Green manure is now planted…… better late than never.

http://luckysduckfarm.blogspot.com/2008/08/green-manure.html

Off now to torment, I mean plant a rhubarb crown.:)

Lucky1 said:

Green manure is now planted…… better late than never.

http://luckysduckfarm.blogspot.com/2008/08/green-manure.html

Off now to torment, I mean plant a rhubarb crown.:)

Lucky, when I have worked out the photo thing I will post a photo of my raised vegie garden with bird/rat/possum/flying fox …… bird netting over it. I have weighted the bottom down with 25mm poly pipe filled with sand and water. I figure long lengths of that would be more than they can push under. I guess time will tell.

looks good.

Lucky1 said:

Green manure is now planted…… better late than never.

http://luckysduckfarm.blogspot.com/2008/08/green-manure.html

Off now to torment, I mean plant a rhubarb crown.:)

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again…and again…and again…LOL!

hortfurball said:

Lucky1 said:

Green manure is now planted…… better late than never.

http://luckysduckfarm.blogspot.com/2008/08/green-manure.html

Off now to torment, I mean plant a rhubarb crown.:)

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again…and again…and again…LOL!

:D its planted and on death row…….

Collected more worm wee today, so couple of bottles are here for you Pepe. Along with those DVDs for you to watch and return:)

Gave the garden a feed of maxi crop and pigeon poo/ water (thanks to Pepe).

Elf turned over the area for the spuds, though they won’t be planted for a couple more weeks. Next Sunday we’re off to the open air markets to buy some cow manure for there and the fruit trees.

Rang Pa while outside, he’s going good and happy to hear from us.

So now its time for a shower and then a sink load of dishes from today is waiting on me.

Oh I am just so pleased with how the garden is coming along.

This is my leeks and I want to start to blanch them for later pickings.

What can I use to blanch them??

!!

I was thinking straw????

Lucky1 said:

I was thinking straw????

I didn’t blanch my leeks.. are you supposed to ? If you are, I didn’t know this lol. They look beaut :)

Happy Potter said:

Lucky1 said:

I was thinking straw????

I didn’t blanch my leeks.. are you supposed to ? If you are, I didn’t know this lol. They look beaut :)

I didn’t know that either!!!!

orchid40 said:

Happy Potter said:

Lucky1 said:

I was thinking straw????

I didn’t blanch my leeks.. are you supposed to ? If you are, I didn’t know this lol. They look beaut :)

I didn’t know that either!!!!

By blanching them, you get more of that white part of the stalk and more for the pot. The green part is a bit tougher than the white blanched area.

Lucky1 said:

orchid40 said:

Happy Potter said:

Lucky1 said:

I was thinking straw????

I didn’t blanch my leeks.. are you supposed to ? If you are, I didn’t know this lol. They look beaut :)

I didn’t know that either!!!!

By blanching them, you get more of that white part of the stalk and more for the pot. The green part is a bit tougher than the white blanched area.

Well there ya go. I will definitely blanch mine then. I wonder if you can just hill the soil up round them??

I read that, yes you can hill them will soil; but it works it way into the rings and makes your food gritty. Not nice.

I also read that you can use straw or cardboard – like a split paper towel roll.

SueBk said:

I read that, yes you can hill them will soil; but it works it way into the rings and makes your food gritty. Not nice.

I also read that you can use straw or cardboard – like a split paper towel roll.

Thanks, Sue, I’ll save some cardboard rolls, good idea :)

orchid40 said:

Lucky1 said:

orchid40 said:

Happy Potter said:

Lucky1 said:

I was thinking straw????

I didn’t blanch my leeks.. are you supposed to ? If you are, I didn’t know this lol. They look beaut :)

I didn’t know that either!!!!

By blanching them, you get more of that white part of the stalk and more for the pot. The green part is a bit tougher than the white blanched area.

Well there ya go. I will definitely blanch mine then. I wonder if you can just hill the soil up round them??

You can, but there will be some dirt in the leeks as they grow…so I have been told.

SueBk said:

I read that, yes you can hill them will soil; but it works it way into the rings and makes your food gritty. Not nice.

I also read that you can use straw or cardboard – like a split paper towel roll.

Thanks Sue……..

Collected more worm wee today, so couple of bottles are here for you Pepe. Along with those DVDs for you to watch and return:) Gave the garden a feed of maxi crop and pigeon poo/ water (thanks to Pepe).
——————————————————————————
thanks, thanks and thanks.
i don’t blanch leeks in the garden either. still – i’ve just come back from my daughter’s and she was saying she was going to blanch hers. poor girl – she had ripper potatoes coming on and the frost just wiped them out.

pepe said:

Collected more worm wee today, so couple of bottles are here for you Pepe. Along with those DVDs for you to watch and return:) Gave the garden a feed of maxi crop and pigeon poo/ water (thanks to Pepe).
——————————————————————————
thanks, thanks and thanks.
i don’t blanch leeks in the garden either. still – i’ve just come back from my daughter’s and she was saying she was going to blanch hers. poor girl – she had ripper potatoes coming on and the frost just wiped them out.

Oh what a shame.:( Mine will be planted mid August.

Oh what a shame.:( Mine will be planted mid August.
—————————-
so will mine – are you planting on the 14th – the moon date for root crops?

My dad, who recently bought a new place, said something wiped out the one of his potato plants. Demolished the tops. He dug it up and had golf ball sized spuds for dinner, said they tasted great.

Does frost damage the tubers?

SueBk said:

My dad, who recently bought a new place, said something wiped out the one of his potato plants. Demolished the tops. He dug it up and had golf ball sized spuds for dinner, said they tasted great.

Does frost damage the tubers?

no – the tubers are still delicious – but the plants die – so that’s the end of growth.

pepe said:

Oh what a shame.:( Mine will be planted mid August.
—————————-
so will mine – are you planting on the 14th – the moon date for root crops?

Glad your up to speed……. I haven’t looked as of yet. I haven’t received August’s moon chart via email and I didn’t buy the chart this year, due to getting the email…sigh

So you think the 14th is a good day huh?????? 14th it is then.

