and heaps of tiny new one’s so it may be that mine is out of whack what with the strange weather we have had, a cold run followed by that heat wave ect.

Happy Potter said:

pepe said:

lots of lemons – ripe ones now – is this normal timing?
my postrate capsicum is yielding good fruit.
the summer garden has still got basil, cabbage and w/melon growing.

either you’s is out of timing or mine is Pepe , lots a lemons ..mine has just finished blossoming and has 100s of tiny forming fruit.
I know my area is more southern but the climate is about the same..I think.

My lemon tree has a lot of fruit at the moment – not ripe yet though.

Happy Potter said:

The lable on mine says meyer lemon, but it has thorn’s and I was told meyer don’t have thorn’s, these huge thorns are deadly. So I’m suspecting it’s a lisbon.
There is ripe fruit on it, picking them as we use them and heaps of tiny new one’s so it may be that mine is out of whack what with the strange weather we have had, a cold run followed by that heat wave ect.

some lemon varieties fruit all year round,

The lable on mine says meyer lemon, but it has thorn’s and I was told meyer don’t have thorn’s, these huge thorns are deadly. So I’m suspecting it’s a lisbon.
There is ripe fruit on it, picking them as we use them and heaps of tiny new one’s so it may be that mine is out of whack what with the strange weather we have had, a cold run followed by that heat wave ect.
——
my climate is hotter than yours LOL.
the meyer has big thorns or at least my old one did.
my lemon is a lisbon.

(geez youse guys can talk on a tuesday!)

more piccies
garlic, trenching to wet the soil, kale, spinach and rocket

pepe said:

more piccies
garlic, trenching to wet the soil, kale, spinach and rocket

Looking FAB TAB there Pepe:)

my daughter and one of our numerous frogs

pepe said:

my daughter and one of our numerous frogs

Gee fat frog……. do yo think its going to lay eggs???

nice photo pepe

Lucky1 said:

pepe said:

my daughter and one of our numerous frogs

Gee fat frog……. do yo think its going to lay eggs???

hundreds of them around – worse than pigeons they are – still we luv em.

>hundreds of them around – worse than pigeons they are – still we luv em.

Have a lot of snakes around?

colliewa said:

>hundreds of them around – worse than pigeons they are – still we luv em.

Have a lot of snakes around?

one snake per year so far – and they head straight for the known mice nest.
birds and lizards probably feast on the frogs.

pepe said:

colliewa said:

>hundreds of them around – worse than pigeons they are – still we luv em.

Have a lot of snakes around?

one snake per year so far – and they head straight for the known mice nest.
birds and lizards probably feast on the frogs.

And that’s why you won’t find any ponds around my place(other than our dam) We have enough frogs here to keep any snake well fed. I have no wish to encourage more snakes.

i’ve just picked two handfuls of purple king beans.
this is the second year running they have only produced when its a bit cold. they grew to six foot high in summer but never produced a bean. now they have fallen over and look terrible but are flowering and fruiting.
scratches head.

pepe said:

i’ve just picked two handfuls of purple king beans.
this is the second year running they have only produced when its a bit cold. they grew to six foot high in summer but never produced a bean. now they have fallen over and look terrible but are flowering and fruiting.
scratches head.

I’m finding mine is trying to push out a few late beans too…

Hi Pepe,
I owe you 20c !!! Read the seed packet that the beans were in – yep – it says plant after frost. Would you like a cheque or a money order?
LOL.
I shall now plant out some spinach where the beans were. :)

orchid40 said:

Hi Pepe,
I owe you 20c !!! Read the seed packet that the beans were in – yep – it says plant after frost. Would you like a cheque or a money order?
LOL.
I shall now plant out some spinach where the beans were. :)

chuckle – have you had a frost?
i will except cyber cents – just forward a mental note.

pepe said:

orchid40 said:

Hi Pepe,
I owe you 20c !!! Read the seed packet that the beans were in – yep – it says plant after frost. Would you like a cheque or a money order?
LOL.
I shall now plant out some spinach where the beans were. :)

chuckle – have you had a frost?
i will except cyber cents – just forward a mental note.

Hahaha – on its way LOL . No, we don’t often get frosts down here, but it sure feels like it !

orchid40 said:

pepe said:

orchid40 said:

Hi Pepe,
I owe you 20c !!! Read the seed packet that the beans were in – yep – it says plant after frost. Would you like a cheque or a money order?
LOL.
I shall now plant out some spinach where the beans were. :)

chuckle – have you had a frost?
i will except cyber cents – just forward a mental note.

Hahaha – on its way LOL . No, we don’t often get frosts down here, but it sure feels like it !

leave one bean in just to see what happens.
would you like a receipt? lol

pepe said:

orchid40 said:

pepe said:

orchid40 said:

Hi Pepe,
I owe you 20c !!! Read the seed packet that the beans were in – yep – it says plant after frost. Would you like a cheque or a money order?
LOL.
I shall now plant out some spinach where the beans were. :)

chuckle – have you had a frost?
i will except cyber cents – just forward a mental note.

Hahaha – on its way LOL . No, we don’t often get frosts down here, but it sure feels like it !

leave one bean in just to see what happens.
would you like a receipt? lol

Nah, that’s OK, Pepe, I trust you ! :)
I’ll leave the beans in anyway, they won’t be in the way.

orchid40 said:

Hi Pepe,
I owe you 20c !!! Read the seed packet that the beans were in – yep – it says plant after frost. Would you like a cheque or a money order?
LOL.
I shall now plant out some spinach where the beans were. :)

Drinks on Pepe……

pepe said:

i’ve just picked two handfuls of purple king beans.
this is the second year running they have only produced when its a bit cold. they grew to six foot high in summer but never produced a bean. now they have fallen over and look terrible but are flowering and fruiting.
scratches head.

Beans won’t set fruit (beans) when it’s too hot. Some varieties are more sensitive to heat than others. When I had my huge vegie patch, the purple kings and blue lakes were cropping like mad through our “hot” weather, i.e. not over 32oC, but the scarlet runner beans didn’t set when the temperature got anywhere near 30oC. Once the weather cooled a little the scarlet runner beans went mad, then because they hadn’t been producing as much as the other beans, the plants themselves were healthier for a bit longer, so they cropped better for longer.

Another good example of why it’s good to plant more than one variety of something, and preferably with overlapping bearing times.

my beans produce very little every year…i think it’s a mineral deficiency thing. we’ll see next season, with azomite.
peas also normally grow quite slowly here….alas i did apply some azomite a month back, and peas i planted almost two months ago are just about ready for picking :)
i did always use dolomite and some potash, but never any good b4. it’s so weird that some mineral(s) must have been deficient, even though i used my own fowl manure, compost, etc. it’s a whole new ballgame now.

thanks for the feedback aquarium and yeehah.
since the purple kings are not going to fruit until april/ may – i can plant them in january i reckon.
scarlett runners are worth investigating as a hot weather alternative.

pepe said:

thanks for the feedback aquarium and yeehah.
since the purple kings are not going to fruit until april/ may – i can plant them in january i reckon.
scarlett runners are worth investigating as a hot weather alternative.

correction – bluelake as hot weather beans.
the forum has suddenly speeded up.