tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.comments2023-04-05T00:14:03.981+10:00Champagne for snailsJodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03978697259849411276noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-70179186102630998392014-05-07T10:36:19.005+10:002014-05-07T10:36:19.005+10:00If its any consolation these were the only ones th...If its any consolation these were the only ones that did any good. My Lebanese ones were very disappointing- even though they were growing side by side with the ones pictured.Jodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03978697259849411276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-39588778614050978282014-05-06T10:21:54.306+10:002014-05-06T10:21:54.306+10:00Yes, that is BWPS - I found some really really rip...Yes, that is BWPS - I found some really really ripe ones has a slight reddish bit near the stem, but they were mostly yellow. The only part of the name I agree with was 'big'Bekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225621037420851059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-13884261517287580412014-05-06T10:20:27.330+10:002014-05-06T10:20:27.330+10:00They are impressive eggplants! I wish mine had gro...They are impressive eggplants! I wish mine had grown, I got not a single fruit from 8 plants! I think they went in too late though. I love la tortilleria! <br />I agree, I don't feel like gardening is 'work' and I would much rather ramble around the garden deciding what to make for dinner than struggle my way through the supermarket!Bekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225621037420851059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-47581918306328787912014-05-06T09:59:03.005+10:002014-05-06T09:59:03.005+10:00PS- ok so google tells me the yellow tomato looks ...PS- ok so google tells me the yellow tomato looks like a 'Big White Pink Stripe' - not exactly what I was imagining- but makes sense given I planted them!Jodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03978697259849411276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-25509619367152706502014-04-08T16:59:26.549+10:002014-04-08T16:59:26.549+10:00I love the joys of communal gardening :)- at least...I love the joys of communal gardening :)- at least this person mean't well and replaced them with what she thought was appropriate.Jodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03978697259849411276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-81023245199046651012014-04-06T16:21:29.867+10:002014-04-06T16:21:29.867+10:00I can't believe someone pulled out the tomatoe...I can't believe someone pulled out the tomatoes in your garden bed! Mine are still ripening so there was definitely time left for them. I do always feel the pressure of replanting for the changing seasons though, there's never enough bed space for everything I want to grow :(city garden country gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10477373490943625987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-43479679357684068332014-03-04T15:22:40.420+11:002014-03-04T15:22:40.420+11:00Hi Bek- yeah that seems consistent that they like ...Hi Bek- yeah that seems consistent that they like mulchy places- I think a concerted effort across the garden by all the plot holders will be required! That's certainly one thing we could try. (and if not it would get rid of any earwigs- which I would bottle and take home for the girls- never enough earwigs at our place to keep them happy)Jodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03978697259849411276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-16247927144575819172014-03-04T15:20:28.338+11:002014-03-04T15:20:28.338+11:00Interesting idea to encourage predators :)- might ...Interesting idea to encourage predators :)- might be a good idea when they are still tiny babies!Jodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03978697259849411276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-82049411319025432922014-03-03T20:49:25.176+11:002014-03-03T20:49:25.176+11:00The garden had recently been carved off from a pad...The garden had recently been carved off from a paddock, so I always assumed it was due to the amount of grass in the surrounding paddocks. What about trying to encourage good predator insects that might eat the beetles by spraying sugar syrup around your garden beds? (Hoping that harlequins don't also like sugary treats!)city garden country gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10477373490943625987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-49506996555643439852014-03-03T10:11:04.218+11:002014-03-03T10:11:04.218+11:00Well done on your tomatoes. I have to say my crops...Well done on your tomatoes. I have to say my crops have been pretty pathetic, and my sown from seed crops are only just starting to crop now. Poor!<br />I have heard, similar to earwigs, that upside down plant pots stuffed with gently scrunched newspaper is a nice home for them, which you can then empty out every few days to reduce the population. But I haven't tried this method myself. Bekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225621037420851059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-71190166325047603742014-03-03T09:50:06.481+11:002014-03-03T09:50:06.481+11:00Oh dear- I think people were hoping its a once off...Oh dear- I think people were hoping its a once off at this garden- but maybe its a wider problem. Was there are lot of mulched (wood chipped type) landscaped areas around your garden? I honestly think that's got something to do with it.Jodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03978697259849411276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-30505085792950215462014-03-02T19:11:17.499+11:002014-03-02T19:11:17.499+11:00I had a plot in a community garden years ago until...I had a plot in a community garden years ago until harlequin beetles took over and completely decimated it, which sadly was the end of us gardening there. I just had a look in a couple of books for tips on dealing with them, but you're right, there was no information! Do you know what their eggs look like? Perhaps you can target those? Good luck!city garden country gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10477373490943625987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-41816439003046130042013-12-29T08:17:27.453+11:002013-12-29T08:17:27.453+11:00I didn't know that. Thanks for sharing this ti...I didn't know that. Thanks for sharing this tip, although I'm sorry you had to experience the sad realisation that the garlic harvest was for the worms. I hope they like garlic.Bekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225621037420851059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-4809386624797431392013-12-14T19:02:19.935+11:002013-12-14T19:02:19.935+11:00Excellent work - hope they are wonderfully product...Excellent work - hope they are wonderfully productive. I have never grown any of those varieties so I will be interested to see which do well. I have planted about 8 plants in my garden but due to an incident involving a small boy and my plant labels I have no idea what I have where. I'm just hoping for less rodents this year, or at the very least I hope they just keep eating the chook food.Lizhttp://www.suburbantomato.