Lucky1 said:

pepe said:

Oh what a shame.:( Mine will be planted mid August.
—————————-
so will mine – are you planting on the 14th – the moon date for root crops?

Glad your up to speed……. I haven’t looked as of yet. I haven’t received August’s moon chart via email and I didn’t buy the chart this year, due to getting the email…sigh

So you think the 14th is a good day huh?????? 14th it is then.

lyn bagnall on ALS – under vege gardening – august plantings.
apparently the new moons are on the 7th &21st. so the old moon will be about the 14th.
i’m not sure and was asking you LOL.

here’s a pic of the green manure in June…it’s since grown higher and been slashed and dug in. http://members.optusnet.com.au/~chriswww/green_manure.jpg

aquarium said:

here’s a pic of the green manure in June…it’s since grown higher and been slashed and dug in. http://members.optusnet.com.au/~chriswww/green_manure.jpg

looks good.

pepe said:

Lucky1 said:

pepe said:

Oh what a shame.:( Mine will be planted mid August.
—————————-
so will mine – are you planting on the 14th – the moon date for root crops?

Glad your up to speed……. I haven’t looked as of yet. I haven’t received August’s moon chart via email and I didn’t buy the chart this year, due to getting the email…sigh

So you think the 14th is a good day huh?????? 14th it is then.

lyn bagnall on ALS – under vege gardening – august plantings.
apparently the new moons are on the 7th &21st. so the old moon will be about the 14th.
i’m not sure and was asking you LOL.

could be new moons on 1st and 31st – or the 4th august. i’m getting conflicting dates here – help.

aquarium said:

here’s a pic of the green manure in June…it’s since grown higher and been slashed and dug in. http://members.optusnet.com.au/~chriswww/green_manure.jpg

the old strung twine to deter birds from the green manure. the bowls club here has fishing line strung above the greens to deter cockatoos.

aquarium said:

here’s a pic of the green manure in June…it’s since grown higher and been slashed and dug in. http://members.optusnet.com.au/~chriswww/green_manure.jpg

Oh very nice Aquarium:D

We had rain overnight and that will get the seeds growing.

Dates are here for you Pepe

Tuesday and Wednesday 5th and 6th August, failing which, 14th and 15th and 23rd 24th August.

I’m going for the 14th -15th …..hopefully by the time the shoots break through the soil……frosts will be gone.

Lucky1 said:

Dates are here for you Pepe

Tuesday and Wednesday 5th and 6th August, failing which, 14th and 15th and 23rd 24th August.

I’m going for the 14th -15th …..hopefully by the time the shoots break through the soil……frosts will be gone.

ok – 14-15 th sounds about right.
thanks.
nice rain here today – should wash in the cowdung and homegrown compost in readiness for planting.

Photos of broad beans, soon to be spud area and those leeks

http://luckysduckfarm.blogspot.com/

Lucky1 said:

Photos of broad beans, soon to be spud area and those leeks

http://luckysduckfarm.blogspot.com/

looks good.

veg gardener said:

Lucky1 said:

Photos of broad beans, soon to be spud area and those leeks

http://luckysduckfarm.blogspot.com/

looks good.

Thanks VG:)

Once the crop is about knee high, chop it, slash it and turn it into the soil, with some old animal manure and Blood & Bone.
—————————
sounds like you get your aggression out on the green manure. LOL.
looking good all ways round in lucky’s duck farmlet.

pepe said:

Once the crop is about knee high, chop it, slash it and turn it into the soil, with some old animal manure and Blood & Bone.
—————————
sounds like you get your aggression out on the green manure. LOL.
looking good all ways round in lucky’s duck farmlet.

Thanks Pepe…….. did you spot my rhubarb in one of the photos???? Turning in a FAB TAB of a green manure can be tough playing….but it’s worth it.

Lucky1 said:

pepe said:

Once the crop is about knee high, chop it, slash it and turn it into the soil, with some old animal manure and Blood & Bone.
—————————
sounds like you get your aggression out on the green manure. LOL.
looking good all ways round in lucky’s duck farmlet.

Thanks Pepe…….. did you spot my rhubarb in one of the photos???? Turning in a FAB TAB of a green manure can be tough playing….but it’s worth it.

no – didn’t see any rhubarb – but i read your bit about giving it different sunlight conditions and that sounded ok.

but i read your bit about giving it different sunlight conditions
——————————————————
blinks I said that wow whispers I don’t remember that????

Lucky1 said:

but i read your bit about giving it different sunlight conditions
——————————————————
blinks I said that wow whispers I don’t remember that????

oh ? (maybe pepe is dreaming gardening now)
- was it in the forum chat?
- anyrate where have you planted the rhubarb?

pepe said:

Lucky1 said:

but i read your bit about giving it different sunlight conditions
——————————————————
blinks I said that wow whispers I don’t remember that????

oh ? (maybe pepe is dreaming gardening now)
- was it in the forum chat?
- anyrate where have you planted the rhubarb?

In front of the spud area in that round ring….. make it easier to find it to kill it;)

Caught this little bugger in my green manure patch, under the netting:(

Bluddy little bugger was feasting and enjoying the spoils of my work.!!!!

Stern talking to and a poke with a finger in the chest and on the beak ….I threw it into the air and it flew away.

Hw did it get in there Lucky ? cheeky things !

Lucky1 said:

Caught this little bugger in my green manure patch, under the netting:(

Bluddy little bugger was feasting and enjoying the spoils of my work.!!!!

Stern talking to and a poke with a finger in the chest and on the beak ….I threw it into the air and it flew away.

ROFL – he looks chagrined!

How hard was he to pick up like that??

Happy Potter said:

Hw did it get in there Lucky ? cheeky things !

I have no idea….. must be a little spot and it got in.

How hard was he to pick up like that??
—————————
Oh easy as, he had no where to go.

Lucky1 said:

How hard was he to pick up like that??
—————————
Oh easy as, he had no where to go.

Saucy little blighter! He’s lucky it was you that caught him, he may not have got away alive from some people !

