Christmas Eve Garden

The vegy patch as of today (looking westward). We had good heavy rain late yesterday and overnight. All seems to be growing well. Watering well and very warm days of average 28-30 deg, is the formula for a healthy vegetable garden. Have a good Christmas!

 

Vegetable Garden up and Running!

Well I have constructed five vegetable garden bays to date over the past month or so. Please see the photos showing progress below.

The next series of photos show the actual construction of the first bed. I sprayed for weeds, put down one layer of weed matting, and then filled up with imported soil mix from a local rural supplier. Each bed will have a pathway around of about 900mm so walking and wheel barrows can fit. Later I'll dress these pathways with weed matting and compacted granite dust. They are made from 200x75mm treated pine sleepers. The actual depth of each bed is approx 350-400mm. Footprint size of each bed is 2400mm long by 1200mm wide. In total there will be nine, but possible of extending this number to 12 or 15 (see how things pan out). You will notice some shabby fencing around the vegetable garden beds, this is because I have two dogs and they will destroy the plants and seeds etc if they have access. I will later put up a better and secure fence and gate surrounding the vegetable patch.

In this bed, I planted pink fir apple potatoes and silverbeet seedlings which I planted earlier. See below.

This next photo show the first three beds complete. What I have in these beds are: Potatoes (Pink Fir Apple), Silverbeet, Sweet Corn, Zucchini, Tomatoes (Big Beaf & Roma) and Dwarf Beans.

These next photos show the construction of the second row of three beds, but to date I have only made two.

In these two beds (with a different soil mix - mushroom/compost mix), I have planted the following: Beetroot, Capsicums in one bed, and the other seeds - Iceberg Lettuce, Shallots, Carrots, Radish, and Coriander. Now all of these seeds have surfaced and growing well. See the next photos of each bed (5 off):

This is the power feeder I'm using to help with the ones that are struggling such as the sweet corn and zucchini and tomatoes which are planted in the local imported soil. I think this soil is shit and is most likely fallow. So I have had to add compost and manure to these plants to help them. 

We have also separately been growing indoors Basil, Parsley and Tomatoes. I have this morning taken them from inside and transplanted them in the beds except the tomatoes which will be for a new bed (to be constructed shortly). Over the Christmas break I'll construct more beds.

Ok till next time, bye for now.

Design of New Patch, Sowing of Seeds

Well I have officially started the new vegetable patch with sowing seeds in punnets and in my miniature glass houses. Some punnets are not under cover. Took photos so see below on what I've done. In summary:

The proposed vegetable garden sketch layout (all separate beds unlike in my previous property I had one huge veggie patch which was at times hard to control) -

The location of where the vegetable garden will go (Bobcat scrapped the area of unwanted weeds and grass, I will need to spray for weeds shortly) -

Looking West

Looking East

I sowed -
1. Tomatoes
2. Silverbeet
3. Zucchini
4. Cucumber
5. Beetroot (soaked seeds for half hour in water first before sowing)
6. Dwarf Beans
7. Sweet Corn
8. Capsicum

Before Starting

Also here is a Spring planting guide for this area of Australia where I live (#Canberra).
Source: http://www.cogs.asn.au I followed this advice. S=Sow, T=Transplant.

So within two weeks, I'll have my new vegetable garden up and running. Look out for new updates soon! That's it,bye for now.

Proposed New Location of Vegetable Garden

The location of the new vegetable garden. Good? Possibly too much shade in winter? This is a couple of pictures towards the end of the day just yesterday. It is proposed to be near the septic system. I might have to change location to a more sunny spot. I'll have to put some more thought into it. I need to start shortly in designing and constructing the new vegetable garden. I want it ready for spring. Regards Steve.

Looking in a westerly direction.

Looking in an Easterly direction.

Change

FYI

I relocated home on the 16th May 2014 to a property without a vegetable garden. I will aim to set up and build a new veggie patch in the coming months ready for the Australian Spring. The new vegetable garden will be better with a whole new design. The new property is also in Murrumbateman NSW Australia.

The effects of extreme heat on my Vegetable Garden

This is what my vegetable garden looked liked late yesterday after a 38deg day. All soft, and sorry.

And this is what my vegetable patch looked like first light this morning after a decent watering from me last night and now. Leaves are stronger and looks vibrant. Amazing what water does!

Today is forecast to be 39 deg. So the vegetable garden will recieve a battering today too.

End of January Vegies

 Just a quick update. Starting to harvest tomatoes and zucchini now. Gradually pulling out old weeds from vegetable garden. We are in for a scorcher today of 38+ deg. Another heat wave is on. High thirties for the next week. Need to continue watering every morning and evening. The pictures below show the state of affairs in the garden as if an hour ago after I just watered. This today I have done with my iPhone whilst travelling to Sydney.

Hot weather gardening

Hot weather everywhere! We are on the back end of a major heat wave. It has been hot/sunny/dry weather for a week and tomorrow it is forecast a top of 40 degrees again. See the pic below from my iphone of the forecast of Murrumbateman afew days ago.

Anyway, the vegy garden has taken a hit. One night and the following morning I did not water the the plants and they started to wilt. I have had to water morning and night otherwise there is trouble. The vegetable garden appreciates the water. See some pics I took on the 14th January 2014:

All seems to be growing well, the radishes didn't really grow, only ten grew. And the shallotts have not done too well. Some have burnt off due to the recent hot heat, so only about ten are left and are currently about an inch high.Tomatoes are doing well, Corn ok, as long as I keep it watered. The cucumbers have been partly attacked by the dogs. And finally the zuchini's are doing well. There is a patch however that I have pulled all the weeds out which is sitting fallow at present. I just need to rejuvenate it and seed it with vegies. I should do that soon.

I have back on the 30th December 2013 collected thousands of brocolli seeds from last years brocolli plants. Last years plants did no good, but I got something out of the crop. Probably 20 packs of seeds. I happily gave some to my father, about 5 packs. How did I harvest the brocolli seeds? Easy! I just collected all the dry pods and rubbed them gently until the small round black seeds fell out. Collected them in a plastic bowl. The last pic shows a pod carefully opened with the seeds still intact within the pod. See pictures below:

Keep cool! StevetheVegyGardener!