Tomatoes and more

12/11/11 - Circular Asparugus

12/11/11 - Potatoes in place prior to backfilling in trenches

19/11/11 - Tomatoes planted

19/11/11 - Garlic mulched with lucerne hay

19/11/11 - Onions replanted at top and bottom of pic shows onions yet to be transplanted

Boy have I dug out wheel barrow after wheel barrow of weeds from the vegetable garden. Did this last weekend and this morning. The garden is looking much better and becoming enjoyable again for food growing.

On the 12 November I planted certified potatoe seeds. Namely Sabargo, Pontiacs, Desiree. What I did, I dug up the soil to air it out and then dug in two bags of moopoo (cow manure) into the soil and then turned that over. Formed trenches of about 200mm (8 inches) deep and placed/spaced the potoes into the trenches. Then backfilled. There is soil to the side to fill over the top of the plants once they are about 100 to 150mm (4 to 6 inches) high. This will build up the soil to the plants and promote further growth and number of potatoes. So I'll keep the blog informed.

Also for the first time I planted sweet potatoe in the garden. It is of the purple variety. I just bought a sweet potatoe from the supermarket and sliced him up annd buried it. So I'm hoping for the best too. There is a bit of luck in this. All I know is that sweet potatoes need four warm months. In the Canberra region there should be four months. Planted them on the 12 November, so mid March 2012 should hopefully be still warm enough. It's a risk, so see what happens. I have some black plastic from work so I'll bring that home and put over the top to keep that soil temperature up. Anyway it will be interesting.

I added a photo of asparugus head that went curly. So...

An update - The seeds I sowed in late October 2011 have all died. I watered once a day and the weather has been rather hot (mid to high twenties). Especially when the trays in in a brick courtyard which adds to the warmth. Anyway they did not survive due to I think the water quickly was absorbed in the egg carton box which took the moisture and left liitle for the seeds. So let me say this, I won't bother with the egg carton idea again unless there's a better way using them.

Put lucerne mulch hay around the garlic and all tomatoes. Obviously will keep the soil moist and warm.

In the photos you'll see I transplanted the brown onions in there final position. Gee there is alot of them, as I only did about half of.

Sowed Red Pepper seeds (Sweet Romano). As I lost the ones in the egg carton, I thought I'd purchase another pack and start again.

Purchased four plants of Zuchinni's. They are called Zuchinni Duo plants, so the exact meaning not shaw, perhaps grafted? There are two green and two yellow plants. I'll probably mulch them too.

Now tomatoes, I bought during the week and planted this morning:

1 x Lemon Drop Tomatoe plant (A Diggers Selection Heirloom Tomatoe).
2 x Tomatoe Mortgage Lifter plants
1 x Beefsteak Tomatoe plant
1 x F1 Truss Tomatoe plant
2 x Mighty Red Tomatoe plants
2 x Grosse Lisse Tomatoe plants
2 x Apollo Tomatoe plants
1 x Tommy Toe Tomatoe plant

So look forward to the summer tomatoe crop.

At present which is 20:48 Saturday night, there is very steady rain which just started afew minutes back and according to the radar will last only 10 minutes. Great water for the vegetable garden.

All the best till next time. Happy vegy gardening. Steve.