Lucky1 said:

Caught this little bugger in my green manure patch, under the netting:(

Bluddy little bugger was feasting and enjoying the spoils of my work.!!!!

Stern talking to and a poke with a finger in the chest and on the beak ….I threw it into the air and it flew away.

that’ll teach him! lol!

Lucky1 said:

Caught this little bugger in my green manure patch, under the netting:(

Bluddy little bugger was feasting and enjoying the spoils of my work.!!!!

Stern talking to and a poke with a finger in the chest and on the beak ….I threw it into the air and it flew away.

What a cheeky little blighter! What is he, Lucky, do you know?

Thought you might be interested, in case he tries again LOL, when we were tagging birds, this is how we were taught to hold them. Minimises their ability to harm themselves; and maximises their ability to dig claws into the quick of your finger nails. Honey eaters (like this little cutie) have absolutely wicked claws. As sharp as, and as fine as, the best quality sewing needles on the market. Down the side of the fingernail seemed a favourite spot.

Thanks for the tip sue:)

How did you make you photo appear small and with a clickable link???

Lucky1 said:

Thanks for the tip sue:)

How did you make you photo appear small and with a clickable link???

The miracles of photobucket. LOL

Bubba Louie said:

Lucky1 said:

Thanks for the tip sue:)

How did you make you photo appear small and with a clickable link???

The miracles of photobucket. LOL

abracadabra

Test

Got it small but not clickable…

Lucky1 said:

Thanks for the tip sue:)

How did you make you photo appear small and with a clickable link???

In photobucket, tick the check box against the photo (or photos) you want to display. Scroll to the bottom of the page. On the right hand side there’s a “generate link” button. Click this. It will then give you several different types of codes. Click the top box of code (which in photobucket automatically copies it – such a neat feature). Paste that code into your post on the forum.

Lucky1 said:

Off now to torment, I mean plant a rhubarb crown.:)

If I knew a good bookie, I’d put every spare penny on the rhubarb not surviving till its first birthday ;)

… says the mother of two rhubarb crowns, who suffered a cruel death in Lucky’s garden a couple of years ago sob!

Yeehah said:

Lucky1 said:

Off now to torment, I mean plant a rhubarb crown.:)

If I knew a good bookie, I’d put every spare penny on the rhubarb not surviving till its first birthday ;)

… says the mother of two rhubarb crowns, who suffered a cruel death in Lucky’s garden a couple of years ago sob!

ROTFPIMP

Just passed the 1000 chook egg today:)

http://luckysduckfarm.blogspot.com/

Go the chook!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lucky1 said:

Just passed the 1000 chook egg today:)

You weirdo

Lucky1 said:

Just passed the 1000 chook egg today:)

Perhaps you should see the doctor.;p

Lucky1 said:

Just passed the 1000 chook egg today:)

http://luckysduckfarm.blogspot.com/

Go the chook!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cool Lucky!
Yes go the chook I say too, mine are spitting them out at a good rate atm. Yum food to eat and share, and great foods coming out of the kitchen :)

Happy Potter said:

Lucky1 said:

Just passed the 1000 chook egg today:)

http://luckysduckfarm.blogspot.com/

Go the chook!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cool Lucky!
Yes go the chook I say too, mine are spitting them out at a good rate atm. Yum food to eat and share, and great foods coming out of the kitchen :)

yep well done.

Crinkle said:

Lucky1 said:

Just passed the 1000 chook egg today:)

Perhaps you should see the doctor.;p

Maybe a vet would be better….LOL

1 season’s asparagus spear is up, just found it:D

Off with my camera:)

I’ve been buying my asparagus from Peru, lately… ;)

Dinetta said:

I’ve been buying my asparagus from Peru, lately… ;)

Aussie grown here:)

Looks bluddy yummo too…..Elf gets sick of asparagus….. we get so much, maybe able to swing some the Pepe’s kitchen farm way:D

Lucky Pepe!!

Dinetta said:

Lucky Pepe!!

Thats if he eats it???? Think he does as he’s trying to grow some from seed.

Looks bluddy yummo too…..Elf gets sick of asparagus….. we get so much, maybe able to swing some the Pepe’s kitchen farm way:D
————
that would be nice.
your carrot seed are up btw. – three rows of them – and 2 rows of bought seed ones. this rain has been great for them.
the peas i planted after the shortest day are slow but good.

pepe said:

Looks bluddy yummo too…..Elf gets sick of asparagus….. we get so much, maybe able to swing some the Pepe’s kitchen farm way:D
————
that would be nice.
your carrot seed are up btw. – three rows of them – and 2 rows of bought seed ones. this rain has been great for them.
the peas i planted after the shortest day are slow but good.

I’m wondering if my carrot seeds are just starting to pop their heads through… could be weeds though…..sigh.

Thanks for letting me know the seeds germinated. My carrots aew sweeling up that I sowed earlie in the year. Rain is doing the garden so much good.

My carrots aew sweeling up that I sowed earlie in the year.
———————————-
I can hear my English teaching grinding her teeth :(

My carrots are swelling up that I sowed earlier in the year.

I’m wondering if my carrot seeds are just starting to pop their heads through… could be weeds though…..sigh.
———
mine took 3-4 weeks to germinate in this cold weather.
i am harvesting little carrots from the winter bed. i’ve still got some worm juice because i only use it sparingly in pots and fortnightly on the winter garden.
why do you guys pour it on soil as preparation ? what’s it spose to do?

pepe said:

I’m wondering if my carrot seeds are just starting to pop their heads through… could be weeds though…..sigh.
———
mine took 3-4 weeks to germinate in this cold weather.
i am harvesting little carrots from the winter bed. i’ve still got some worm juice because i only use it sparingly in pots and fortnightly on the winter garden.
why do you guys pour it on soil as preparation ? what’s it spose to do?

The worm we use is full of lovely goodies and my understanding it feeds the micro-organisms in the soil.

