Donna's Garden 14/10/08

[Donna McCallum]

I first decided in June to start growing my own fruit and vegetables in earnest it has been a huge five months but I am starting to feel that I know enough to realise that I will never know it all! But I do feel a lot more comfortable just knowing how many resources are out there to help me on what has become a fantastic journey.

Initially I thought that sharing a percentage of my crops with the pests was all part of the 'organic' way of doing things. Now I am learning that there are many things an organic gardener can do without resorting to pesticides to keep these problems at bay. Just some of the things I have learned:
* Growing things in the correct season, watering in the morning and only the actual roots not the leaves (this helps keep mould at bay)
* Yellow ladybirds (which we have in abundance might I add) eat the fungus off my plants and should be encouraged
* Spraying milk mixed with water on powdery mildew can help control powdery mildew

I have a number of other things that I have read about to try and turn my currently very sick garden into the picture of health - they include a mixture of ingredients and include things such as builders lime, copper sulphate, condys crystals, epsom salts, urine, baby wipes etc.

Seeds grew in abundance for me in July/ August and I was able to fill all my beds (dedicated 8 different sizes - mainly 2.4x1.2 as well as in the other gardens) then I couldn't get anything to grow at all so most of my beds are lying fallow as I refuse to buy seedlings - my husband would kill me anyway, if you look at my seed log you'll understand why.

I think the issue was the mini greenhouses being too hot or them drying out too much, but am trying again with a number of methods and am praying that something will grow! Chitting is wrapping seeds in wet paper towel and putting them into a sealed plastic bag. It is usually used to check germination rates but germinated seeds can still be planted and one book I read called it 'cheating' in jest. Some are in the newly washed and sterilised containers minus the lid and some are along the sides of the house where it gets more shade. I have bought a bit of shadecloth and will rig a couple of spots in the garden this weekend to try there as well in case the soil with a heavy layer of mulch keeps the seeds moist and warm.

Building a brick edge around all of the fruit trees, pulling out all grass and weeds, then laying a layer of wet newspaper, a shovel of compost, then using sugar cane as a mulch should go a long way to giving all the fruit trees a boost - mind you I think most will benefit from Bordeaux which I will complete this weekend. That sounds like it will be really easy, then I remember that I have 32 fruit trees of which five need to be planted BEFORE they can have edges put round them... we'll see, with the 2yo helping maybe I will get it done ;)

[Sue]

Its a great feeling to know you grew it yourself isnt it?? I relish the thought of showing my youngest child and my grandchildren ( when i get them that is ) how food is grown and not bought from a supermarket.. I enjoy the taste of real tomatoes which i had forgotten about until i grew my own last year and had so much surplus fed half the neighbours as well... Little bit of knowledge when it comes to gardening is great I read nearly every book in the library on gardening some i got into better than others and the kids are still buying me some of my favourtie authors for christmas ( Jackie French from burkes backyard fame and Peter Cundall from the Gardening Australia fame) I highly reccommend both of these authors for everything from organic gardening to storing your excess fruits and veggies they are both very knowledgable for australian gardening..
I also use the sugar cane mulch I buy 2 bales a month and top dress as much as possible 1>> because i am lazy and hate weeding 2.. because i know its great water saver 3>> because i know i can reuse the old rotted sugar cane in the next season of planting with organic rotted mulch as its great for the garden to grow in and the worms love it too/.
Will keep on watching your blog to see how your garden evolves like mine i hope???
CHeers SUe

[Maleta]

Hi Donna. Did you get to the Bne Organic Growers Fair? I was there briefly as well, lots to see! Are you a member of BOGI? I am, but am unable to get to the meetings as I have 3 children who are 11mths/3yr & 11yr old. So i know exactly what you mean about the which makes getting out in the garden so hard for me at the moment.