I thought it was me but no -
its a good year for tomatoes and grapes in SA.

we have a dehydrator but just putting the cut tomatoes in the sun under a lace covering dries them quicker than any dehydrator.
I’ve also made some frozen tomato sauces – just chop the toms in the wiz and add salt, pepper and sugar while boiling them down to a thicker consistency. the flavour comes from the home grown toms themselves.

there’s about 15 tom plants under this 7 metre long trellis. this year my temporary tom trellis features a shadecloth/ old bamboo roof.
the varieties are – roma, black krim, tigerella and brandywine.

pepe said:

I thought it was me but no -
its a good year for tomatoes and grapes in SA.

ahhh ooooh

(did you hear my admiring sigh all the way down there?)

Well done!

The grapes look luscious…

pepe said:

we have a dehydrator but just putting the cut tomatoes in the sun under a lace covering dries them quicker than any dehydrator.
I’ve also made some frozen tomato sauces – just chop the toms in the wiz and add salt, pepper and sugar while boiling them down to a thicker consistency. the flavour comes from the home grown toms themselves.

Yum, the birds don’t bother the tomatoes under the net?

>>roma, black krim, tigerella and brandywine.<<

Brandywine has to be the best ever tomato. Reluctant to produce big crops, and I find a bit prone to blossom end rot, but worth it. I do not share my brandywines. I eat them myself. Black krim is fabulous too, and I grew tigerella last year and found them good too.

I should have ananas noir (my trial one this year) bronw berry, grosse lisse, periforme and mortgage lifter. I also have some miscellaneous ones, where they didn’t come up near their little signs, so I’m not sure what they are.

buffy said:

>>roma, black krim, tigerella and brandywine.<<

Brandywine has to be the best ever tomato. Reluctant to produce big crops, and I find a bit prone to blossom end rot, but worth it. I do not share my brandywines. I eat them myself. Black krim is fabulous too, and I grew tigerella last year and found them good too.
I should have ananas noir (my trial one this year) bronw berry, grosse lisse, periforme and mortgage lifter. I also have some miscellaneous ones, where they didn’t come up near their little signs, so I’m not sure what they are.

the romas are best for drying but the others are all tasty. the tigerella are called ‘cherry’ toms but are a round, striped fruit slightly bigger than a golf ball.

pepe said:

there’s about 15 tom plants under this 7 metre long trellis. this year my temporary tom trellis features a shadecloth/ old bamboo roof.
the varieties are – roma, black krim, tigerella and brandywine.

Yes I can’t seem to grow tomatoes in the sun like I used to. I’ll have to create a mobile shade house for the future.

Envy, much. Well done :)

pepe said:

there’s about 15 tom plants under this 7 metre long trellis. this year my temporary tom trellis features a shadecloth/ old bamboo roof.
the varieties are – roma, black krim, tigerella and brandywine.

good idea re the bamboo roof

Yes I can’t seem to grow tomatoes in the sun like I used to. I’ll have to create a mobile shade house for the future.
——————————————————

I have seen two friends-gardens recently and they are a series of temporary structures.
these people are scouring the op shops, salvage yards and auctions for any old gazebo, piping frame and other structures that will hold birdnetting and shadecloth. hard to say whether is due to increasing bird numbers, more gardeners seeking more perfection or the climate change.

Happy Potter said:

Envy, much. Well done :)

the pumpkins, beans and corn are less than enviable I’m afraid – so no photos of those available …

buffy said:

>>roma, black krim, tigerella and brandywine.<<

Brandywine has to be the best ever tomato. Reluctant to produce big crops, and I find a bit prone to blossom end rot, but worth it. I do not share my brandywines. I eat them myself. Black krim is fabulous too, and I grew tigerella last year and found them good too.

I should have ananas noir (my trial one this year) bronw berry, grosse lisse, periforme and mortgage lifter. I also have some miscellaneous ones, where they didn’t come up near their little signs, so I’m not sure what they are.

It’s a bit too hot here for brandywine and black krim. Maybe I should try them later in the season as you do.

pepe said:

Yes I can’t seem to grow tomatoes in the sun like I used to. I’ll have to create a mobile shade house for the future.
——————————————————

I have seen two friends-gardens recently and they are a series of temporary structures.
these people are scouring the op shops, salvage yards and auctions for any old gazebo, piping frame and other structures that will hold birdnetting and shadecloth. hard to say whether is due to increasing bird numbers, more gardeners seeking more perfection or the climate change.

I’d say it would be the latter.

roughbarked said:

pepe said:

Yes I can’t seem to grow tomatoes in the sun like I used to. I’ll have to create a mobile shade house for the future.
——————————————————

I have seen two friends-gardens recently and they are a series of temporary structures.
these people are scouring the op shops, salvage yards and auctions for any old gazebo, piping frame and other structures that will hold birdnetting and shadecloth. hard to say whether is due to increasing bird numbers, more gardeners seeking more perfection or the climate change.

I’d say it would be the latter.

it makes planting a big job – thus – prepare soil, plant irrigation, plant seeds, , erect shade/protection structure, mulch, water, spread covering – go and lie down.

pepe said:

it makes planting a big job – thus – prepare soil, plant irrigation, plant seeds, , erect shade/protection structure, mulch, water, spread covering – go and lie down.