I am meant to go out and liquid feed the vegies today, just that I’d look pretty darn silly out the back watering the garden in this weather….LO

Lucky1 said:

pepe said:

I’m wondering if my carrot seeds are just starting to pop their heads through… could be weeds though…..sigh.
———
mine took 3-4 weeks to germinate in this cold weather.
i am harvesting little carrots from the winter bed. i’ve still got some worm juice because i only use it sparingly in pots and fortnightly on the winter garden.
why do you guys pour it on soil as preparation ? what’s it spose to do?

The worm we use is full of lovely goodies and my understanding it feeds the micro-organisms in the soil.

I am meant to go out and liquid feed the vegies today, just that I’d look pretty darn silly out the back watering the garden in this weather….LO

well that makes sense then – although it feels strange putting dilute water on the garden at present like you say. will try it on the carrot seedlings then.
bbl

Dinetta said:

I’ve been buying my asparagus from Peru, lately… ;)

That’s where all the tinned stuff comes from.

Bubba Louie said:

Dinetta said:

I’ve been buying my asparagus from Peru, lately… ;)

That’s where all the tinned stuff comes from.

Oh no, I’m sure I’ve seen on some tins “product of NZ”….but they are so poor over in Peru and those South American countries, I can’t grudge the purchase of their produce if ours is out of season…

(go take a jump Jamie Oliver)

Dinetta said:

Bubba Louie said:

Dinetta said:

I’ve been buying my asparagus from Peru, lately… ;)

That’s where all the tinned stuff comes from.

Oh no, I’m sure I’ve seen on some tins “product of NZ”….but they are so poor over in Peru and those South American countries, I can’t grudge the purchase of their produce if ours is out of season…

(go take a jump Jamie Oliver)

Only Peru at out stupidmarket. I think there used to be a Dick Smith one but i haven’t seen it in ages.

Bubba Louie said:

Dinetta said:

Bubba Louie said:

Dinetta said:

I’ve been buying my asparagus from Peru, lately… ;)

That’s where all the tinned stuff comes from.

Oh no, I’m sure I’ve seen on some tins “product of NZ”….but they are so poor over in Peru and those South American countries, I can’t grudge the purchase of their produce if ours is out of season…

(go take a jump Jamie Oliver)

Only Peru at out stupidmarket. I think there used to be a Dick Smith one but i haven’t seen it in ages.

I am just so grateful that we can buy the fresh stuff at all…can distinctly remember it first coming on the shelves (we had a specialist green grocer then) …I must have bought the first bunch in town….this was about 20 years ago…

asparagus that will be eaten in the next 48 hours:D

Lucky1 said:

asparagus that will be eaten in the next 48 hours:D

pardon my ignorance, but does it make such a difference, being so fresh?

oops…link

http://luckysduckfarm.blogspot.com/2008/08/asparagus.html

Dinetta said:

Lucky1 said:

asparagus that will be eaten in the next 48 hours:D

pardon my ignorance, but does it make such a difference, being so fresh?

Oh yes……… well it does to me:D

So sweet, it can be eaten raw. I just steam it for 2 mins and eat it up:D

We have 2 ton of sand coming today, need to save the chooks from the water.

Hoping this will cut down the mud in the yard and freedom road.

I’ve posted before and after photos of the chook run. Really hoping the sand will help with the rain and not have water laying around the chook run.

http://luckysduckfarm.blogspot.com/

Off to have a shower.

Lucky1 said:

I’ve posted before and after photos of the chook run. Really hoping the sand will help with the rain and not have water laying around the chook run.

That’s a problem we never see in the sandy areas of Perth – seen plenty of flooding on hard landscaped areas, but I’ve never seen so much as a puddle in my patch of sand!

Chooks look happy – must be like a trip to the beach for them! :D

Thanks Bon. Do you think this will solve the problem of the water laying round???? I hope so.

That looks very good Lucky, gee you look after your chooks well. You forgot to give them buckets and spades to play sandcastles with though. :)

Lucky1 said:

Thanks Bon. Do you think this will solve the problem of the water laying round???? I hope so.

I think so – I think it would go quite quickly through the sand and then come out the bottom below where you have put the wood to hem it in?

Our sand does get water repellant pretty quickly, so I don’t know if that would be a problem for you – I go out after a big rain and the top of the sand looks wet, but break the surface and it is bone dry. No puddles though, I guess it just runs off. Maybe adding a slope to the sand would help?

very good Lucky, I put sand in the chooks run but their yard now looks like like what yours did before…I’ll have to get more sand in. Next couple days are full up with appointments ect so the job will have to wait a bit.

orchid40 said:

That looks very good Lucky, gee you look after your chooks well. You forgot to give them buckets and spades to play sandcastles with though. :)

Thanks o40:) There are days like when we got up this morning and saw all that water…. that I don’t do enough for them.

Buckets and spades are their Christmas presents;P

Maybe adding a slope to the sand would help?
————————————————
There is a slope to the area and I am hoping this will work an junction with the sand.

Happy Potter said:

very good Lucky, I put sand in the chooks run but their yard now looks like like what yours did before…I’ll have to get more sand in. Next couple days are full up with appointments ect so the job will have to wait a bit.

How long did the sand last in their yard??? I’m hoping for a couple of winters.

I didnt put enough sand thats all..it is sloped but their digging clawed feet incorporated the sand I did spread..

Happy Potter said:

I didnt put enough sand thats all..it is sloped but their digging clawed feet incorporated the sand I did spread..

hhhmmmm this is why we put a deep amount. Hoping they won’t scratch down to the mud.

Lucky1 said:

I’ve posted before and after photos of the chook run. Really hoping the sand will help with the rain and not have water laying around the chook run.

http://luckysduckfarm.blogspot.com/

Off to have a shower.

I’m coming back as one of your chooks.

pomolo said:

Lucky1 said:

I’ve posted before and after photos of the chook run. Really hoping the sand will help with the rain and not have water laying around the chook run.

http://luckysduckfarm.blogspot.com/

Off to have a shower.

