my december garden has survived
- probably double mulching, double fert and being close to the house helped
some corn blown around

looks good pepe.

the lemon verbena easily survived but the yucca gloriosa got sunburnt.
the pomegranates are magnificent – totally untouched.

veg gardener said:

looks good pepe.

thanks VG
i’m picking beans – altho’ i am surprised they survived as well as they did.

pepe said:

my december garden has survived

it certainly has, well done :)

yeah my garden has lost it, i just remember i turned the tap onto the tomatoes before. ill see how the water is going.

bluegreen said:

pepe said:

my december garden has survived

it certainly has, well done :)

thanks BG

veg gardener said:

yeah my garden has lost it, i just remember i turned the tap onto the tomatoes before. ill see how the water is going.

who’s lost it LOL
don’t worry the heat and lack of sleep has made us all a bit absent minded.

Your garden has survived really well Pepe, good to see :)

Wow so green, your hard work really paid off by the looks :D

Your garden has survived better than mine Pepe

Lucky1 said:

Your garden has survived better than mine Pepe

thanks all
triple mulch, including hen house sweepings, fortnightly seaweed and shelter probably saved it. …. plus the sink and shower water was dumped on it as well as twice a week waterings. a bit spoilt really.

the whole memory of superheated soil and air has left me.
so what survived the blast furnace best?
pomegranates and kale

pepe said:

the whole memory of superheated soil and air has left me.
so what survived the blast furnace best?
pomegranates and kale

Morning Pepe,
Well that is interesting to know about the kale especially. Got myself a couple seedlings happening at the mo. Every summer I’ve wondered what would work well for the chooks greens, and seems this kale could be it.

horseradish leaves were burnt and basil has gone to seed.
the basil can still be harvested by giving it a haircut and removing all the seed heads. this will prolong harvesting indefinitely – until the cold weather comes.

Muschee said:

pepe said:

the whole memory of superheated soil and air has left me.
so what survived the blast furnace best?
pomegranates and kale

Morning Pepe,
Well that is interesting to know about the kale especially. Got myself a couple seedlings happening at the mo. Every summer I’ve wondered what would work well for the chooks greens, and seems this kale could be it.

morning muschee
kale is very tough and grows to higher then a metre – so i spose it might supplant the traditional silver beet.

pepe said:

horseradish leaves were burnt and basil has gone to seed.
the basil can still be harvested by giving it a haircut and removing all the seed heads. this will prolong harvesting indefinitely – until the cold weather comes.

How do you use the horseradish Pepe?

How do you use the horseradish Pepe?
————-
the roots make a bitey (hot) sauce for use will lamb and other dishes.

btw my kale is red russian – OC40 has a much prettier, frilly version which might not be as tough.

pepe said:

How do you use the horseradish Pepe?
————-
the roots make a bitey (hot) sauce for use will lamb and other dishes.

btw my kale is red russian – OC40 has a much prettier, frilly version which might not be as tough.

Oh ok , I thought you might be able to use the horesradish leaves for something…I buy the prepared horseradish, but never tried growing my own.

Yes the kale can be very pretty. I’ve been eyeing off one that really frilly too, but the one I’ve got going is the giant one chou moellier, altho it’s tiny at the mo.

Muschee said:

pepe said:

How do you use the horseradish Pepe?
————-
the roots make a bitey (hot) sauce for use will lamb and other dishes.

btw my kale is red russian – OC40 has a much prettier, frilly version which might not be as tough.

Oh ok , I thought you might be able to use the horesradish leaves for something…I buy the prepared horseradish, but never tried growing my own.

Yes the kale can be very pretty. I’ve been eyeing off one that really frilly too, but the one I’ve got going is the giant one chou moellier, altho it’s tiny at the mo.

that chou version will be interesting – how big does it grow?
the horseradish is a pest, equal to mint, in its ability to spread. so grow it in a bed where it can’t invade other sections of the garden.

that chou version will be interesting – how big does it grow?

Sometimes it’s called the Walking Stick cabbage, and can grow to great heights; 1.2-1.5 cm (4-5 feet) or more.

