pizza tonight – ms p (or ms j) is in charge.
she reckons broad beans, asparagus and artichoke hearts will be a good combo?
she has been walking past the strawb patch rather a lot of late. thus we have no strawbs in the photo – but let me tell yas – they are extremely yummy at present.
OI! Somebody nipped the tip of one of your asparagus spears!!
buffy said:
OI! Somebody nipped the tip of one of your asparagus spears!!
bluddy wife – no wait – could be earwigs, rats, mice, birds – or – possibly the camera man.
wrong thread and if that wasn’t enuff….
my wife now informs me the bbeans, ‘gus and chokes are in pasta not pizza
– time for a white shiraz
the pasta was superb with a few semidried toms and aioli thrown in..
i bought these 30cm pots for $3 today and a host of same sized, less fancy ones for $2.40 each. a closing down sale.
Justin.. yoo wanna buy some pots?
Well they are just fillling my yard with plastic..
drop around sometime and I’ll fill the back of yer ute or trailer.
roughbarked said:
Justin.. yoo wanna buy some pots?Well they are just fillling my yard with plastic..
drop around sometime and I’ll fill the back of yer ute or trailer.
big ones? – 300mm+?
my daughter has grown masses of crabapple, quince, apple, walnut, lemon scented gum …plus others…trees. and i have grown fig, mulberry and grape cuttings. so we will keep them for a year to see how many survive and then we bonsai them, graft them or give them away. we do need more big pots tho since she has already got a mini orchard in pots as well.
this is my spring garden/jardin.
everything new is under birdnetting and tree guards because of the pest prevalence – millions of mites and mice, earwigs, birds, millipedes, slugs etc. as well as my own scavenging pigeons.
front row – rocket and chinese broccoli either side of old celery
back row from left – certiified spuds (kennebec and dutch cream), tomatoes with onions in front, and under the birdnet tunnel – corn and cucumber.
My wife reckons three sacred bamboo plants need tying back to the wall because they’re falling over.
Fair enuff
So we go down to M10 (via a friend who is organising the wedding gift for mutual friends and via the bakery and via the walking trail to check out if the footbridge is in yet) – whew – we make it to M10.
Now there’s a discussion on the best brick and plasterboard fixers. A passing employee sorts us out with a product we hadn’t even looked at until he came. Next we look at a few bathroom accessories and decide that the simple chrome ones are best but too expensive to buy without looking elsewhere first.
Pay at the counter, go home and have an early lunch reading the sunday mail. That’s sunday morning gone.
todays rain is excellent for the – peas starting to climb – beans coming thru the soil.
- plus the citrus trees needed rain, as did the strawbs.
the clay here was opening up in large cracks on the surface. so we had dried out a lot quicker than expected.
the wood shed is looking healthy still so it’s not been a cold winter here.
justin said:
todays rain is excellent for the – peas starting to climb – beans coming thru the soil.
- plus the citrus trees needed rain, as did the strawbs.the clay here was opening up in large cracks on the surface. so we had dried out a lot quicker than expected.
the wood shed is looking healthy still so it’s not been a cold winter here.
Where are you Justin?
roughbarked said:
justin said:
todays rain is excellent for the – peas starting to climb – beans coming thru the soil.
- plus the citrus trees needed rain, as did the strawbs.the clay here was opening up in large cracks on the surface. so we had dried out a lot quicker than expected.
the wood shed is looking healthy still so it’s not been a cold winter here.
Still dry here.. 6 mm isn’t much of a drink.
I’ve got tonnes of firewood left over too.Where are you Justin?
i’m in pepe’s old place north of adelaide – i am pepe with a new computer and some login problems LOL.
the dust and algae has clogged the mosquito wire at the rainwater tank inlet. much of last nights rain didn’t go into the tank. this is a considerable problem for tank owners. it doesn’t take long for the fine netting to become water repellent – mmm??
the dust and algae has clogged the mosquito wire at the rainwater tank inlet. much of last nights rain didn’t go into the tank. this is a considerable problem for tank owners. it doesn’t take long for the fine netting to become water repellent – mmm??
—————————————————————————-
You need a sponge filter roll to fit the pipe diameter…
justin said:
roughbarked said:
justin said:
todays rain is excellent for the – peas starting to climb – beans coming thru the soil.
- plus the citrus trees needed rain, as did the strawbs.the clay here was opening up in large cracks on the surface. so we had dried out a lot quicker than expected.
the wood shed is looking healthy still so it’s not been a cold winter here.
Still dry here.. 6 mm isn’t much of a drink.
I’ve got tonnes of firewood left over too.Where are you Justin?
i’m in pepe’s old place north of adelaide – i am pepe with a new computer and some login problems LOL.
the dust and algae has clogged the mosquito wire at the rainwater tank inlet. much of last nights rain didn’t go into the tank. this is a considerable problem for tank owners. it doesn’t take long for the fine netting to become water repellent – mmm??
Methinks that mosquitoes in rainwater tanks is a furphy compared to mosquitoes in the gutters.
I never use mosquito screening on my rainwater inlets. Regularly flushing gutters is more important.
Happy Potter said:
the dust and algae has clogged the mosquito wire at the rainwater tank inlet. much of last nights rain didn’t go into the tank. this is a considerable problem for tank owners. it doesn’t take long for the fine netting to become water repellent – mmm??—————————————————————————-
You need a sponge filter roll to fit the pipe diameter…
thanks – i looked them up on google and i doubt they can handle the pressured flow in the pipes.
because this is a closed pvc pipe system the water flow is 100% and under pressure – so those spounge filters wouldn’t cope imho.
roughbarked said:
justin said:
roughbarked said:Still dry here.. 6 mm isn’t much of a drink.
