The little buggers have only been in for a few weeks, and one has a fruit already! Enthusiastic little tykes, I'll say that for them. We dynamic - ed them a few days ago and it looks like all systems go for this years crops. We may have so much that storage becomes an issue.
Sugar cane mulch:
What can I say? It's fantastic! Watering has been cut down this year to 2 10-minute lots a day, morning and night. The plants are growing beyond all previous records and every single store-bought seedling survived. We're definately getting this stuff for the rest of the yard.
On another note, we planted out the last of our home-grown tomato and capsi seedlings, and they have been a dismal failure. A single survivor out of some 50 seeds, a failure in anyones language. Nothing was different, but every single plant failed to live or thrive. We'll try again next year and see what happens.
The chicken wire has been purchased at last, so it looks like full steam ahead for the chooks as well. That's going to be a "fun" day putting all that together.
Oh well, some pain and annoyance must be had I suppose. Can't all be cocktails and watching stuff grow.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Cutting the herb garden
Just taken the first real cuttings from the herbs around the side, and they're gently drying in the pantry.
The lack of cash has delayed things quite a bit, but as we've gained lots of suitable lengths of tin, we'll be able to finish the apricot bed soon. It involves using the tin as edging, and filling the large rectangle with good soil. We're also going to use some shorter lengths to edge it into about 5 smaller beds, where the herbs can finally go into the ground and grow to their little herbie hearts content.
And I think I've finally talked Pete into letting the mint actually be planted out, rather than just keep it in pots. it will look nicer and with the spearmint on one side and the choco-mint on the other, it'll smell wonderful.
So, that'll take care of the apricot bed at long last. Then we can get stuck into finishing the chook pen. Unfortunately, that also means we'll be back to slabbing again, but you can't have everything.
The lack of cash has delayed things quite a bit, but as we've gained lots of suitable lengths of tin, we'll be able to finish the apricot bed soon. It involves using the tin as edging, and filling the large rectangle with good soil. We're also going to use some shorter lengths to edge it into about 5 smaller beds, where the herbs can finally go into the ground and grow to their little herbie hearts content.
And I think I've finally talked Pete into letting the mint actually be planted out, rather than just keep it in pots. it will look nicer and with the spearmint on one side and the choco-mint on the other, it'll smell wonderful.
So, that'll take care of the apricot bed at long last. Then we can get stuck into finishing the chook pen. Unfortunately, that also means we'll be back to slabbing again, but you can't have everything.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Apricots and fruit flies.....
So, the apricot trees who had only gone in a few months ago, had a grand total of 4 fruits on them.
However, some little black ants had made tiny little holes in them, about 4 or 5 per fruit and I noticed some syrup congealing on the skin. Didn't seem to be doing anything to the fruit though, so we left it. Then a cold snap came through, and within a day 2 of the fruit had rotted on the tree.
When we took them off, they were infested with little worms, all chomping away merrily and very disgusting. So either a) they were already infected and the cold allowed them to develop, or b) a stray fruit fly came through early one morning.
Either way, we'll have to get little mesh bags and cover them next year. Spraying the fly is time consuming and not a great success, so little bags it is.
However, some little black ants had made tiny little holes in them, about 4 or 5 per fruit and I noticed some syrup congealing on the skin. Didn't seem to be doing anything to the fruit though, so we left it. Then a cold snap came through, and within a day 2 of the fruit had rotted on the tree.
When we took them off, they were infested with little worms, all chomping away merrily and very disgusting. So either a) they were already infected and the cold allowed them to develop, or b) a stray fruit fly came through early one morning.
Either way, we'll have to get little mesh bags and cover them next year. Spraying the fly is time consuming and not a great success, so little bags it is.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Getting the summer garden going
We've had to buy seedlings for the first time in years this time around. The partner is most displeased.
We lost 2 trays to the flying bugs last year, but the third managed to come up alright. This year, both the first trays of capsicums and tomatoes. The second trays only had about six out of 28 come up.
So, we went and spent about $20 at Bunnings and got some of each, about 30 plants in all. The soil was easy, and we planted the lot out yesterday. Just have to baby them for the next week and we should have a good crop of both in a few months.
So that's taken care of. Now to get back to building the chook pen.
We lost 2 trays to the flying bugs last year, but the third managed to come up alright. This year, both the first trays of capsicums and tomatoes. The second trays only had about six out of 28 come up.
So, we went and spent about $20 at Bunnings and got some of each, about 30 plants in all. The soil was easy, and we planted the lot out yesterday. Just have to baby them for the next week and we should have a good crop of both in a few months.