I’m coming back as one of your chooks.

it looks good doesnt it. well done lucky.

veg gardener said:

pomolo said:

Lucky1 said:

I’ve posted before and after photos of the chook run. Really hoping the sand will help with the rain and not have water laying around the chook run.

http://luckysduckfarm.blogspot.com/

Off to have a shower.

I’m coming back as one of your chooks.

it looks good doesnt it. well done lucky.

i second that – it will help.
an old hungarian nurseryman i knew said after 16 years of gardening the whole of his nursery was 400mm higher because he just kept adding good stuff to his soil.

pomolo said:

Lucky1 said:

I’ve posted before and after photos of the chook run. Really hoping the sand will help with the rain and not have water laying around the chook run.

http://luckysduckfarm.blogspot.com/

Off to have a shower.

I’m coming back as one of your chooks.

Oh thanks Pomolo:)

pepe said:

veg gardener said:

pomolo said:

Lucky1 said:

I’ve posted before and after photos of the chook run. Really hoping the sand will help with the rain and not have water laying around the chook run.

http://luckysduckfarm.blogspot.com/

Off to have a shower.

I’m coming back as one of your chooks.

it looks good doesnt it. well done lucky.

i second that – it will help.
an old hungarian nurseryman i knew said after 16 years of gardening the whole of his nursery was 400mm higher because he just kept adding good stuff to his soil.

Thanks Pepe. We’re both pretty darn tired after all that hard playing…. figured if we need to empty it out, down the track…… make good garden soil

good idea Lucky. my chook run behind the garden shed has just become all mud.
maybe i should buy a few bags of sand too….thinking.

aquarium said:

good idea Lucky. my chook run behind the garden shed has just become all mud.
maybe i should buy a few bags of sand too….thinking.

We bought washed river course sand at $36.00 a ton…heaps cheaper than buying by bags. We bought 2 ton.

i only need a few bags i think, Lucky.
it hailed here yesterday. and i thought that the weather was looking up, after july finished. sigh.

can’t find the right post….so might as well stick this into Lucky’s post….
just found a nice site with chicken feed hoppers (that could easily be made) and other poultry info http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/articles/poultry/food/

Plum tree is planted in or new orchard. Have to laugh as when we walk away to get something, ducks run over to see what is happening and quack about it amongst themselves.

Apple tree is going in now and then the dwarf will be tomorrows job.

Oh, exciting!!

orchid40 said:

Oh, exciting!!

Oh I know o40:) Been a couple of years since we had a plum tree and now we have 2.

My nectarine has blossoms coming on it. Should I let them develop or remove them once the flower is a fruit??? Being its first year and all that???

My lemonade tree has lots of blossom too…. is it the right time of the year for this variety of lemon to flower????

Um, I think you remove any fruit off the first year, blossom is OK. I don’t know about the lemonade tree, mine’s not in blossom ATM but that doesn’t mean anything.

Lucky1 said:

orchid40 said:

Oh, exciting!!

Oh I know o40:) Been a couple of years since we had a plum tree and now we have 2.

My nectarine has blossoms coming on it. Should I let them develop or remove them once the flower is a fruit??? Being its first year and all that???

My lemonade tree has lots of blossom too…. is it the right time of the year for this variety of lemon to flower????

I’d be removing the spent blossoms when they have finished – might as well enjoy the flowers :D

My Meyer lemon has flowers on it too.

We now have an Orchard:D

Also introducing #9……really hope its not replaced with #10 next year.

http://luckysduckfarm.blogspot.com/2008/08/we-have-orchard-at-last.html

Lucky1 said:

orchid40 said:

Oh, exciting!!

Oh I know o40:) Been a couple of years since we had a plum tree and now we have 2.

My nectarine has blossoms coming on it. Should I let them develop or remove them once the flower is a fruit??? Being its first year and all that???

My lemonade tree has lots of blossom too…. is it the right time of the year for this variety of lemon to flower????

My Lemonade is in full flower ATM Lucky, if that’s any help.

It’s all looking very promising Lucky :) Nice and neat too. Good luck with your rhubarb!

Wow Lucky , you have worked hard and so many changes :)
We shall both be eating lervely fruits soon.
Don’t forget to water number 9 weekly , I will ring you to remind you ! lol I have the 3 crowns now and when I shifted one out of the main bed to it’s permanent home it broke in 2 , so I have planted that one as well. When they start to grow I give them a good dose of worm wee in a bucket of water once a week.

pomolo said:

Lucky1 said:

orchid40 said:

Oh, exciting!!

Oh I know o40:) Been a couple of years since we had a plum tree and now we have 2.

My nectarine has blossoms coming on it. Should I let them develop or remove them once the flower is a fruit??? Being its first year and all that???

My lemonade tree has lots of blossom too…. is it the right time of the year for this variety of lemon to flower????

My Lemonade is in full flower ATM Lucky, if that’s any help.

A big help thanks Pomolo.

orchid40 said:

It’s all looking very promising Lucky :) Nice and neat too. Good luck with your rhubarb!

Thanks o40:)

Hoping the trees will grow good and strong.

Happy Potter said:

Wow Lucky , you have worked hard and so many changes :)
We shall both be eating lervely fruits soon.
Don’t forget to water number 9 weekly , I will ring you to remind you ! lol I have the 3 crowns now and when I shifted one out of the main bed to it’s permanent home it broke in 2 , so I have planted that one as well. When they start to grow I give them a good dose of worm wee in a bucket of water once a week.

I am hoping my lousy knowledge on this said plant of cereal victims will now be improved enough….that #9 will flourish and grow.

Put a lot of thought into this one….. and how to care for it.

Just inside for some more rocket seeds.

Elf is mowing the back lawn and I am picking a few weeds and harvesting salad crops.

Oh we are enjoying the open air.:D

Pepe called in for a visit and we sat out the back, drinking Canadian coffee (me on the skinny stuff) eating pie and enjoying the sun.

Gave Pepe my first set of “River Cottage” dvds to watch. As well as some more worm wee and spring onion seeds and some spring onion plants for his & Mrs. P’s dinner plate. Also some tomato seeds for his hot house.