I’ve got tonnes of firewood left over too.Where are you Justin?
i’m in pepe’s old place north of adelaide – i am pepe with a new computer and some login problems LOL.
the dust and algae has clogged the mosquito wire at the rainwater tank inlet. much of last nights rain didn’t go into the tank. this is a considerable problem for tank owners. it doesn’t take long for the fine netting to become water repellent – mmm??Methinks that mosquitoes in rainwater tanks is a furphy compared to mosquitoes in the gutters.
I never use mosquito screening on my rainwater inlets. Regularly flushing gutters is more important.
i would like to agree. my gutters and downpipes are flushed and clean but the dust, pollen and windblow fine stuff gets through and the mosquito wire is just too fine.
justin said:
roughbarked said:
justin said:i’m in pepe’s old place north of adelaide – i am pepe with a new computer and some login problems LOL.
the dust and algae has clogged the mosquito wire at the rainwater tank inlet. much of last nights rain didn’t go into the tank. this is a considerable problem for tank owners. it doesn’t take long for the fine netting to become water repellent – mmm??Methinks that mosquitoes in rainwater tanks is a furphy compared to mosquitoes in the gutters.
I never use mosquito screening on my rainwater inlets. Regularly flushing gutters is more important.
i would like to agree. my gutters and downpipes are flushed and clean but the dust, pollen and windblow fine stuff gets through and the mosquito wire is just too fine.
which is why I would only use a mosquito wire cover when it isn’t raining and cold.
justin said:
the dust and algae has clogged the mosquito wire at the rainwater tank inlet. much of last nights rain didn’t go into the tank. this is a considerable problem for tank owners. it doesn’t take long for the fine netting to become water repellent – mmm??
We generally clean out the mosquito inlet the same time we clean out the gutters…
Dinetta said:
justin said:the dust and algae has clogged the mosquito wire at the rainwater tank inlet. much of last nights rain didn’t go into the tank. this is a considerable problem for tank owners. it doesn’t take long for the fine netting to become water repellent – mmm??
We generally clean out the mosquito inlet the same time we clean out the gutters…
*mosquito mesh over the tank inlet…
sheesh
roughbarked said:
Methinks that mosquitoes in rainwater tanks is a furphy compared to mosquitoes in the gutters.
I never use mosquito screening on my rainwater inlets. Regularly flushing gutters is more important.
Mosquitoes in unscreened rainwater tanks are a big problem…I grew up with this problem…but in a high set queenslander cleaning the gutters is not such an issue…
justin said:
i would like to agree. my gutters and downpipes are flushed and clean but the dust, pollen and windblow fine stuff gets through and the mosquito wire is just too fine.
Ours is screwed on to the tank which is a bloody nuisance…I mean what child is going to climb up that far…an unscrewed one, you can just take it off and bang it and put it back…some vegetation and dust is normal in the rainwater…
Dinetta said:
justin said:i would like to agree. my gutters and downpipes are flushed and clean but the dust, pollen and windblow fine stuff gets through and the mosquito wire is just too fine.
Ours is screwed on to the tank which is a bloody nuisance…I mean what child is going to climb up that far…an unscrewed one, you can just take it off and bang it and put it back…some vegetation and dust is normal in the rainwater…
Isn’t it easier to have a first flush diversion switch on the downpipe?
roughbarked said:
Dinetta said:
justin said:i would like to agree. my gutters and downpipes are flushed and clean but the dust, pollen and windblow fine stuff gets through and the mosquito wire is just too fine.
Ours is screwed on to the tank which is a bloody nuisance…I mean what child is going to climb up that far…an unscrewed one, you can just take it off and bang it and put it back…some vegetation and dust is normal in the rainwater…
Isn’t it easier to have a first flush diversion switch on the downpipe?
seven downpipes feed into the tank via underground pipes.
i’m thinking the only way is to remove the netting throughout winter and install it again in about october. this would correspond to the time when i remove the endcaps that drain the underground pipelines. summer is the only time mozzies are a problem here.
justin said:
roughbarked said:
Dinetta said:Ours is screwed on to the tank which is a bloody nuisance…I mean what child is going to climb up that far…an unscrewed one, you can just take it off and bang it and put it back…some vegetation and dust is normal in the rainwater…
Isn’t it easier to have a first flush diversion switch on the downpipe?
seven downpipes feed into the tank via underground pipes.
i’m thinking the only way is to remove the netting throughout winter and install it again in about october. this would correspond to the time when i remove the endcaps that drain the underground pipelines. summer is the only time mozzies are a problem here.
The first flush diversion occurs at the top of the downpipes.
Yes, the mozzies still have yet to start. Though it will be a while since I haven’t seen any for a couple of decades and most people have better mosquito awareness these days. In the eighties, one step out the back door in the evenings and my skin colour changed to black. It was hard working in the nuresery all night in those years.
I found three French snails in my yard as the ran started.. ¬˚˙ƒƒ© Has been almost two decades since I’ve seen one.. In the eighties I could pick up 500 in one sq metre and still need to do it again every day.
roughbarked said:
Dinetta said:
justin said:i would like to agree. my gutters and downpipes are flushed and clean but the dust, pollen and windblow fine stuff gets through and the mosquito wire is just too fine.
Ours is screwed on to the tank which is a bloody nuisance…I mean what child is going to climb up that far…an unscrewed one, you can just take it off and bang it and put it back…some vegetation and dust is normal in the rainwater…
Isn’t it easier to have a first flush diversion switch on the downpipe?
Why complicate things?
justin said:
seven downpipes feed into the tank via underground pipes.
i’m thinking the only way is to remove the netting throughout winter and install it again in about october. this would correspond to the time when i remove the endcaps that drain the underground pipelines. summer is the only time mozzies are a problem here.
roughbarked said:
Yes, the mozzies still have yet to start.
Ours are always with us….yea I say unto thee…even during the frosts (if any)…
Dinetta said:
roughbarked said:Yes, the mozzies still have yet to start.