So that's taken care of. Now to get back to building the chook pen.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Painting all the day long.
For sale: One used male Human, 50 years old. Chasis needs work, engine reasonably well functioning, has to be kept clean or won't work. Spine is gone, eyesight on way out. Probably best broken down for the spare parts.
Why, you ask?
Because for the last week we have been shifting sheds, laying large cement slabs, digging ditches, filling cement into said ditches - and yesterday, we spent the day painting the shed walls, the entire coop in and out (twice), the shelter roof, poles, and underside of the shelter.
It was hot, the flies were everywhere, the paint sticky and being blown about by the wind, and we were both in a bad mood.
Still, it's done. Now to start getting the topsoil for the garden in and make the fence, then the chooks will be ready to go.
Why, you ask?
Because for the last week we have been shifting sheds, laying large cement slabs, digging ditches, filling cement into said ditches - and yesterday, we spent the day painting the shed walls, the entire coop in and out (twice), the shelter roof, poles, and underside of the shelter.
It was hot, the flies were everywhere, the paint sticky and being blown about by the wind, and we were both in a bad mood.
Still, it's done. Now to start getting the topsoil for the garden in and make the fence, then the chooks will be ready to go.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Preparing for the chickens
Well, the tool shed has been moved, with much sweating and swearing, and the large cement slabs have been laid in preparation for the chook shed. Said shed has been purchased from Bunnings (large fowl house, 1.5mX1.5mX1.9) and now merely awaits building and painting.
Hopefully, we can have the chooks installed by christmas, but that depends on us being able to fence off the mini-orchard, something that will require a large outlay of money - again. It would be easier if we could track down the fencing and posts via a local household disposal run, but councils are reluctant to encourage such things. Unless you drive past a verge and see the stuff actually put out, you'd never know it was there.
So, at long last the end is in sight, at least for the chooks. And having tracked down a local supplier for the birds, who'll also clip their wings for us, it looks like fresh eggs are on the horizon.
Hopefully, we can have the chooks installed by christmas, but that depends on us being able to fence off the mini-orchard, something that will require a large outlay of money - again. It would be easier if we could track down the fencing and posts via a local household disposal run, but councils are reluctant to encourage such things. Unless you drive past a verge and see the stuff actually put out, you'd never know it was there.
So, at long last the end is in sight, at least for the chooks. And having tracked down a local supplier for the birds, who'll also clip their wings for us, it looks like fresh eggs are on the horizon.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Shifting yet another shed.....
The partner has decided we have to move the tool shed again. Shifting it by hand from one end of the yard to the other on posts was hard enough - shifting it over a tree stump is going to be almost impossible!
But it is the only way we'll get the chook shed in, so it's the only way.
On the upside, the patio and the covered walkway are done at last. And we only missed one hole with the bitumen. The rain soon found that yesterday.
Wonder how long I can put off shifting this shed?
But it is the only way we'll get the chook shed in, so it's the only way.
On the upside, the patio and the covered walkway are done at last. And we only missed one hole with the bitumen. The rain soon found that yesterday.
Wonder how long I can put off shifting this shed?
Thursday, October 7, 2010
So, now the partner in crime is seriously interested in getting chickens. We have the area planned out, all we need now is the cage and the slabs to pave the bottom, although considering the trouble we've had with all the other slabs, I'm tempted to just lay concrete. It would certainly be easier less fuss than spending a day doing it the hard way.
And then there's getting the chickens themselves, not an easy thing to do. Might even suss out the local RSPCA for them, they occasionally have livestock. Otherwise it's trying to find a poultry supplier, which is not easy out here.
Oh well, should be fun anyway.
And then there's getting the chickens themselves, not an easy thing to do. Might even suss out the local RSPCA for them, they occasionally have livestock. Otherwise it's trying to find a poultry supplier, which is not easy out here.
Oh well, should be fun anyway.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Harvest time!
So, yesterday the peas and beans came out at last.
We managed a decent crop of peas this year, much to the partner in crimes surprise (and mine). The broad beans, however, were a major failure. About 50 beans in total after peeling. Very much not worth the effort.
However, it does leave the plot free for the tomatoes in a few weeks, and hopefully they'll manage a better crop.
We managed a decent crop of peas this year, much to the partner in crimes surprise (and mine). The broad beans, however, were a major failure. About 50 beans in total after peeling. Very much not worth the effort.
However, it does leave the plot free for the tomatoes in a few weeks, and hopefully they'll manage a better crop.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