I’ll let you know how true that description is.

produce – those brown things between the pesto and bowl of basil are fried garlic for tonight’s pizza pockets
corn with cobs starting
carrots – the experiment with nitrogenous fertiliser is not working

pepe said:

produce – those brown things between the pesto and bowl of basil are fried garlic for tonight’s pizza pockets
corn with cobs starting
carrots – the experiment with nitrogenous fertiliser is not working

Not an expert but I think the lack of water might have more to do with the slow carrots than the fertilizer…just a thought…

Dinetta said:

pepe said:

produce – those brown things between the pesto and bowl of basil are fried garlic for tonight’s pizza pockets
corn with cobs starting
carrots – the experiment with nitrogenous fertiliser is not working

Not an expert but I think the lack of water might have more to do with the slow carrots than the fertilizer…just a thought…

yes – lack of water generally – and probably the straw has absorbed the nitrogen.

¤tpepe said:

produce – those brown things between the pesto and bowl of basil are fried garlic for tonight’s pizza pockets
corn with cobs starting
carrots – the experiment with nitrogenous fertiliser is not working

Mmmmm tasty pizza pockets!
The corn looks nice and healthy – must try that one day :)

all chook news this morning.

i have removed the wire tensioning from the gate and it is repaired – so the chooks have been let into the second chook pen because they are so bored and lacking in greens. they are molting and laying no eggs – so hopefully a new pen to scratch will help.

three new pigeon babies – behind a lid in the very corner of the shed – you can’t stop them breeding.

pepe said:

all chook news this morning.

i have removed the wire tensioning from the gate and it is repaired – so the chooks have been let into the second chook pen because they are so bored and lacking in greens. they are molting and laying no eggs – so hopefully a new pen to scratch will help.

three new pigeon babies – behind a lid in the very corner of the shed – you can’t stop them breeding.

Poor chookies! do you let them on to the lawn for a green pick just before bedtime?

and Clever Pigeons!…do you benefit from their droppings? The late Peter Bennett thought very highly of pigeon droppings…

pepe said:

all chook news this morning.

i have removed the wire tensioning from the gate and it is repaired – so the chooks have been let into the second chook pen because they are so bored and lacking in greens. they are molting and laying no eggs – so hopefully a new pen to scratch will help.

three new pigeon babies – behind a lid in the very corner of the shed – you can’t stop them breeding.

I am expecting some chicks this weekend :)

I’ve got no idea how many eggs the hen is sitting on as I decided not to move her and she has not been off the nest while I have been around so it could be one or a dozen!

bluegreen said:

pepe said:

all chook news this morning.

i have removed the wire tensioning from the gate and it is repaired – so the chooks have been let into the second chook pen because they are so bored and lacking in greens. they are molting and laying no eggs – so hopefully a new pen to scratch will help.

three new pigeon babies – behind a lid in the very corner of the shed – you can’t stop them breeding.

I am expecting some chicks this weekend :)

I’ve got no idea how many eggs the hen is sitting on as I decided not to move her and she has not been off the nest while I have been around so it could be one or a dozen!

Oh my ducks are moulting too…. couple of chooks as well.

Bonnie is doing well with her eggs and so is Banjo.

Hope the chicks hatch safely BG.

Dinetta said:

pepe said:

all chook news this morning. i have removed the wire tensioning from the gate and it is repaired – so the chooks have been let into the second chook pen because they are so bored and lacking in greens. they are molting and laying no eggs – so hopefully a new pen to scratch will help. three new pigeon babies – behind a lid in the very corner of the shed – you can’t stop them breeding.

Poor chookies! do you let them on to the lawn for a green pick just before bedtime? and Clever Pigeons!…do you benefit from their droppings? The late Peter Bennett thought very highly of pigeon droppings…

no lawn. i have discovered that they will scratch first and eat green lettuce leaf second.
pigeon poo is an asset but knowing whether its better than rabbit poo or any other manure is difficult. i think at least 6 pigeons will have to go to market – we don’t eat their eggs.

