RE: Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices
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RE: Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices - 8/14/2009 12:27:39 PM
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deermousie
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quote:
ORIGINAL: uncabeeil
Trish is in Australia, so she's just coming out of winter and into spring, so I don't think she has to worry about frost.
Ha! I guess not.  Sorry, Trish!
Well, then this is the ideal time to get seeds. I like to plant stuff in mid-summer for a fall harvest (peas, spinach, kale, lettuce) and there's never any seeds to buy at that time, so you could stock up if you wanted to.
If plants get 6+ hours of sun a day and get watered every time the top 1/4" of soil gets dry, that pretty well covers easy gardening. Water in some plant food every month and it should be a success.
If pots are small enough to lift, I keep a big bucket of water handy, and plunge a dry plant into the water above soil level. There are spaces in the soil that like to alternate water and air, so dry soil will bubble all that air out and fill the pockets with water. It takes about 30 seconds to finish bubbling, and then you know it's thoroughly watered. When the top 1/4" gets dry in a few days/weeks, plunge again. It sure makes watering easy.
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"Through Gates of Splendor" by Elizabeth Elliot
"Federal Husband" by Doug Wilson
www.biblegateway.com for online concordance (I use it daily)
"Passion and Purity" by Elizabeth Elliot
And I think chickens are really funny
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Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices - 8/14/2009 12:30:30 PM
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PinkCarnations
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Harvie
Helpful hint: Do not plant 24 plants like we did. (grin)
We only did 11 tomato plants. I am the only one who eats them and I'm having a hard time keeping up with them. I can only handle 2-3 tomatoes a day.
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RE: Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices - 8/14/2009 11:20:32 PM
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deermousie
Posts: 2216
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quote:
ORIGINAL: PinkCarnations
We only did 11 tomato plants. I am the only one who eats them and I'm having a hard time keeping up with them. I can only handle 2-3 tomatoes a day.
Stick them in the freezer. They'll be mushy when you take them out, but the skins will slip right off and you can make yummy pizza or speghetti sauce.
_____________________________
"Through Gates of Splendor" by Elizabeth Elliot
"Federal Husband" by Doug Wilson
www.biblegateway.com for online concordance (I use it daily)
"Passion and Purity" by Elizabeth Elliot
And I think chickens are really funny
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RE: Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices - 8/14/2009 11:30:22 PM
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manda59
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From: Hampshire, UK
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Trish,
What about growing spuds? You don't need a lot of space - a big deep bucket or a plastic dustbin would suffice for a reasonable amount of spuds to grow.
Btw if you're growing carrots, you might like to sow some marigolds either side of them - they are a very effective repellent for carrot root fly (and aphids, if you have any plants prone to aphid attacks).
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sharonjef, October 2009
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RE: Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices - 8/15/2009 11:40:27 AM
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cherish405
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We got miniature Roma tomatoes, carrots, silverbeet, capsicum/bell peppers. We start planting them tomorrow afternoon.
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From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
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RE: Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices - 8/18/2009 11:28:40 AM
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cherish405
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Well, Sunday afternoon, John and I planted the tomato plants, the carrots and silverbeet. We didn't have enough space to plant the capsicums/bell peppers. Will either have to get some more planting boxes or eat out the other veggies. Don't need to water them yet. It's been raining the past few days and they don't need to get any more soggy than they already are.
John planted out the camelias that we got and the pansies as well. Sure makes our front garden a lot more colourful.
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From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
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RE: Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices - 8/19/2009 12:02:12 PM
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cherish405
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It's still raining, so I still don't need to water the plants. The vast majority are standing up tall. I can see them getting a bit bigger. Still need to be pretty patient with them all though. Then we have some yummy veggies.
Aga, I'd never heard of round carrots until you mentioned them. I didn't think we could get them here, but I found some. Strange looking things. Thankfully the container I've got the plants in though are deep enough for normal carrots.
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From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
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RE: Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices - 8/20/2009 12:20:17 PM
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cherish405
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I'm so excited! I went to take a look at the plants this afternoon, and both of the tomato plants have their first flowers growing! They have little buds as well. I was so excited to seen the flowers on on the tomato plants!
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From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
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RE: Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices - 8/20/2009 2:25:03 PM
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agapetos
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Trish, once you see little tomatoes appear, start to feed them tomato food. Don't do it until you see the tomatoes though as it will prevent them (the tomatoes) developing.
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Maggie
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RE: Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices - 8/22/2009 11:46:02 AM
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cherish405
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I hear there's something called tomato dust that I'll have to get for them too?
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From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
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RE: Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices - 8/22/2009 2:48:44 PM
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agapetos
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I've not heard of that...
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Maggie
September 09
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RE: Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices - 8/23/2009 7:37:41 PM
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uncabeeil
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From: Joisey. Got a problem wit dat?
