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Gail
garden sage
Australia
7707 Posts |
 Posted - 19/01/2009 : 12:43:26
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These past few months have been so busy that I haven't had a chance to do a lot in the vegie garden and when I have it has been one thing go wrong after another. I've had a lot of trouble with getting seeds up for some reason, and if they do come up the get eaten off or dug up or whatever 
Out of three lots of corn seed planted - about 20 to 30 seeds each time from two different packets - I only had 3 plants grow  At least each plant has had 2 or 3 cobs on it. We picked the first 2 cobs 2 days ago - didn't take a pic but they were yum!! This is the next one that is nearly ready
Only had one honeydew grow and it is just getting its first female flowers
Only one cucumber vine grew also but it has been keeping us in fruit and I do have another couple of seeds just starting to germinate
The watermelon vines are doing well, should be picking this big one soon
The watermelons (more further down but can't see them well in the pic, and further behind) are growing near the citrus on the right and bananas which are taking off nicely after planting a couple of months ago. The round corrugated iron things are that old tank that Ian cut into 4 for me. I am hoping to plant spuds in them to start with then other stuff later.
My one lone tomato that I have left growing. It will be its 2nd season - it has already been fruiting and was cut back to freshen it up - now have to wait for it to start again. I do have more seedlings and young plants but struggling to stop things eating them. I should have had a lot more growing but had so much bad luck with them the last few months.
At least the oranges and mandarines are loaded so will hopefully have heaps again this year
I didn't take pics of the grasshopper eaten silverbeet, the lettuce seedlings - this is the third try at these... hopefully these ones won't disappear overnight like the last two lots - still have heaps of capsicums on two plants - both in their third summer after surviving 2 winters - not much else though
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Di Taylor
assistant gardener
New Zealand
188 Posts |
Posted - 19/01/2009 : 12:56:51
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My deepest sympathies for your struggles, I too have similar issues, I have got to the stage where if it doesn't germinate I don't include it as a failure anymore it's simply too depressing  I just keep gazing gratefully at the edible results 
A good year is when more things get harvested than die! |
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The Estate
head gardener
Australia
3676 Posts |
Posted - 19/01/2009 : 13:13:59
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But what a nice variety and boy look at the cuc 
My basic weeding rule: if they grow in rows they're flowers;
if they don't they're weeds.
Melbourne |
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Gail
garden sage
Australia
7707 Posts |
Posted - 19/01/2009 : 13:52:39
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Thanks.
Di, I will plant more again as previous crops have been fine, just for some reason I have had so much trouble with seeds. Even though the seeds aren't old, most less than 12mths, I will buy new ones and see if that helps. Hopefully when the kids are back at school next week I will be able to get stuck into it again... I miss my homegrown vegies.
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to use it in a fruit salad.
A ounce of common sense is worth more than a ton of intelligence.
Gail, near Gympie, Qld |
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Di Taylor
assistant gardener
New Zealand
188 Posts |
Posted - 19/01/2009 : 14:01:20
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I have followed advice for some stubborn seeds and have been soaking all sorts in cups of water, still didn't make any of the capsicum germinate but at least I didnt waste time planting them, has been good for previously stubborn onions, I have had quite a few problem batches of seeds and mine too were not old - oh well, as you say all is easier when the kids are back at school.
A good year is when more things get harvested than die! |
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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10810 Posts |
Posted - 19/01/2009 : 14:02:51
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Look good to me Gail...
Friends are the flowers in the garden of life
Love Your Enemies... It Will Drive Them Nuts |
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The Estate
head gardener
Australia
3676 Posts |
Posted - 19/01/2009 : 14:57:07
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I agree MA, Gail what are you going to plant in the old tanks, I kill for a few of those if I had the room
My basic weeding rule: if they grow in rows they're flowers;
if they don't they're weeds.
Melbourne |
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medburygardens
gardener
New Zealand
639 Posts |
Posted - 19/01/2009 : 17:06:36
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| Sigh....if only i could grow a banana tree like the one you`ve got Gail......sigh |
Edited by - medburygardens on 19/01/2009 17:08:10 |
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The Estate
head gardener
Australia
3676 Posts |
Posted - 19/01/2009 : 17:49:48
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That would be no good for you over there, would have to learn how to bend them first LOLOL Sorry Gail, could not help myself
My basic weeding rule: if they grow in rows they're flowers;
if they don't they're weeds.
Melbourne |
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tessa
head gardener
Australia
3682 Posts |
Posted - 19/01/2009 : 18:21:34
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and i think you need to get the degree in bending first too.
very expensive.
it all looks great to me, gail.
cranky people live longer. i'm going to live forever! perth, wa |
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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10810 Posts |
Posted - 19/01/2009 : 18:28:16
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I agree and I know just how to bend those  's too....
Friends are the flowers in the garden of life
Love Your Enemies... It Will Drive Them Nuts |
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Pamela
head gardener
Australia
3949 Posts |
Posted - 19/01/2009 : 18:59:24
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Great pics and veggies Gail, you are doing better than me. I know what busy is also. I see you had that tank cut into 3 pieces - great idea!
"The air of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears." |
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Gail
garden sage
Australia
7707 Posts |
Posted - 19/01/2009 : 19:01:12
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I hope the bananas hurry up , I haven't had any fruit for a few years now since we moved the trees to a supposedly better position... then the drought arrived... and the neighbours escapee cows found them...
About 6 mths later they had leafed up again but still too dry and struggling where they were so I took a couple of suckers off and planted them a bit closer to water and away from cows, etc.
But this is what they used to look like before we moved them in the first place... including the friendly carpet python (I couldn't find any other pictures of these bananas except for these snake ones) They were very tall trees though and too big for the area.
Cheryl, about those old tanks - a while ago I put a post on here somewhere for ideas on what to do with this
I decided to get Ian to cut it into 4 and I will use them as vegie gardens... for now... never know what other uses I will find for them yet  The first vegies will be spuds I think... just have to get enough compost, etc together to fill them as they will hold a lot.
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to use it in a fruit salad.
A ounce of common sense is worth more than a ton of intelligence.
Gail, near Gympie, Qld |
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Di Taylor
assistant gardener
New Zealand
188 Posts |
Posted - 20/01/2009 : 03:16:25
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My boys would kill for a snake like that in the garden, we got to handle a few on holiday recently, we love non-venomous snakes but don't have snakes at all in NZ
A good year is when more things get harvested than die! |
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The Estate
head gardener
Australia
3676 Posts |
Posted - 20/01/2009 : 09:09:33
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Great idea, and keep the spuds contained as well , your python is guarding your nannas
My basic weeding rule: if they grow in rows they're flowers;
if they don't they're weeds.
Melbourne |
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Gail
garden sage
Australia
7707 Posts |
Posted - 20/01/2009 : 10:45:39
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At least we never saw the bush turkey eating the bananas again after Charlie turned up Haven't seen that big one around since but one of his/her youngsters lives in our ceiling now
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to use it in a fruit salad.
A ounce of common sense is worth more than a ton of intelligence.
Gail, near Gympie, Qld |
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My not very productive garden