I am expecting some chicks this weekend :) I’ve got no idea how many eggs the hen is sitting on as I decided not to move her and she has not been off the nest while I have been around so it could be one or a dozen!
————
- do you know if other hens have been laying in the broody’s nest. unless i isolate the broodies they always sit on the trendy nest so eggs keep accumulating.

Oh my ducks are moulting too…. couple of chooks as well. Bonnie is doing well with her eggs and so is Banjo. Hope the chicks hatch safely BG
—————————————————

i checked for red combs and really the rooster’s is reddest – i hope he’s not doing a change act. LOL
i’ve got feathers all over the henhouse – they are good fertiliser too.

pepe said:

Oh my ducks are moulting too…. couple of chooks as well. Bonnie is doing well with her eggs and so is Banjo. Hope the chicks hatch safely BG
—————————————————

i checked for red combs and really the rooster’s is reddest – i hope he’s not doing a change act. LOL
i’ve got feathers all over the henhouse – they are good fertiliser too.

Do chooks normally moult at summers end ? or is it just your lot ? lol.
Silly question, but I don’t think I’ve seen my feathered lot moult yet.. big red combs all over here except for the 2 oldies.

Their combs do go somewhat paler/ smaller when having a rest from laying too.

Do chooks normally moult at summers end ? or is it just your lot ? lol.
———
lucky did say something about setting eggs 9 months before the chicks will lay – so probably laying and moulting are seasonal. i suspect the heat wave has weakened all poultry – they don’t notice the cold but they are not well equipped for heat.

pigeon poo is an asset but knowing whether its better than rabbit poo or any other manure is difficult. i think at least 6 pigeons will have to go to market – we don’t eat their eggs.
+++++++

Sad about the pigeons going…guess you can only cope with so many birds…

Peter Bennett was a SA gardening guru…not sure of the title of his book…

Dinetta said:

pigeon poo is an asset but knowing whether its better than rabbit poo or any other manure is difficult. i think at least 6 pigeons will have to go to market – we don’t eat their eggs.
+++++++

Sad about the pigeons going…guess you can only cope with so many birds… Peter Bennett was a SA gardening guru…not sure of the title of his book…

i’ve seen his book and heard him speak. he was one of the people called a crank when organic gardening was considered voodoo by the mainstream. i don’t buy gardening books – i would rather garden than read about it.

i’ve seen his book and heard him speak. he was one of the people called a crank when organic gardening was considered voodoo by the mainstream. i don’t buy gardening books – i would rather garden than read about it.
+++++++++++++++++

This book was in the permanent collection in our local library about 25 years ago…hopefully they replace it as it gets worn out…have you considered your local library? In Queensland, if you want a book they will “order” it in for you…that is, ask which library has it and then request it for you…

Dinetta said:

i’ve seen his book and heard him speak. he was one of the people called a crank when organic gardening was considered voodoo by the mainstream. i don’t buy gardening books – i would rather garden than read about it.
+++++++++++++++++

This book was in the permanent collection in our local library about 25 years ago…hopefully they replace it as it gets worn out…have you considered your local library? In Queensland, if you want a book they will “order” it in for you…that is, ask which library has it and then request it for you…

D’oh, you’ve already read his book…sorry to go on and on…

Dinetta said:

Dinetta said:

i’ve seen his book and heard him speak. he was one of the people called a crank when organic gardening was considered voodoo by the mainstream. i don’t buy gardening books – i would rather garden than read about it.
+++++++++++++++++

This book was in the permanent collection in our local library about 25 years ago…hopefully they replace it as it gets worn out…have you considered your local library? In Queensland, if you want a book they will “order” it in for you…that is, ask which library has it and then request it for you…

D’oh, you’ve already read his book…sorry to go on and on…

yeah – its a good book – but altho’ its been updated its a relic of the past really – as are the steiner and permaculture books. they all contain successful and failed experiments and none of them refer to a drought like this one or a soil like mine – and they don’t have revolving chooks.

pepe said:

Dinetta said:

Dinetta said:

i’ve seen his book and heard him speak. he was one of the people called a crank when organic gardening was considered voodoo by the mainstream. i don’t buy gardening books – i would rather garden than read about it.
+++++++++++++++++

This book was in the permanent collection in our local library about 25 years ago…hopefully they replace it as it gets worn out…have you considered your local library? In Queensland, if you want a book they will “order” it in for you…that is, ask which library has it and then request it for you…

D’oh, you’ve already read his book…sorry to go on and on…

yeah – its a good book – but altho’ its been updated its a relic of the past really – as are the steiner and permaculture books. they all contain successful and failed experiments and none of them refer to a drought like this one or a soil like mine – and they don’t have revolving chooks.