Ours are always with us….yea I say unto thee…even during the frosts (if any)…
I’ve been really annoyed by mozzies while my hands were busy at White Cliffs during the last rays of sunight on the 28th July. However this is due to shallow puddles of water being warmed by the sun during the day which does not happen in rainwater tanks.
>>Yes, the mozzies still have yet to start. <<
Goodness, we’ve had mozzies all the way down South here for a month or more. Yours must be a bit behind the seasons or something!
buffy said:
>>Yes, the mozzies still have yet to start. <<
Goodness, we’ve had mozzies all the way down South here for a month or more. Yours must be a bit behind the seasons or something!
I’m just coming off a 20 year drought.. a really serious one.
Also they stopped growing rice for most of that.
If you read my posts, you’d comprehend that if conditions are anywhere near optimal growing conditions here.. the mossies turn red tractors black after you stop work.
roughbarked said:
I’m just coming off a 20 year drought.. a really serious one.
Also they stopped growing rice for most of that.
Which is a pity, too, as I am wary of the foreign rice that we have to buy at the moment…
Dinetta said:
Dinetta said:
justin said:the dust and algae has clogged the mosquito wire at the rainwater tank inlet. much of last nights rain didn’t go into the tank. this is a considerable problem for tank owners. it doesn’t take long for the fine netting to become water repellent – mmm??
We generally clean out the mosquito inlet the same time we clean out the gutters…
*mosquito mesh over the tank inlet…
i’ve cleaned the mesh 4 times and sprayed with copper sulphate but it keeps growing algae.
buffy said:
>>Yes, the mozzies still have yet to start. <<
Goodness, we’ve had mozzies all the way down South here for a month or more. Yours must be a bit behind the seasons or something!
lakes and ponds will do the trick with mosquito breeding – and you’re in wet country.
this is well drained foothills country and there’s no surface water – even the rivers are dry soon after rain.
justin said:
i’ve cleaned the mesh 4 times and sprayed with copper sulphate but it keeps growing algae.
Yes, I’ve seen since that your inlet is down low on the tank…sorry I know nothing about those…
Dinetta said:
roughbarked said:Yes, the mozzies still have yet to start.
Ours are always with us….yea I say unto thee…even during the frosts (if any)…
ditto
justin said:
i’m in pepe’s old place north of adelaide – i am pepe with a new computer and some login problems LOL.
Ah…the penny drops! I had to change my login when I came back to the forum a couple of years ago. Couldn’t think of anything imaginative though for a name so just put AnneS.
I was “beaver” first time round :)
the clogged tank filter. fine particles catch on the mosquito wire and then algae makes the surface water repellent
justin said:
the clogged tank filter. fine particles catch on the mosquito wire and then algae makes the surface water repellent
You can still divert first flush water and remove most of this problem.
roughbarked said:
justin said:
the clogged tank filter. fine particles catch on the mosquito wire and then algae makes the surface water repellent
You can still divert first flush water and remove most of this problem.
not on 7 downpipes
can you guess what this is?
justin said:
roughbarked said:
justin said:
the clogged tank filter. fine particles catch on the mosquito wire and then algae makes the surface water repellent
You can still divert first flush water and remove most of this problem.
not on 7 downpipes
why not?
justin said:
can you guess what this is?
White mulberry?
roughbarked said:
justin said:
roughbarked said:You can still divert first flush water and remove most of this problem.
not on 7 downpipes
why not?
cost and difficulty of installation .
i doubt it would solve the problem of these fine particles which can blow in and settle on the wire itself as well as the gutters at any time.
Happy Potter said:
justin said:
can you guess what this is?
White mulberry?
nope.
you certainly have an interesting life HP – and thanks for those reports.
justin said:
Happy Potter said:
justin said:
can you guess what this is?
White mulberry?
nope.
you certainly have an interesting life HP – and thanks for those reports.
Pecan?
roughbarked said:
justin said:
Happy Potter said:White mulberry?
nope.
you certainly have an interesting life HP – and thanks for those reports.
Pecan?
yep.
its flowering for the first time (probably 10y.o.?). does there have to be a male tree?
justin said:
roughbarked said:
justin said:nope.
you certainly have an interesting life HP – and thanks for those reports.
Pecan?
yep.
its flowering for the first time (probably 10y.o.?). does there have to be a male tree?
Now he asks! LOL!
justin said:
roughbarked said:
justin said:nope.
you certainly have an interesting life HP – and thanks for those reports.
Pecan?
yep.
its flowering for the first time (probably 10y.o.?). does there have to be a male tree?
you are looking at the male flowers. The female flowers will be in the growing tips of the branches.
Happy Potter said:
justin said:
roughbarked said:Pecan?
yep.
its flowering for the first time (probably 10y.o.?). does there have to be a male tree?
Now he asks! LOL!
chuckle – it was a gift….. and we just assumed that nut trees were stand alone plants. this was before my reeducation on the forum
roughbarked said:
justin said:
roughbarked said:Pecan?
yep.
its flowering for the first time (probably 10y.o.?). does there have to be a male tree?
you are looking at the male flowers. The female flowers will be in the growing tips of the branches.
good thanks.
justin said:
Happy Potter said:
justin said:yep.
its flowering for the first time (probably 10y.o.?). does there have to be a male tree?
Now he asks! LOL!
chuckle – it was a gift….. and we just assumed that nut trees were stand alone plants. this was before my reeducation on the forum
Fair enough :D Great gift!
that’s lemon juice in the jug. we are using it for cleaning the kitchen surfaces. grease remover, deordorent and so safe you could drink it.
the broad beans are new season and the jap pumpkin is one or four still left from an autumn harvest.
justin said:
that’s lemon juice in the jug. we are using it for cleaning the kitchen surfaces. grease remover, deordorent and so safe you could drink it.
the broad beans are new season and the jap pumpkin is one or four still left from an autumn harvest.