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-84985627997939055172013-11-25T11:41:04.632+11:002013-11-25T11:41:04.632+11:00mmmm good point Liz! The cold factor was something...mmmm good point Liz! The cold factor was something I hadn't even considered. Just another thing that has the potential to impact a successful harvest. I have been growing soft head garlic. Oh well lets all report back this time next year to see if garlic will be an ongoing additive in the garden.Jodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03978697259849411276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-28034129100536758742013-11-24T19:39:47.968+11:002013-11-24T19:39:47.968+11:00Given Bek's comments and my and your experienc...Given Bek's comments and my and your experiences I'm thinking that it has been a bad year for garlic in this part of Melbourne - my theory is that it didn't get cold enough but as I'm frequently wrong...... Did you grow soft neck garlic? I did and perhaps hardneck would have done better. I'm also thinking its a water thing. But then it might be sun too. My bed was pretty dry at times and I think that harmed bulb development. Like Bek I'm going to try one more time - in the bed where I got my best ever whole years worth of garlic harvest a couple of years ago and see if it is all about position. Lizhttp://www.suburbantomato.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-82608012134915595032013-11-24T10:48:30.569+11:002013-11-24T10:48:30.569+11:00I feel your pain! My garlic harvest this year was ...I feel your pain! My garlic harvest this year was best I've had, but still pretty average. I likewise gave them lots of feeding (dirty duck pond water in my case) and a reasonably sunny spot. I think variety also made a difference in my case. Like you, I have clay soil so I think next year I will be finding a very sunny spot, giving its lots of manure, digging in some sand to aid drainage and then if I still get a rubbish crop I'm going to retire from garlic growing and just buy it! Bekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225621037420851059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-66612877998058221582013-08-12T20:49:20.071+10:002013-08-12T20:49:20.071+10:00A challenge - but an exciting one! Shame Braybroo...A challenge - but an exciting one! Shame Braybrook is a little far from Coburg - I like the idea of reclaiming a garden from the weeds... of course I could just go out the backdoor and reclaim my own I guess....Lizhttp://www.suburbantomato.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-79858421203678304322013-07-06T20:35:03.616+10:002013-07-06T20:35:03.616+10:00I want to thank you for this informative read, I r...I want to thank you for this informative read, I really appreciate sharing this great post. From <a href="http://canberradeck.blogspot.com.au/" rel="nofollow">Canberra deck</a>Frank Walmsleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10203185378578967885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-59633253048180637012013-07-02T11:43:47.165+10:002013-07-02T11:43:47.165+10:00I am thinking of starting some trapping prior to t...I am thinking of starting some trapping prior to the peas flowering- the problem is I think the rats I have seen are the wily old ones. Unfortunately they just seem to use the fence as their highway meaning they don't come down to the ground to be trapped. Given they won't need to come down on the ground to eat the peas I am sure they won't last long (I am reluctant to bait now as we saw two owls a few months back- as in real owls - not tawny frog mouths- in the trees in the yard) Jodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03978697259849411276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-41284086621740470612013-07-02T11:37:55.553+10:002013-07-02T11:37:55.553+10:00Hi Bek,
I am growing mine in a pot- which tends to...Hi Bek,<br />I am growing mine in a pot- which tends to move around depending on the time of year -usually in semi shade- nothing special- its actually just potting mix to which I have added the odd worm juice. This year it went gangbusters! I only took a small portion as I have a few requests for offshoots. Maybe its one of those plants where its a case of treat-em mean?!Jodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03978697259849411276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-12295974609052964102013-07-01T21:21:12.666+10:002013-07-01T21:21:12.666+10:00Your turmeric is oranger than mine. Mine is more ...Your turmeric is oranger than mine. Mine is more distinctly paler. I wish I could get peas to grow - I find my plants just get eaten every time I sow them. The rats are eating pretty much anything I sow in one corner of my garden. Trying to find something rat proof to grow there. Lizhttp://www.suburbantomato.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-58011560116478709622013-07-01T21:07:32.201+10:002013-07-01T21:07:32.201+10:00That turmeric harvest looks great! I've tried ...That turmeric harvest looks great! I've tried to grow it once and had no success. Sounds like you've got lots coming through in the garden!Bekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225621037420851059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-76286916727346141032013-06-17T16:51:56.128+10:002013-06-17T16:51:56.128+10:00Thanks for the tips Liz- I will see what happens w...Thanks for the tips Liz- I will see what happens with the sweet potato- if it keeps living on- if not I will lift it and do as you say with an aim of putting them back in the Spring. I might just leave the ginger where it is as well see what happens- normally works ok for the tumeric.<br />Jodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03978697259849411276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655100135658823981.post-27754107329186194742013-06-15T08:06:33.349+10:002013-06-15T08:06:33.349+10:00Absolutely agree with everything here (especially ...Absolutely agree with everything here (especially the what chooks like bit), except for not being able to use the whole pack of herbs - I find them too small if anything, particularly parsley and coriander. RE: the gardening - I find ginger usually survives over winter - just.... I generally lift mine and store a bit of rhizome but I do sometimes just leave it in the pot. The sweet potatoes might struggle, mine usually die back over winter, sometimes reappearing in late Spring/Summer and sometimes not. I'm experimenting with over wintering them in a cold frame this year. One thing I do find is that the shoots will last for ages if you leave them on the tuber in the back of a dark cupboard. Even though they've sprouted they stay in a kind of suspended animation for quite some time. I find it effective to leave them like that until August and then root them in a glass of water at that point. Lizhttp://www.suburbantomato.comnoreply@blogger.com