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That's new to me, too. All I've used this year is Miracle Grow Shake & Feed. And 40 lbs of composted cow manure when I first turned the soil. What kind of "dirt" did you wind up buying, potting soil?
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"It don't do to fight with God cuz He always wins.
He bloodies your nose and then gives you a ride home on his bike"
Rich Mullins
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RE: Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices - 8/28/2009 12:59:40 PM
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cherish405
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Ended up getting an enriched potting mix. It has slow release water crystals in there, plus added nutrients.
Forgot the tomato dust the other day. Will get some next week. I think it's to deal with any bugs that try to eat the plant. Not sure.
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From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
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RE: Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices - 9/1/2009 4:06:13 AM
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cherish405
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The plants are growing well. Took the lower leaves off the tomatoes. There's little flower buds there, ready to flower.
The carrot tops are getting more greenery on them. Up to 4 shoots now.
The silverbeet is doing really well too.
They're getting plenty of water. It's raining here again. I watered them yesterday, (I'm watering them alternate days), so with the rain, it will keep them well watered. Thankfully they have plenty of drainage too.
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From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
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RE: Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices - 9/4/2009 7:14:46 AM
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cherish405
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WOOHOO! My first tiny tomato is starting to grow!
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From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
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RE: Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices - 9/4/2009 1:09:40 PM
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uncabeeil
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Isn't that a great feeling? Wait til you eat it. No tomato will ever taste so good.
_____________________________
"It don't do to fight with God cuz He always wins.
He bloodies your nose and then gives you a ride home on his bike"
Rich Mullins
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RE: Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices - 9/5/2009 2:14:06 AM
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cherish405
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You're so right, Bill. I'm so excited about this little green thing hanging off a stem. You'd think I'd won the lottery instead!
I'm looking forward to eating the produce of the things I've grown. My parents had veggie gardens when I was a kid. That was the last time I ate 'fresh' veggies instead of store bought.
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From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
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RE: Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices - 9/6/2009 11:51:12 AM
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cherish405
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WOOHOO!! Tomato number 2 has started growing on the other tomato plant! The plants are obviously happy there.
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
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RE: Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices - 9/13/2009 1:11:35 AM
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cherish405
Posts: 32134
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Snails and slugs are eating my tomato and carrot plants and I don't know how to stop them. We put some tomato dust on the tomato plants yesterday which is supposed to kill pests. There's snail pellets around around all the plants. It's supposed to attract snails, then kill them when they eat the bait. Not very successful right now.
_____________________________
From this time forth, with the powers vested in me, this post serves as public notice of the issuance of one unrevocable lisence to cherish405 to have special dispensation in the matter of drive-by huggings as she sees fit. ~rayofson~
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Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices - 9/13/2009 1:18:52 AM
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PinkCarnations
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Trish, have you tried putting a few drops of dish soap in a spray bottle and spraying the plants? I don't know if it will work for slugs and snails, but it is supposed to help deter other insects. It might be worth a try.
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Thank you Veterans.
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RE: Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices - 9/13/2009 11:48:29 AM
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creationtalk
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Last year we grew zucchini and green beans in pots--had more than we could eat of zucchini from two large pots (15 inch diameter--used a lot of fertilizer). This year we have pumpkins and watermellon in pots. Also have a potted orange tree (needs to come in in the winter). We've also grown herbs and leaf lettuce in pots.
I knew a man who had a "garden" plot build at waist height. It was in two tables ~ 4' X 6' each. The table were set up so that he could reach everything with out stretching or bending. He grew baby carrots, peas, lettuce, and a whole lot more. I think his bed was around 10" deep. He rarely had weeds because he used potting soil and the height of the table prevented weed seeds from blowing in.
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RE: Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices - 9/13/2009 11:54:46 AM
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creationtalk
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quote:
Snails and slugs are eating my tomato and carrot plants and I don't know how to stop them.
If your garden is in pots, this might be a bit harder, but....get a cake pan or something similar (could maybe use a jar or can for a pot garden?) with straight sides, bury it so that the top is level with the top of the soil, fill the container half full of beer (stale is OK). Leave it there. When the slugs/snails are active at night they will be attracted to the smell of the beer, crawl to the container and fall in. According to the book (Organic Gardening Encyclopedia) they will drown (or perhaps get drunk so they can't climb out THEN drown).
You can also sprinkle the soil with crushed egg shells. This is a rough surface for the slugs/snails that they don't like and it will also add calcium to the soil.
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Low maintainance veggie growing for complete novices - 9/13/2009 2:34:25 PM
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PinkCarnations
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quote:
ORIGINAL: creationtalk
This year we have pumpkins and watermellon in pots. Also have a potted orange tree (needs to come in in the winter). We've also grown herbs and leaf lettuce in pots.
I plan on doing pumpkins and watermelon next year. Please let me know how that works out for you. It sounds like a great idea as far as saving space.
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I killed 3 snails today. They've been eating my plants! There's slug killer on them, but they still seem to prefer my plants!