I really do hope you don’t drink the lemon juice after you do all that with it.
with asparagus and strawbs just in season you wouldn’t think there could be another vege that would tempt the forager. but sugar snap peas are that vege.
roughbarked said:
justin said:
that’s lemon juice in the jug. we are using it for cleaning the kitchen surfaces. grease remover, deordorent and so safe you could drink it.
the broad beans are new season and the jap pumpkin is one or four still left from an autumn harvest.
I really do hope you don’t drink the lemon juice after you do all that with it.
ha – so much lemon juice here i could make hair shampoo, go on a lemon juice detox diet, wipe all the cupboards and still drink my juice from a separate bottle
can anyone ID this native plant? i have one and would likie some more.
Sugar snaps and snow peas don’t make it inside…I eat them while wandering or working in the garden. Sometimes I make a special effort to get some inside for a stir fry….but it is difficult!
justin said:
with asparagus and strawbs just in season you wouldn’t think there could be another vege that would tempt the forager. but sugar snap peas are that vege.
yummo.
justin said:
roughbarked said:
justin said:
that’s lemon juice in the jug. we are using it for cleaning the kitchen surfaces. grease remover, deordorent and so safe you could drink it.
the broad beans are new season and the jap pumpkin is one or four still left from an autumn harvest.
I really do hope you don’t drink the lemon juice after you do all that with it.
ha – so much lemon juice here i could make hair shampoo, go on a lemon juice detox diet, wipe all the cupboards and still drink my juice from a separate bottle
can anyone ID this native plant? i have one and would likie some more.
is it Calothamnus?
buffy said:
Sugar snaps and snow peas don’t make it inside…I eat them while wandering or working in the garden. Sometimes I make a special effort to get some inside for a stir fry….but it is difficult!
i have thrown some into a soup at the last minute. they do give that freshness normally associated with parsley.
but foraging is the normal fate of pod-n-all peas.
painmaster said:
justin said:
ha – so much lemon juice here i could make hair shampoo, go on a lemon juice detox diet, wipe all the cupboards and still drink my juice from a separate bottlecan anyone ID this native plant? i have one and would likie some more.
is it Calothamnus?
i reckon you’re right.
thanks PM.
justin said:
with asparagus and strawbs just in season you wouldn’t think there could be another vege that would tempt the forager. but sugar snap peas are that vege.
My dog would love that. She loves peas, sugar snap or not.
justin said:
roughbarked said:
justin said:
that’s lemon juice in the jug. we are using it for cleaning the kitchen surfaces. grease remover, deordorent and so safe you could drink it.
the broad beans are new season and the jap pumpkin is one or four still left from an autumn harvest.
I really do hope you don’t drink the lemon juice after you do all that with it.
ha – so much lemon juice here i could make hair shampoo, go on a lemon juice detox diet, wipe all the cupboards and still drink my juice from a separate bottle
can anyone ID this native plant? i have one and would likie some more.
I don’t know it but I can understand why you wnat more of them. It’s lovely.
justin said:
painmaster said:
justin said:
ha – so much lemon juice here i could make hair shampoo, go on a lemon juice detox diet, wipe all the cupboards and still drink my juice from a separate bottlecan anyone ID this native plant? i have one and would likie some more.
is it Calothamnus?
i reckon you’re right.
thanks PM.
thought I’d get in quick… I’m sure Roughy would have known this one! I reckon it could be C. quadrifidus or a variety of.
Your native plant is Calothamnus Netbus or one sided bottlebrush of which there are several species which only occur in WA
I’ve got some here if you want. I grow them from seed.
Also some of them are called claw flower.
It isn’t the bog standard Calothamnus quadrifidus because the leaves of that are dark green
However there is a grey leaved form of the above.
strawb time is coming fast – we are picking this many each day now.
painmaster said:
justin said:
painmaster said:is it Calothamnus?
i reckon you’re right.
thanks PM.
thought I’d get in quick… I’m sure Roughy would have known this one! I reckon it could be C. quadrifidus or a variety of.
the forum is solving problems quickly .
this species has furry greyish leaves – which make it pleasant to brush by – quite a novelty in the bush.
roughbarked said:
Your native plant is Calothamnus Netbus or one sided bottlebrush of which there are several species which only occur in WA
ok
i have a section of my perimeter walk to plant. natives are progressively replacing the old pine trees as the pines die.
two pines have just been removed and there is now room for (say) ten plants.
justin said:
strawb time is coming fast – we are picking this many each day now.
I happen to be eating a bowl of fresh ones right now. I didn’t grow them but my stomach doesn’t know that.
justin said:
roughbarked said:
Your native plant is Calothamnus Netbus or one sided bottlebrush of which there are several species which only occur in WA
ok
i have a section of my perimeter walk to plant. natives are progressively replacing the old pine trees as the pines die.
two pines have just been removed and there is now room for (say) ten plants.
If you’re thinking of planting those Calothamnus they would look great imho.
we weeded the garlic yesterday – third time lucky. they are looking good with big bulbs not quiet ripe yet.
turned the compost today – it is ready – so where to use it.
there has been terrific rain here – terrific as in soft and soaking.
I am spending an hour each morning picking strawberries. Whilst I pick I also weed, remove the mouldy fruit and clean up the old leaves.
There is a lot of fruit tho’, and the numbers have been increasing daily, so now we a picking an icecream container each day.
This is too much to eat and now I am pureeing and freezing some for sorbets.
justin said:
I am spending an hour each morning picking strawberries. Whilst I pick I also weed, remove the mouldy fruit and clean up the old leaves.
There is a lot of fruit tho’, and the numbers have been increasing daily, so now we a picking an icecream container each day.
This is too much to eat and now I am pureeing and freezing some for sorbets.
tough gig.