Good visit and I got some celery, cabbage, lemons & Italian parsley for the kitchen.:)

Love it when Pepe visits……or we visit his place….alway good to catch up.

Lucky1 said:

Pepe called in for a visit and we sat out the back, drinking Canadian coffee (me on the skinny stuff) eating pie and enjoying the sun.

Gave Pepe my first set of “River Cottage” dvds to watch. As well as some more worm wee and spring onion seeds and some spring onion plants for his & Mrs. P’s dinner plate. Also some tomato seeds for his hot house.

Good visit and I got some celery, cabbage, lemons & Italian parsley for the kitchen.:)

Love it when Pepe visits……or we visit his place….alway good to catch up.

sounds good fun. great when you can swap your excess and the whole world benefits!

Lucky1 said:

Pepe called in for a visit and we sat out the back, drinking Canadian coffee (me on the skinny stuff) eating pie and enjoying the sun.

Gave Pepe my first set of “River Cottage” dvds to watch. As well as some more worm wee and spring onion seeds and some spring onion plants for his & Mrs. P’s dinner plate. Also some tomato seeds for his hot house.

Good visit and I got some celery, cabbage, lemons & Italian parsley for the kitchen.:)

Love it when Pepe visits……or we visit his place….alway good to catch up.

Way to make all us 9-5ers terribly terribly jealous :)

Sounds lovely!

bluegreen said:

Lucky1 said:

Pepe called in for a visit and we sat out the back, drinking Canadian coffee (me on the skinny stuff) eating pie and enjoying the sun.

Gave Pepe my first set of “River Cottage” dvds to watch. As well as some more worm wee and spring onion seeds and some spring onion plants for his & Mrs. P’s dinner plate. Also some tomato seeds for his hot house.

Good visit and I got some celery, cabbage, lemons & Italian parsley for the kitchen.:)

Love it when Pepe visits……or we visit his place….alway good to catch up.

sounds good fun. great when you can swap your excess and the whole world benefits!

Oh for sure. Wonder how the summer trade will go>?????

bon008 said:

Lucky1 said:

Pepe called in for a visit and we sat out the back, drinking Canadian coffee (me on the skinny stuff) eating pie and enjoying the sun.

Gave Pepe my first set of “River Cottage” dvds to watch. As well as some more worm wee and spring onion seeds and some spring onion plants for his & Mrs. P’s dinner plate. Also some tomato seeds for his hot house.

Good visit and I got some celery, cabbage, lemons & Italian parsley for the kitchen.:)

Love it when Pepe visits……or we visit his place….alway good to catch up.

Way to make all us 9-5ers terribly terribly jealous :)

Sounds lovely!

Oh it was Bon. I was just ordering (well listing) what I want to buy in my Digger’s cat-a-log:D

Going to be a bumper harvest if I have my way.

Inside now choosing photos for my blog. I have tomorrow allocated for gardening fun out the back, unless it’s raining too much.

Nice list of playing to be done.

Gave the vegies a feed of liquid food…..many thanks to Pepe’s pigeon poo:D

Oh I am so happy….. my garden is just so productive or in the weeks to come …more productive.

Latest pics of the vegie patch.

http://luckysduckfarm.blogspot.com/2008/08/vegie-patch-update.html

Some bird netting has been removed and packed away.

All looking ready to fire up Lucky ! Good shot of your Asparagus :)

orchid40 said:

All looking ready to fire up Lucky ! Good shot of your Asparagus :)

Thanks o40:) The asparagus is easier to see when photographed like that.

Lucky1 said:

orchid40 said:

All looking ready to fire up Lucky ! Good shot of your Asparagus :)

Thanks o40:) The asparagus is easier to see when photographed like that.

my asparagus has been somewhat disappointing – might have something to do with it being overrun with couch!!

bluegreen said:

Lucky1 said:

orchid40 said:

All looking ready to fire up Lucky ! Good shot of your Asparagus :)

Thanks o40:) The asparagus is easier to see when photographed like that.

my asparagus has been somewhat disappointing – might have something to do with it being overrun with couch!!

Ya think????LOL… I get such a huge crop the elf gets sick of it. Not me…lurv it:D

Lucky1 said:

Pepe called in for a visit and we sat out the back, drinking Canadian coffee (me on the skinny stuff) eating pie and enjoying the sun. Gave Pepe my first set of “River Cottage” dvds to watch. As well as some more worm wee and spring onion seeds and some spring onion plants for his & Mrs. P’s dinner plate. Also some tomato seeds for his hot house. Good visit and I got some celery, cabbage, lemons & Italian parsley for the kitchen.:) Love it when Pepe visits……or we visit his place….alway good to catch up.

Very nice coffee it was. and the lemon morrang pie is perfection itself.
Lucky’s garden looked beautiful in this early spring sunlight. she always seems to get good carrots (i’m currently struggling with carrots), the brassicas are well advanced (altho a tad close together for me) and her spring onions are a crop i always forget to plant. altho’ we live close together our gardens are totally out of sync – so its easy to swap excess.
the sand in her (and elf’s) chookrun seems to have worked well.
i will now play L1’s dvd of Hughie- Smotheringill – Frampton – Smith – or whatever his name is ! LOL.

pepe said:

i will now play L1’s dvd of Hughie- Smotheringill – Frampton – Smith – or whatever his name is ! LOL.

you’ll come back a fan, just like us :D

i followed suit with sand in the chicken run and duck area…which both had almost turned to a bog with all the recent cold/wet. all the poultry is happy and the areas stopped smelling to high heaven. i’m happy i can now go in there without completely soiling footwear every time, and it’s even helped to keep their drinking water clean, as they don’t get to mix the muddy muck into it. the areas have even become a little brighter, so helps if you need to check things after coming home from work…and it still gets dark pretty quick at moment.
thanks for the brilliant and simple idea. i’d never have thought of it, as i was pre-programmed with deep-litter technology.

pepe said:

Lucky1 said:

Pepe called in for a visit and we sat out the back, drinking Canadian coffee (me on the skinny stuff) eating pie and enjoying the sun. Gave Pepe my first set of “River Cottage” dvds to watch. As well as some more worm wee and spring onion seeds and some spring onion plants for his & Mrs. P’s dinner plate. Also some tomato seeds for his hot house. Good visit and I got some celery, cabbage, lemons & Italian parsley for the kitchen.:) Love it when Pepe visits……or we visit his place….alway good to catch up.