Yes but the rewards are (1) you can admire your handiwork every time you walk past it (2) other people most likely admire your handiwork as well and tell you so and (3) harvest time!!

Lying down is called “refreshing the mind”…

Dinetta said:

pepe said:

it makes planting a big job – thus – prepare soil, plant irrigation, plant seeds, , erect shade/protection structure, mulch, water, spread covering – go and lie down.

Yes but the rewards are (1) you can admire your handiwork every time you walk past it (2) other people most likely admire your handiwork as well and tell you so and (3) harvest time!!
Lying down is called “refreshing the mind”…

those old plastic covered steel shelf units are being recycled a bit as well. one of the hazards of temporary structures is the wind. if it ends up in the pool or the neighbour’s place, the admiring glances disappear.
it’s tempting to fully fence and roof* a garden on a permanent basis. *roof in birdnetting/shadecloth.

pepe said:

those old plastic covered steel shelf units are being recycled a bit as well. one of the hazards of temporary structures is the wind. if it ends up in the pool or the neighbour’s place, the admiring glances disappear.
it’s tempting to fully fence and roof* a garden on a permanent basis. *roof in birdnetting/shadecloth.

There’s a trend here, where the shadecloth can be pushed back, possibly during the winter months…possibly the same where you are…?

pepe said:

Dinetta said:

pepe said:

it makes planting a big job – thus – prepare soil, plant irrigation, plant seeds, , erect shade/protection structure, mulch, water, spread covering – go and lie down.

Yes but the rewards are (1) you can admire your handiwork every time you walk past it (2) other people most likely admire your handiwork as well and tell you so and (3) harvest time!!
Lying down is called “refreshing the mind”…

those old plastic covered steel shelf units are being recycled a bit as well. one of the hazards of temporary structures is the wind. if it ends up in the pool or the neighbour’s place, the admiring glances disappear.
it’s tempting to fully fence and roof* a garden on a permanent basis. *roof in birdnetting/shadecloth.

I’ve seen quite a few permanent bird proof gardens. I can’t bring myself to exclude birds all year around. Roll up netting and shadecloth have been on my planning table for decades. Never had the finances to ever finalise them.

Dinetta said:

pepe said:

those old plastic covered steel shelf units are being recycled a bit as well. one of the hazards of temporary structures is the wind. if it ends up in the pool or the neighbour’s place, the admiring glances disappear.
it’s tempting to fully fence and roof* a garden on a permanent basis. *roof in birdnetting/shadecloth.

There’s a trend here, where the shadecloth can be pushed back, possibly during the winter months…possibly the same where you are…?

yes the shadecloth is removed in winter.

“bu-wark!” this is the rooster call saying – “_there a bird of prey overhead!”

given all the other dangers I think the chook pen could have overhead chook wire instead of birdnetting

pepe said:

Dinetta said:

pepe said:

those old plastic covered steel shelf units are being recycled a bit as well. one of the hazards of temporary structures is the wind. if it ends up in the pool or the neighbour’s place, the admiring glances disappear.
it’s tempting to fully fence and roof* a garden on a permanent basis. *roof in birdnetting/shadecloth.

There’s a trend here, where the shadecloth can be pushed back, possibly during the winter months…possibly the same where you are…?

yes the shadecloth is removed in winter.

“bu-wark!” this is the rooster call saying – “_there a bird of prey overhead!”

given all the other dangers I think the chook pen could have overhead chook wire instead of birdnetting

..with the emphasis on the ‘wark’ sound. My chookies must have a Victorian accent. the ‘bu’ part is more like a ‘brrr’, lol.

Birds of prey rip netting easily, go the wire.

pepe said:

“bu-wark!” this is the rooster call saying – “_there a bird of prey overhead!”

given all the other dangers I think the chook pen could have overhead chook wire instead of birdnetting

Mine all dive under shrubs…Pancho believes discretion is the better part of valour…

Happy Potter said:

Birds of prey rip netting easily, go the wire.

Wire lasts longer, too…

Happy Potter said:

pepe said:

Dinetta said:

There’s a trend here, where the shadecloth can be pushed back, possibly during the winter months…possibly the same where you are…?

yes the shadecloth is removed in winter.
“bu-wark!” this is the rooster call saying – “_there a bird of prey overhead!”

given all the other dangers I think the chook pen could have overhead chook wire instead of birdnetting

..with the emphasis on the ‘wark’ sound. My chookies must have a Victorian accent. the ‘bu’ part is more like a ‘brrr’, lol.
Birds of prey rip netting easily, go the wire.

my hearing’s not perfect – so – brrr is a possibility.

Dinetta said:

pepe said:

“bu-wark!” this is the rooster call saying – “_there a bird of prey overhead!”

given all the other dangers I think the chook pen could have overhead chook wire instead of birdnetting

Mine all dive under shrubs…Pancho believes discretion is the better part of valour…

pancho would be right …. and unusually intelligent LOL.

pepe said:

pancho would be right …. and unusually intelligent LOL.

Pancho is such a hunk!! Just ask a hen from two doors over…

I miss these updates…