A bit early for strawberries in South West Vic yet. But I looked and there are flowers so I’d better think about getting the netting out soon.
buffy said:
A bit early for strawberries in South West Vic yet. But I looked and there are flowers so I’d better think about getting the netting out soon.
you’re running in the same climate time zone as BG by the sounds.
i picked my first one 3-4 weeks ago.
they have 3 crops so youse two might get that all-important christmas crop.
g’ay fellow birdwatchers – this white faced heron (check this) has been stalking our pool all week.
pssst – the pool is full of frogs.
speaking of tomatoes – this is the state of play here north of adelaide
well behind RB but in advance of the vics – i think?
fiirst flowers just forming
this gives you some idea of how the onions have survived winter. both red and white are looking good for a christmas harvest
the purple kings are just thru’ – and surprisingly nothing has had a nibble.
we are just finishing the last of the beans preserved from last year – 100% usage.
justin said:
speaking of tomatoes – this is the state of play here north of adelaidewell behind RB but in advance of the vics – i think?
fiirst flowers just forming
bigger than mine
bluegreen said:
justin said:
speaking of tomatoes – this is the state of play here north of adelaidewell behind RB but in advance of the vics – i think?
fiirst flowers just forming
bigger than mine
Mine too. but I have a couple ‘polish giant’ in pots about that size to go in asap.
justin said:
g’ay fellow birdwatchers – this white faced heron (check this) has been stalking our pool all week.
pssst – the pool is full of frogs.
sweet.
>>speaking of tomatoes – this is the state of play here north of adelaide
well behind RB but in advance of the vics – i think?
fiirst flowers just forming<<
As mine are just at two leaf stage….yes, a bit ahead of me. I do not hothouse though, mine are in soil mix in polystyrene box with no cover. They come up already hardened around here!
I did notice two (yes, two!) climbing beans have germinated. They are Rattlesnake, a green bean with purple splashes on it. I grew them last year and they provided the right amount of beans, and for months. I was so impressed I bought a large bag of seed. I’ll see if any more come up, but if they don’t I’ll interplant with more seed and then I’ll have a longer continuous cropping time. I should point out that at this stage I have only planted about a two foot length of bed, for them to climb up to the top of an arch. I intend to plant the other side of the arch in a month or two, when the first side reaches about half way up. I think this should work well to be able to walk underneath and pluck the beans.
buffy said:
>>speaking of tomatoes – this is the state of play here north of adelaide
well behind RB but in advance of the vics – i think?
fiirst flowers just forming<<As mine are just at two leaf stage….yes, a bit ahead of me. I do not hothouse though, mine are in soil mix in polystyrene box with no cover. They come up already hardened around here!
I did notice two (yes, two!) climbing beans have germinated. They are Rattlesnake, a green bean with purple splashes on it. I grew them last year and they provided the right amount of beans, and for months. I was so impressed I bought a large bag of seed. I’ll see if any more come up, but if they don’t I’ll interplant with more seed and then I’ll have a longer continuous cropping time. I should point out that at this stage I have only planted about a two foot length of bed, for them to climb up to the top of an arch. I intend to plant the other side of the arch in a month or two, when the first side reaches about half way up. I think this should work well to be able to walk underneath and pluck the beans.
An interesting concept.
This many years on, I’m looking for variety.
Actually, my Mum grows her passionfruit over a big frame and it’s great because the fruit just drop down underneath and you collect them.
i’ve just picked this fennel and asparagus and was surprised to find both.
the fennel was planted 12 months ago and didn’t appear last summer and the asparagus patch took a weeks holiday and is now producing again
Did you have a cooler few days? On warm days you can practically hear the asparagus growing. Cooler days and it grows more slowly.
what’s happening here?
buffy said:
Did you have a cooler few days? On warm days you can practically hear the asparagus growing. Cooler days and it grows more slowly.
my patch is new this year because i transplanted most of them to this one spot. two spears emerged and then froze as small bent shoots. they had rotted at the base.
so i’m learning and my patch is only 8-10 plants.
do you add salt as a mulch?
do you cut off the female stems?
what is this?
justin said:
what’s happening here?
Hide and seek!
justin said:
i’ve just picked this fennel and asparagus and was surprised to find both.
the fennel was planted 12 months ago and didn’t appear last summer and the asparagus patch took a weeks holiday and is now producing again
That whole image looks yum JC.
justin said:
what is this?
You’ll have to tell me.
pomolo said:
justin said:
what’s happening here?
Hide and seek!
that’s a bit obscure – can you say who? what? where?
pomolo said:
justin said:
i’ve just picked this fennel and asparagus and was surprised to find both.
the fennel was planted 12 months ago and didn’t appear last summer and the asparagus patch took a weeks holiday and is now producing again
That whole image looks yum JC.
are these images taking forever to come up on your screen?
pomolo said:
justin said:
what is this?
You’ll have to tell me.
i’ll give you a hint
…if you peel and roast it you might be able to drink it….
justin said:
pomolo said:
justin said:
what’s happening here?
Hide and seek!
that’s a bit obscure – can you say who? what? where?
How about upstairs, downstairs?
justin said:
pomolo said:
justin said:
i’ve just picked this fennel and asparagus and was surprised to find both.
the fennel was planted 12 months ago and didn’t appear last summer and the asparagus patch took a weeks holiday and is now producing again
Pretty much. Plus they aren’t working as thumbnails. Well, not the way they used to.
That whole image looks yum JC.
are these images taking forever to come up on your screen?
justin said:
pomolo said:
justin said:
what is this?
You’ll have to tell me.
i’ll give you a hint
…if you peel and roast it you might be able to drink it….
Can’t be beetroot. Could it?
justin said:
what’s happening here?
A couple very well hidden loppy grubs. :)
justin said:
pomolo said:
justin said:
what is this?
You’ll have to tell me.
i’ll give you a hint
…if you peel and roast it you might be able to drink it….
Chicory?
pomolo said:
justin said:
pomolo said:Pretty much. Plus they aren’t working as thumbnails. Well, not the way they used to.
