House & Home The Vege Garden Thread 2021

I put some beans in a couple of weeks ago, noticed the first shoot this morning.

Tomatoes are coming up by themselves - they should be baby cherries if they've self-seeded from last year's crop or the compost. I picked up some bamboo stakes a week ago as well - hopefully they'll last better than those crappy hardwood stakes from Bunnie's (they aren't an in-ground grade of timber).

Citrus is starting to flower, got around to planting another lemon & a new rosemary next to the lavender.

 

No issues there but they are in Garage (under couch), gym area, undercover storage....sometimes when I am workingout they just appear from no where and not to mention the dropings ;(

 

Lucky you don't have drop bears.

 

How do you successfully grow lavender? We did last year, more than 1/2 died

 

Keep it reasonably dry, I placed bushrock around the plants to generate/retain heat, cut back harshly (⅓ of plant) after flowering - it's going gangbusters at present.

 

That’s an issue with our soil, clay - poor drainage. And last year was pretty wet. Bush rock is a good idea - will try around left over plants

 

We have clay about 8" down & heaps of broken down mulched top soil. There are still some spots which are hit & miss with what will grow.

The challenge is the lack of continuous full sun.

 

Planter boxes for growing vegs and herbs:
[Maybe I should start a new thread for my question on this.] Been thinking of buying (high) planter boxes for growing vegs and herbs - so I don't have to bend down to the ground so much (aging issue). Have checked out those for sale at Bunnings - they are round metals, height between 500mm to 1m. However, also saw an ad in a gardening magazine for rectangular / square timber. Wonder if anyone has used these planter boxes for growing vegs and herbs? Which one would you choose - metal (cheaper) or timber (more expensive)? Both would have to be lined and filled with top soil, compost and mulch? Our backyard is mainly lawn / weed on a slight slope. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks, geoffw. Have followed that thread now, to get ideas. However, we are not 'handy' people and have not much strength to do the hard yakka work. So, it is likely that we may go for the cheaper (and lighter) colour bond raised garden beds, instead of timber or wood. I only want to grow some herbs and basic vegs - cannot manage much more than these. No fruit trees, other than a lime tree.

 

Here’s a product which may be of interest.

Raised Garden Bed Kits | Elevated and Portable | Wicking Bed Design

 

Mrs tried in pot, when established then tranfered in ground(1st pic) and 2nd one direct in ground last year.

 

Not exactly vege garden ... although my fruit trees are flowering prolifically, my sweet corn is sprouting, and 4 of my 5 new asparagus crowns have shot thru ... I have finally joined the sourdough revolution .... at a mere day 3 I am bubbling like crazy

Smells amazing and still another 5 days of feeding before I can bread bake ... what a wild and yeasty home I have ...

 

Yep - next project .... can't believe I tried to give away my pallets!

 

Vege garden is loving the rain (and the manures and the mushroom compost and the mulch)

I'm not an organised vege garden'er - things get bunged in where they fit between the flowers and dozen fruit trees.

Corn is looking fab and I've just planted another plot - asparagus is forming a lovely crown (okay, I have 5 asparagus crowns in my gardens nomnomnom) - although the cherry tomatoes have decided they prefer the path rather than the garden. Not had much luck, so far, with carrot and parsnip.

Also spreading their wings are snow peas, butter beans, beetroot, sweet potato, cucumbers, dwarf watermelon, pumpkin, lettuces and every herb I'm likely to ever need ... although ... am keen to try "long pepper" alongside my coffee plant ... Long Pepper: A Short History — SECONDS | Food history

 

We bought these to hang on the fence, plus planter boxes
Whites Outdoor Deluxe Adjustable Window Box Planter - Bunnings Australia
Good for herbs no bending

 

After a morning putting up the Christmas tree and brining cucumbers for the annual pickle-fest ... lunch time

Everything picked from my garden ... to make a green tomato, garlic and basil pasta sauce with asparagus and snow peas lunch ... yum! Did veer from the recipe slightly as the green cherry tomatoes were frying a little quick in the pan - nothing a good glug of white wine (for stewing, of course) didn't fix

Topped with pine nuts and parmesan

 

I’ve sown heirloom tomatoes and cucumbers and they’re doing well, not sure I have enough space for the cucumbers may have to plant them out amongst the native garden. I bought an old old round trough from the tip shop and DF has affixed it to the side wall, I’ve put snow peas in!

 

Never seen this size before