Oh OK, it’s just that he was such a champion of pigeon poo …

Speaking of the drought, we have been in it so long that the last two reasonable “wet” seasons (including the current one) have caught us by surprise…the leucaena has prospered alarmingly…I am looking forward to Sonny Jim coming home to tag-team with me on poisoning the big trees…

I’ll post photos in the practising HTML thread on the weekend…

pepe said:

I am expecting some chicks this weekend :) I’ve got no idea how many eggs the hen is sitting on as I decided not to move her and she has not been off the nest while I have been around so it could be one or a dozen!
————
- do you know if other hens have been laying in the broody’s nest. unless i isolate the broodies they always sit on the trendy nest so eggs keep accumulating.

have no idea but she is in such an enclosed spot it would be hard for another chook to get in there (although I know they can be capable of anything once they put their tiny mind to it.)

Happy Potter said:

pepe said:

Oh my ducks are moulting too…. couple of chooks as well. Bonnie is doing well with her eggs and so is Banjo. Hope the chicks hatch safely BG
—————————————————

i checked for red combs and really the rooster’s is reddest – i hope he’s not doing a change act. LOL
i’ve got feathers all over the henhouse – they are good fertiliser too.

Do chooks normally moult at summers end ? or is it just your lot ? lol.
Silly question, but I don’t think I’ve seen my feathered lot moult yet.. big red combs all over here except for the 2 oldies.

Their combs do go somewhat paler/ smaller when having a rest from laying too.

oh I have so many feathers in the hen house and the yard that I have to do a head check to make sure none are missing! Only getting one egg a day too so they are definitely off the lay as well.

beans – vegetarian protein and right up there with strawbs and corn as fetish food. this is about a quarter of my current crop.

pepe said:

beans – vegetarian protein and right up there with strawbs and corn as fetish food. this is about a quarter of my current crop.

Now they look green and healthy Pepe. Good yum in that lot. When I shopped on wednesday I made a wide circle around the brocolli which was priced ar $10:99 kg. I fear there is worse to come yet.

pomolo said:

pepe said:

beans – vegetarian protein and right up there with strawbs and corn as fetish food. this is about a quarter of my current crop.

Now they look green and healthy Pepe. Good yum in that lot. When I shopped on wednesday I made a wide circle around the brocolli which was priced ar $10:99 kg. I fear there is worse to come yet.

broc about $9 per kilo here.
these are some of the best beans i’ve ever grown. they are extremely popular with cooks.

the watermelons too seem to have about a hundred little melons setting. last year i had a big patch of w/melons, lots of bees but only about 2 melons. fingers crossed i get enuff to give some away this year.

broc about $9 per kilo here.
———————————————————
Heard on the “Stale Food People” add.. broccoli is going to be short supply for a few weeks…..

pepe said:

pomolo said:

pepe said:

beans – vegetarian protein and right up there with strawbs and corn as fetish food. this is about a quarter of my current crop.

Now they look green and healthy Pepe. Good yum in that lot. When I shopped on wednesday I made a wide circle around the brocolli which was priced ar $10:99 kg. I fear there is worse to come yet.

broc about $9 per kilo here.
these are some of the best beans i’ve ever grown. they are extremely popular with cooks.

the watermelons too seem to have about a hundred little melons setting. last year i had a big patch of w/melons, lots of bees but only about 2 melons. fingers crossed i get enuff to give some away this year.

Isn’t it a bit late for waterrmelons? I haven’t grown them so how would I know anyway.