That whole image looks yum JC.
are these images taking forever to come up on your screen?
ok – i’ll try to sort out my p/bucket account
bubba louie said:
justin said:
what’s happening here?
A couple very well hidden loppy grubs. :)
loopers yes – grevillea loopers
bubba louie said:
justin said:
pomolo said:You’ll have to tell me.
i’ll give you a hint …if you peel and roast it you might be able to drink it….
Chicory?
you win – chicory root it is.
now to roast and taste it.
>>do you add salt as a mulch?
do you cut off the female stems?<<
No, not heard of that. Mine just get compost and poo after cutting down in Winter and a pea straw mulch on top. Never heard of salt.
No. We eat them before we can tell which are which!! But no, I’ve never bothered. Although sometimes I pick some with the lovely red berries for indoors decoration in a vase.
my wife says the grass garden doesn’t need any water – which is true – and is also the reason it has a near death experience every month – until i water it.
does anyone else let their grasses die right off in the hope they will reseed themselves again?
does any of youse have an eggplant tree? if so what is your root stock?
has anyone tried to grow brasil nuts by soaking the seed?
many thanks for any answers/suggestions….
justin said:
my wife says the grass garden doesn’t need any water – which is true – and is also the reason it has a near death experience every month – until i water it.
does anyone else let their grasses die right off in the hope they will reseed themselves again?does any of youse have an eggplant tree? if so what is your root stock?
has anyone tried to grow brasil nuts by soaking the seed?
many thanks for any answers/suggestions….
I tried to create an eggplant tree after seeing one on GA. The rootstock used was Solanum capsicoides (Cockroach Berry) which you won’t find in nurseries but is a weed in some areas. I think it was Bubba Louie who sent some cuttings to me once and although I was able to grow the rootstock OK I had trouble doing the graft. Eventually it looked like I had a successful one and then the growing shoot got knocked off or eaten.
bluegreen said:
justin said:
my wife says the grass garden doesn’t need any water – which is true – and is also the reason it has a near death experience every month – until i water it.
does anyone else let their grasses die right off in the hope they will reseed themselves again? does any of youse have an eggplant tree? if so what is your root stock?
has anyone tried to grow brasil nuts by soaking the seed?
many thanks for any answers/suggestions….
I tried to create an eggplant tree after seeing one on GA. The rootstock used was Solanum capsicoides (Cockroach Berry) which you won’t find in nurseries but is a weed in some areas. I think it was Bubba Louie who sent some cuttings to me once and although I was able to grow the rootstock OK I had trouble doing the graft. Eventually it looked like I had a successful one and then the growing shoot got knocked off or eaten.
i hope you shake that virus BG.
thanks for the answer. i might need more examples of suitable rootstock since yours is unavailable and unsuccessful – altho that was the GA episode i was thinking of
justin said:
bluegreen said:
justin said:
my wife says the grass garden doesn’t need any water – which is true – and is also the reason it has a near death experience every month – until i water it.
does anyone else let their grasses die right off in the hope they will reseed themselves again? does any of youse have an eggplant tree? if so what is your root stock?
has anyone tried to grow brasil nuts by soaking the seed?
many thanks for any answers/suggestions….
I tried to create an eggplant tree after seeing one on GA. The rootstock used was Solanum capsicoides (Cockroach Berry) which you won’t find in nurseries but is a weed in some areas. I think it was Bubba Louie who sent some cuttings to me once and although I was able to grow the rootstock OK I had trouble doing the graft. Eventually it looked like I had a successful one and then the growing shoot got knocked off or eaten.
i hope you shake that virus BG.
thanks for the answer. i might need more examples of suitable rootstock since yours is unavailable and unsuccessful – altho that was the GA episode i was thinking of
I think I would have been successful in the end, just that I didn’t have any experience with soft tissue grafting. The last one I did would have worked in the end I think if it hadn’t been damaged. Then I moved. However the rootstock was quite weedy producing runners so you would have had to watch for that. I think wild tobacco is also considered a suitable rootstock.
justin said:
my wife says the grass garden doesn’t need any water – which is true – and is also the reason it has a near death experience every month – until i water it.
does anyone else let their grasses die right off in the hope they will reseed themselves again?does any of youse have an eggplant tree? if so what is your root stock?
has anyone tried to grow brasil nuts by soaking the seed?
many thanks for any answers/suggestions….
I don’t grow many of the grasses that are recommend for us because they look B awful most of the time. I don’t like dead grass in my garden.
I think they use the common the “Devils Apple” which is a common solannum. Don’t think it’s a tree though.
bluegreen said:
justin said:does any of youse have an eggplant tree? if so what is your root stock?
I tried to create an eggplant tree after seeing one on GA. The rootstock used was Solanum capsicoides (Cockroach Berry) which you won’t find in nurseries but is a weed in some areas. I think it was Bubba Louie who sent some cuttings to me once and although I was able to grow the rootstock OK I had trouble doing the graft. Eventually it looked like I had a successful one and then the growing shoot got knocked off or eaten.
I remember that discussion process!
bluegreen said:
justin said:
my wife says the grass garden doesn’t need any water – which is true – and is also the reason it has a near death experience every month – until i water it.
does anyone else let their grasses die right off in the hope they will reseed themselves again?does any of youse have an eggplant tree? if so what is your root stock?
has anyone tried to grow brasil nuts by soaking the seed?
many thanks for any answers/suggestions….
I tried to create an eggplant tree after seeing one on GA. The rootstock used was Solanum capsicoides (Cockroach Berry) which you won’t find in nurseries but is a weed in some areas. I think it was Bubba Louie who sent some cuttings to me once and although I was able to grow the rootstock OK I had trouble doing the graft. Eventually it looked like I had a successful one and then the growing shoot got knocked off or eaten.