Very nice coffee it was. and the lemon morrang pie is perfection itself.
Lucky’s garden looked beautiful in this early spring sunlight. she always seems to get good carrots (i’m currently struggling with carrots), the brassicas are well advanced (altho a tad close together for me) and her spring onions are a crop i always forget to plant. altho’ we live close together our gardens are totally out of sync – so its easy to swap excess.
the sand in her (and elf’s) chookrun seems to have worked well.
i will now play L1’s dvd of Hughie- Smotheringill – Frampton – Smith – or whatever his name is ! LOL.

The really cool thing about sharing idea with Pepe is, he’s convinced me to eat the second shoot on the broccoli and not pull the plant up and feed it to the bunnies.

We’ll have to see if they are planted too close together or not…LOL

thanks for the brilliant and simple idea. i’d never have thought of it, as i was pre-programmed with deep-litter technology.
———————————————————-
It was the elf’s idea:)
He wanted to do this last year and I said no…. but yep it works…..way to go elf.

the chook run isn’t as nice/sandy/bright looking as when i poured in the sand anymore…as i didn’t have room (or the money/time) to do several inches of it. still works though. nice and sandy and not so wet. as yet another bonus, the chooks are getting more grit with their feed to help them digest better. someone really needs to update those chook keeping books with more of these practical ideas…as they seem to waffle about the same old. their authors probably had no personal (backyard) chook keeping experience. certainly not a truckload of useful tips like this beauty.
perhaps another useful tip for permanent poultry enclosures is to design from the start to completely exclude birds (and not just rodents)….as local birds are a possible source of parasites (especially bird mites) and steal a good share of poultry feed.
having read a few of these so called poultry keeping books, it’s no surprise to me that a lot of backyard poultry hobbyists are starving for good honest information, and seek it on the web.
anyhow, that’s my rave for tonight. lights out.

bluegreen said:

pepe said:

i will now play L1’s dvd of Hughie- Smotheringill – Frampton – Smith – or whatever his name is ! LOL.

you’ll come back a fan, just like us :D

i’ve watched them now and hugh fearnley-wittingstall is both good and bad.
he’s good because he espouses the right ways of living on the planet – waste nothing, preserve and exploit the planet’s flora and flora to the maximum and live harmoniously within your local community.
he’s bad because its an urban fantasy that he’s selling – in fact the economics of his setup is very similar to the no- budget restraints of jamie oliver’s walled kitchen garden, with tame organic guru in residence, or pete cundall’s television studio garden with troops of slaves.

The really cool thing about sharing idea with Pepe is, he’s convinced me to eat the second shoot on the broccoli and not pull the plant up and feed it to the bunnies. We’ll have to see if they are planted too close together or not…LOL
———————————————
its cool for me too – i just dosed the carrots with wormwee – thinking – maybe thats how you get your carrots to grow so well.
time will tell. LOL.

pepe said:

The really cool thing about sharing idea with Pepe is, he’s convinced me to eat the second shoot on the broccoli and not pull the plant up and feed it to the bunnies. We’ll have to see if they are planted too close together or not…LOL
———————————————
its cool for me too – i just dosed the carrots with wormwee – thinking – maybe thats how you get your carrots to grow so well.
time will tell. LOL.

Bugger…… my secret may be out…. I did the same thing yesterday in the sun:) Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t….. be a good way to find out.

Lucky1 said:

pepe said:

The really cool thing about sharing idea with Pepe is, he’s convinced me to eat the second shoot on the broccoli and not pull the plant up and feed it to the bunnies. We’ll have to see if they are planted too close together or not…LOL
———————————————
its cool for me too – i just dosed the carrots with wormwee – thinking – maybe thats how you get your carrots to grow so well.
time will tell. LOL.

Bugger…… my secret may be out…. I did the same thing yesterday in the sun:) Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t….. be a good way to find out.

i thought the main thing with carrots was free draining soil BUT moisture retentive. certainly have found that germination and growth have improved heaps since applying that magic clay, as well as opening up the soil prior to sowing.

aquarium said:

Lucky1 said:

pepe said:

The really cool thing about sharing idea with Pepe is, he’s convinced me to eat the second shoot on the broccoli and not pull the plant up and feed it to the bunnies. We’ll have to see if they are planted too close together or not…LOL
———————————————
its cool for me too – i just dosed the carrots with wormwee – thinking – maybe thats how you get your carrots to grow so well.
time will tell. LOL.

Bugger…… my secret may be out…. I did the same thing yesterday in the sun:) Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t….. be a good way to find out.

i thought the main thing with carrots was free draining soil BUT moisture retentive. certainly have found that germination and growth have improved heaps since applying that magic clay, as well as opening up the soil prior to sowing.

Where my carrots are this time round, it gets soaked and over soaked from water runoff with all the rain we have had. Extra FAB TAB area for root crops.

Lucky1 said:

aquarium said:

Lucky1 said:

pepe said:

The really cool thing about sharing idea with Pepe is, he’s convinced me to eat the second shoot on the broccoli and not pull the plant up and feed it to the bunnies. We’ll have to see if they are planted too close together or not…LOL
———————————————
its cool for me too – i just dosed the carrots with wormwee – thinking – maybe thats how you get your carrots to grow so well.
time will tell. LOL.

Bugger…… my secret may be out…. I did the same thing yesterday in the sun:) Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t….. be a good way to find out.

i thought the main thing with carrots was free draining soil BUT moisture retentive. certainly have found that germination and growth have improved heaps since applying that magic clay, as well as opening up the soil prior to sowing.

