Well, I think the time has come for a quick vegie garden update. Since my last post on the matter, I spent much of my time with my hands in the air not knowing what to do with the very poor growth rates. Then, in addition to a solution of liquid seaweed extract (which stinks like poop) I thought I would give old-mate Blood-n-Bone a go… As a result, the growth went VERY QUICKLY from this (on the 28th February)...
to this… (taken today; 7th April). The change was incredibly rapid; within about 72 hours of feeding with blood-n-bone, the plants were growing CRAZY, and now they are crankin’!
We have been harvesting basil pretty much since day 1, and only harvested our first capsicum 2 days ago to have (with the freshly picked basil) on home-made pizzas!
The zucchini that you can see on the following pics is to be harvested and eaten tonight!! The tomatoes, are showing mixed results; there are a number of fruit, although they are yet to turn red. Also, about a week ago, all the extremities of all the leaves went yellow and died. This happened to coincide with a fresh application of blood-n-bone, so maybe I became a bit over-anxious with fertilising. The capsicums have shown no ill-effects from it however, and are THRIVING! There are at least 4 almost ready to be picked, and MANY more pea-sized ones on the way! The zucchini were struck with powdery mildew a number of weeks ago, although a 1:9 part solution of milk to water sprayed on the leaves helped initially, although they were also afflicted with the yellowing and dead edges shown by the tomatoes. At the time of treating the mildew, I also turned them to face more of the setting sun to avoid the damp conditions that readily afflict marrow (zucchini, pumpkin, cucumber, watermelon etc) plants. The spring onions are really disappointing (didn’t even bother to take close-up). They have hardly grown, and I don’t know if they require more water, less water, more liquid fertiliser, less liquid fertiliser. Although, it appears that all the rain that we have received in the last week or so has dramatically helped the spring onions and growth of all the other plants (see especially the tops of the tomato plants).
I hope to add a number of other pots to the range shown here in the next few months. It is fantastic weather in Brisbane to grow veggies all year round. We may be getting some strawberry plants over the easter break from Rebecca’s parents, so we’ll see. Otherwise, I would love to grow cucumber, smaller tomatoes and even flowering plants like Sweet Peas, which look and smell fantastic on a trellis….. all depends on room and time… this gardening caper is fun, easy and relaxing, and saves money in the long run too!!