I had some seed of Solanum capscoides. Haven’t seen it for a while. The mice probably got it. Anyway, grafted tomatoes and eggplants(from Bunnings) are often grafted onto Solanum species that tend to sucker.. A stupid idea.
pomolo said:
justin said:
my wife says the grass garden doesn’t need any water – which is true – and is also the reason it has a near death experience every month – until i water it.
does anyone else let their grasses die right off in the hope they will reseed themselves again?does any of youse have an eggplant tree? if so what is your root stock?
has anyone tried to grow brasil nuts by soaking the seed?
many thanks for any answers/suggestions….
I don’t grow many of the grasses that are recommend for us because they look B awful most of the time. I don’t like dead grass in my garden.
I think they use the common the “Devils Apple” which is a common solannum. Don’t think it’s a tree though.
I see your dead grasses and try to sell you some.
I grow seed lawns and I allow them to seed. I disagree that allowing them to die off will get you seed.
The tree eggplant is grafted on at a height.
the other grafted solanums are grafetd just above soil level and are useless as the grafts get covered by soil.
Either way you get weeds suckering in your garden from every one.
Brazil nuts in the shell, I presume you meant. http://www.acsgarden.com/courses/Nut-Production-519.aspxroughbarked said:
pomolo said:
justin said:
my wife says the grass garden doesn’t need any water – which is true – and is also the reason it has a near death experience every month – until i water it.
does anyone else let their grasses die right off in the hope they will reseed themselves again? does any of youse have an eggplant tree? if so what is your root stock?
has anyone tried to grow brasil nuts by soaking the seed? many thanks for any answers/suggestions….
I don’t grow many of the grasses that are recommend for us because they look B awful most of the time. I don’t like dead grass in my garden.
I think they use the common the “Devils Apple” which is a common solannum. Don’t think it’s a tree though.I see your dead grasses and try to sell you some. I grow seed lawns and I allow them to seed. I disagree that allowing them to die off will get you seed.
The tree eggplant is grafted on at a height.
the other grafted solanums are grafetd just above soil level and are useless as the grafts get covered by soil.Either way you get weeds suckering in your garden from every one.
Brazil nuts in the shell, I presume you meant. http://www.acsgarden.com/courses/Nut-Production-519.aspx
thanks for your replies.
the brazil nut is shelled and its my daughter trying for this one – the tallest tree in the amazon would you believe?
solanums for root stock don’t sound brilliant and since i’m still fighting the remnants of my old passionfruit i’m not a fan of volatile runners.
my wife’s grass garden has just had 30mm of rain and a severe prune. i have to give it to her – ms pepe’s not giving up on this new style of gardening. ……………… and she has given birth to 20+ echinacea seedlings there as well. they are very popular gifts with friends.
i picked two 2 litre icecream containers of strawberries today. so that will probably be the same as my harvest for xmas day.
we’re going to a breakfast as well as a late lunch by a new pool.
i’ll take 2 litres of fresh strawbs to each.
my dwarf beans are not as good as usual. this year i’m getting a couple of handfuls a day whereas, in previous years, i was getting a couple of colanders full per day.
the basil is sensational tho’, and the year’s first pesto is in the fridge.
yay i’m back with photobucket – what a saga
here’s some of my toms
i’m eating these strawbs with icecream now – the dark coloured ones are a tad overripe but full flavoured.
they are big hotos sorry – i’m having problems – and can’t find clickable thumbnails.
this is my tomato loggia. during the heatwave (2 days of 49C) about a dozen big toms and most old leaves were sunburnt
so now they are shaded
good lot of toms and strawbs there justin. my toms are still small, hard and green but my time will come :)
picking zucchinis regularly now though and my first Armenian Cucumber :)
my eggplant and capsicums are flowering & setting fruit now too.
justin said:
this is my tomato loggia. during the heatwave (2 days of 49C) about a dozen big toms and most old leaves were sunburnt
so now they are shaded
Yeah the old shadecloth works well. Unfortunately where I am I can’t dig a hole just to put a post in…so I have to come up with different ways to protect my produce. I scored an old garden bags frame from work which I lay on it’s side and cover the top and sometimes the side with the shadecloth…works a treat and won’t blow over in the strong easterlies we get.
bluegreen said:
good lot of toms and strawbs there justin. my toms are still small, hard and green but my time will come :)
picking zucchinis regularly now though and my first Armenian Cucumber :)
my eggplant and capsicums are flowering & setting fruit now too.
my zucchini is more likie muschee’s – big bush but poverty of fruit.
my lebanese cuey is producing a nice fruit every few days.
the armenian cuey sounds interesting – i’ve never heard of it before.
Muschee said:
justin said:
this is my tomato loggia. during the heatwave (2 days of 49C) about a dozen big toms and most old leaves were sunburnt
so now they are shaded
Yeah the old shadecloth works well. Unfortunately where I am I can’t dig a hole just to put a post in…so I have to come up with different ways to protect my produce. I scored an old garden bags frame from work which I lay on it’s side and cover the top and sometimes the side with the shadecloth…works a treat and won’t blow over in the strong easterlies we get.
I drive a stardropper in and then slip those 65mm painted posts over them.
I think the bushes can recover from the sunburn. This garden is fully enclosed with iron structures and fences that reflect the heat and exaggerate the burning
not 49 C but 40C !!
you guys can see all the photos in the album if you shuffle/scroll.
i can’t figure out p/bucket yet. it has changed since 11/11
My tomatoes are a long way behind that lot. I have the first few fruit starting to set now, and some of my plants are still under 6” tall. But I grow from seed, with no hothousing, so the seed germinates when it is ready. Then I plant out the babies. The ones in Casterton are a bit more advanced than the ones here. I do find, however, that I pick through to May or June, because of my late start.
I’m not really harvesting anything much at the moment. Although I have picked a dozen or so very delicious Anzac white fleshed peaches. I am not sharing them. And the occasional raspberry – but I grow the Heritage variety, which is an Autumn fruiter, so the occasional fruit at the moment is actually out of season.
justin said:
i’m eating these strawbs with icecream now – the dark coloured ones are a tad overripe but full flavoured.