Where my carrots are this time round, it gets soaked and over soaked from water runoff with all the rain we have had. Extra FAB TAB area for root crops.

hmmm, wonder if my problem is not enough water….?

bluegreen said:

Lucky1 said:

aquarium said:

Lucky1 said:

pepe said:

The really cool thing about sharing idea with Pepe is, he’s convinced me to eat the second shoot on the broccoli and not pull the plant up and feed it to the bunnies. We’ll have to see if they are planted too close together or not…LOL
———————————————
its cool for me too – i just dosed the carrots with wormwee – thinking – maybe thats how you get your carrots to grow so well.
time will tell. LOL.

Bugger…… my secret may be out…. I did the same thing yesterday in the sun:) Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t….. be a good way to find out.

i thought the main thing with carrots was free draining soil BUT moisture retentive. certainly have found that germination and growth have improved heaps since applying that magic clay, as well as opening up the soil prior to sowing.

Where my carrots are this time round, it gets soaked and over soaked from water runoff with all the rain we have had. Extra FAB TAB area for root crops.

hmmm, wonder if my problem is not enough water….?

Carrots need to be damp all the time….. if they dry out and then watered….they split.

Lucky1 said:

bluegreen said:

Lucky1 said:

aquarium said:

Lucky1 said:

pepe said:

———————————————

i thought the main thing with carrots was free draining soil BUT moisture retentive. certainly have found that germination and growth have improved heaps since applying that magic clay, as well as opening up the soil prior to sowing.

Where my carrots are this time round, it gets soaked and over soaked from water runoff with all the rain we have had. Extra FAB TAB area for root crops.

hmmm, wonder if my problem is not enough water….?

Carrots need to be damp all the time….. if they dry out and then watered….they split.

if they get waterlogged they turn black, smelly and mushy.
yours look perfect so they must be draining ok.

hmmm, wonder if my problem is not enough water….?

Carrots need to be damp all the time….. if they dry out and then watered….they split.

if they get waterlogged they turn black, smelly and mushy.
yours look perfect so they must be draining ok.
——————————————
Good point. Yes the water does drain away really well. Good hard playing in the soil.

Lucky1 said:

bluegreen said:

hmmm, wonder if my problem is not enough water….?

Carrots need to be damp all the time….. if they dry out and then watered….they split.

mine just don’t grow and are colourless and tasteless :(

bluegreen said:

Lucky1 said:

bluegreen said:

hmmm, wonder if my problem is not enough water….?

Carrots need to be damp all the time….. if they dry out and then watered….they split.

mine just don’t grow and are colourless and tasteless :(

Hmmmm….. I’d look into this and see if its a soil deficiency. I only ever grow “All Season” variety. As it can been sown all year round and never have I had a bad crop.

bluegreen said:

Lucky1 said:

bluegreen said:

hmmm, wonder if my problem is not enough water….?

Carrots need to be damp all the time….. if they dry out and then watered….they split.

mine just don’t grow and are colourless and tasteless :(

have you decided what to plant in the green manure bed?
carrots are difficult here as well.

pepe said:

bluegreen said:

Lucky1 said:

bluegreen said:

hmmm, wonder if my problem is not enough water….?

Carrots need to be damp all the time….. if they dry out and then watered….they split.

mine just don’t grow and are colourless and tasteless :(

have you decided what to plant in the green manure bed?
carrots are difficult here as well.

Corn, zucchini & 2 varieties of cucumber.

Lucky1 said:

pepe said:

bluegreen said:

Lucky1 said:

bluegreen said:

hmmm, wonder if my problem is not enough water….?

Carrots need to be damp all the time….. if they dry out and then watered….they split.

mine just don’t grow and are colourless and tasteless :(

have you decided what to plant in the green manure bed?
carrots are difficult here as well.

Corn, zucchini & 2 varieties of cucumber.

not you ! – the other chatty non-blogger – BG. lol
still – since you answered – corn and cueys will fit – zuchs will be all over the place – always a problem with zuchs.
and btw L1 – videos were great – loved the devonshire countryside and the whole filming was fantastically inspiring. i will return them soon. – do you want that cardboard cage that ‘aspro’ came in? its still here with its bean trellis lid.

pepe said:

bluegreen said:

Lucky1 said:

bluegreen said:

hmmm, wonder if my problem is not enough water….?

Carrots need to be damp all the time….. if they dry out and then watered….they split.

mine just don’t grow and are colourless and tasteless :(

have you decided what to plant in the green manure bed?
carrots are difficult here as well.

I popped some leek seedlings and some spinach and silverbeet seedlings in, but only the leek and some of the spinach look like they are doing anything. The seedlings were sown ages ago in punnets and were too old I think (same story as the amaranths you gave me). When I get back from our trip I will start some new seedlings off and replace anything that is not growing. I always like a few silverbeet as they are a good continuous crop plant, and zucchini too. And some beans. Lurve home grown beans :)

not you ! – the other chatty non-blogger – BG. lol

knew that….LOL

still – since you answered – corn and cueys will fit – zuchs will be all over the place – always a problem with zuchs.

Z’s are great produces

and btw L1 – videos were great – loved the devonshire countryside and the whole filming was fantastically inspiring. i will return them soon.

oh good…. great dvds my wish to live this way , one day

– do you want that cardboard cage that ‘aspro’ came in? its still here with its bean trellis lid.

Yes please, if you don’t mind. May need it later on

I popped some leek seedlings and some spinach and silverbeet seedlings in, but only the leek and some of the spinach look like they are doing anything. The seedlings were sown ages ago in punnets and were too old I think (same story as the amaranths you gave me). When I get back from our trip I will start some new seedlings off and replace anything that is not growing. I always like a few silverbeet as they are a good continuous crop plant, and zucchini too. And some beans. Lurve home grown beans :)
———————————
seems a good choice for intensive returns.
i might try the blue lake and purple king beans after xmas this year. they grew all thru’ summer but never produced beans until march.

Yes please, if you don’t mind. May need it later on
——-
ok dvds and cage earmarked for return – probably in the next week or so. will let you know.

pepe said:

Yes please, if you don’t mind. May need it later on
——-
ok dvds and cage earmarked for return – probably in the next week or so. will let you know.

Sweet:)