You got an ice cream making machine? I’d be making these into strawberry ice cream…
buffy said:
My tomatoes are a long way behind that lot. I have the first few fruit starting to set now, and some of my plants are still under 6” tall. But I grow from seed, with no hothousing, so the seed germinates when it is ready. Then I plant out the babies. The ones in Casterton are a bit more advanced than the ones here. I do find, however, that I pick through to May or June, because of my late start.
I’m not really harvesting anything much at the moment. Although I have picked a dozen or so very delicious Anzac white fleshed peaches. I am not sharing them. And the occasional raspberry – but I grow the Heritage variety, which is an Autumn fruiter, so the occasional fruit at the moment is actually out of season.
my raspberries are a total waste – no fruit. i think it might be too hot here for raspberries but i will try some other varieties.
pain master said:
justin said:i’m eating these strawbs with icecream now – the dark coloured ones are a tad overripe but full flavoured.
You got an ice cream making machine? I’d be making these into strawberry ice cream…
picking them has become a chore. it’s been harvest time since october. we have wasted a lot but also, we have made 12 bottles of strawb wine, 12 jars of jam and some more of rhubarb and strawb jam. plus we eat them for breakfast and tea. strawb sorbet has also been a favourite for months now.
i have 150 plants – too many !! i try 80 plants next year.
justin said:
yay i’m back with photobucket – what a saga
here’s some of my toms
a good haul so far.
justin said:
bluegreen said:
good lot of toms and strawbs there justin. my toms are still small, hard and green but my time will come :)
picking zucchinis regularly now though and my first Armenian Cucumber :)
my eggplant and capsicums are flowering & setting fruit now too.
my zucchini is more likie muschee’s – big bush but poverty of fruit.
my lebanese cuey is producing a nice fruit every few days.
the armenian cuey sounds interesting – i’ve never heard of it before.
Our zucchinis are struggling. Because we didn’t know any better we put in 4 plants. They are HUGE. The tag actually said to plant 2 together. We didn’t but I can’t imagine how we would have managed them if we had. The 4 are about 90cm high and the spread is at least a metre. Some of the zucchs seem to have blossom end rot but production is very slow anyway. I have had to remove a lot of the base leaves and even though I wore long sleeves I was still itched out of my brain for my trouble.
buffy said:
Although I have picked a dozen or so very delicious Anzac white fleshed peaches. I am not sharing them.
I am pleased to hear that they are very delicious, as that is the variety that I have planted :)
justin said:
pain master said:
justin said:i’m eating these strawbs with icecream now – the dark coloured ones are a tad overripe but full flavoured.
You got an ice cream making machine? I’d be making these into strawberry ice cream…
picking them has become a chore. it’s been harvest time since october. we have wasted a lot but also, we have made 12 bottles of strawb wine, 12 jars of jam and some more of rhubarb and strawb jam. plus we eat them for breakfast and tea. strawb sorbet has also been a favourite for months now.
i have 150 plants – too many !! i try 80 plants next year.
Cripes, you’re keen. I always reckoned that we needd a lot of strawb plants to make the harvest worthwhile but 150???????? Even 80 would be overdoing it for me.
bluegreen said:
buffy said:Although I have picked a dozen or so very delicious Anzac white fleshed peaches. I am not sharing them.
I am pleased to hear that they are very delicious, as that is the variety that I have planted :)
I had to look them up on google too. I favour white peaches anyday but can’t say if any of them were Anzac type.
the second lot of corn – these were eaten last night.
basil for pesto and a lebanese cuey
Good to see your garden is still producing so well, Justin. Nice looking tomatoes too.
orchid42 said:
Good to see your garden is still producing so well, Justin. Nice looking tomatoes too.
thanks
I’m trying to remember your garden – a gateway with four cypress posts and a completely new row of roses along your verandah edge is all i can recall at present.
justin said:
orchid42 said:
Good to see your garden is still producing so well, Justin. Nice looking tomatoes too.
thanks
I’m trying to remember your garden – a gateway with four cypress posts and a completely new row of roses along your verandah edge is all i can recall at present.
Yes, that’s the front garden. It hasn’t changed much. In fact the whole garden is much the same. The veggie production hasn’t been too good for the last year or so, but hopefully I’ll get it together shortly.m
justin said:
orchid42 said:
Good to see your garden is still producing so well, Justin. Nice looking tomatoes too.
thanks
I’m trying to remember your garden – a gateway with four cypress posts and a completely new row of roses along your verandah edge is all i can recall at present.
Yes, that’s the front garden. It hasn’t changed much. In fact the whole garden is much the same. The veggie production hasn’t been too good for the last year or so, but hopefully I’ll get it together shortly.m
Oops – sorry about the double post!
tomatoes are now over my head but a little bug – well several hundred little ladybug like creatures – are killing them off. i have harvested well over 20 kilos of toms and more are coming.
beans are nearing their end altho the purple kings are still growing on the fence under shadecloth.
i might plant a late crop of beans because the current crops are dead and dying.
i have planted ochre and bitter gourd but germination is weak. the turnips, radish and spinach have come up strongly but have to be protected from the pigeons.
lettuce and chicory have self-sown so i transplanted 120 advanced seedlings around and about.
it’s been a bad second half of summer – presumably because it’s been unseasonably cold – altho’ not wet here in adelaide.
eggplant, capsicum, parsley, basil, oregano, thyme, sage, cueys, carrots, zuchs, toms, beans, spring onions (now with bulbs) and assorted spuds are being harvested.
i have planted out argentinian garlic, green dragon broccoli, savoy cabbage, celery, fennel, kohl rabi, rainbow chard, radish, white and red onions, rocket and untold lettuce seeds have sprung up.