tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42386649773183443752024-03-06T04:55:55.283+08:00The Distracted GardenerThe ramblings of a young father who enjoys gardening, but doesnt really know what he is doing. In short, the Maxwell Smart of the gardening world.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03962595185046987128noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238664977318344375.post-21592813731283802022008-11-20T17:09:00.002+09:002008-11-20T17:40:50.809+09:00More plants, and a new direction?<div style="text-align: justify;">So I bought some more chili plants today, and I have decided that I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">shouldn't</span> tell my wife. Not yet, anyway. I picked up a <a href="http://www.thechileman.org/results.php?find=wax&heat=Any&origin=Any&genus=Any&chile=1&submit=Search">Hungarian Wax</a>, and an <a href="http://www.thechileman.org/results.php?find=habanero+orange&heat=Any&origin=Any&genus=Any&chile=1&submit=Search">Orange <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Habanero</span></a>. I have been looking at Hungarian Wax plants for quite a while now, and have decided that while its not my first choice, I really want a yellow fruiting plant somewhere. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">habanero</span> might be to replace the one I have growing at the moment, because it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">doesn't</span> seem to be in the best of conditions. Hopefully it will pull through, but if it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">doesn't</span>, I now have a backup. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">I'm</span> also going to pot this one into store bought potting mix, the first one went into my home made concoction of food compost, pot-ash, and some of the duplex loam soil that prevails here. Or I might try and get some lighter soil, sand even, for the extra heat it adds.<br />On another note, I have been looking into hydroponics a lot lately, as they seem to be a great way of growing a huge amount in the small space that I have. I first got the idea off of the Refining Fire website, when I was looking at the pictures up there of the set-up. Then I started to think that it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">couldn't</span> be that hard, so I have been looking at it in more detail, and, not surprisingly, have found that the best source of free information on the net today, about hydroponics at home, is from the various marijuana growing forums. Everyone else <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">doesn't</span> really have a need for hydroponics (damn all you people with a real garden), or they want to charge you a lot of money to tell you how to grow hydroponically. Another problem I have is that even if I wanted to do it, I would probably have to wait until next year's grow cycle to really grow chillies (I want them to never touch soil), plus I have to overcome my families objections to me taking up our already very small yard. Worth pondering though.<br /></div>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03962595185046987128noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238664977318344375.post-88325019577538267742008-11-17T15:38:00.005+09:002008-11-17T16:53:05.568+09:00Perth Garden update<div style="text-align: justify;">Well, after a week in Perth hanging out with my plants (and my family), I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">didn't</span> manage to get even one picture of them that was good enough to put up here on the site. Shocking I know. Hopefully I can get some pics taken by my wife, as I wont be back to see them for over a month at this stage, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">I'm</span> going to get withdrawal for sure.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So of the plants in Perth, the <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/local/recipes/2008/05/02/2233382.htm">cherry tomatoes</a> are looking good, there are some sporadic fruits there, but its going to be a while before I get some really good crops from them. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">repotted</span> some plants, mainly because the plants were 3 feet high, but were living in a 15cm pot. Not the best. I did some research on plant nutrients, and realised that I was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">feeding</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">them</span> high nitrogen foliage<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"></span> booster, not exactly what I wanted. So instead, I have now changed over to using a tomato specific liquid fertiliser. I mixed in some slow release <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">npk</span> when I potted the plants, but <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">I'm</span> figuring that the liquid stuff is what I need. Im going to post more about what I have learnt with regards to fertiliser in another post.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My <a href="http://www.produceoasis.com/Items_folder/Vegetables/Roma.html">Roma</a> plant is looking pretty good these days, it has a couple of fruit hanging off of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">it</span>, but the foliage on that one is amazing. It is much more bushy that I had expected. I put a <a href="http://www.distefano.com/Stake.htm">stake</a> in the pot just in case, but it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">doesn't</span> seem to be necessary at all, very impressed!<br />The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Grosse</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Lisse's</span> are a little behind the others, but they were two weeks later into the ground, so no big surprise there. The size of some of these ones, though, is pretty amazing, some of them are now over 4 feet and looking very good. I did have the intention of <a href="http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2008/05/25/faux-news-talking-head-gleefully-suggests-knocking-off-obama/">knocking off the lateral shoots</a>, like I was told to do, but when I was looking at the plants, I realised I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">didn't</span> actually know which ones they were. Needless to say, in the interests of not killing my plants, the shoots are still there. I am open to help on this one though, any takers?<br />The chillies are doing pretty well, the chili inferno plant has 3 fruit on it (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Yay</span>!), and a whole heap of flowers. I decided to try and manually <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">pollinate</span> some of them <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">while</span> I was there, I figured even if I destroy those flowers, there should be enough season left to grow another round.<br />The mild chili plant <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">isn't</span> showing any signs of reproduction yet, it barely even had any pods on it, hopefully its just a late starter. I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">hadn't</span> realised how much these two had grown until I saw them next to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">habaneros</span>, which are only 2 weeks old, the first two must be 2 feet tall by now.<br />The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">habaneros</span> are <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">looking</span> alright, but definitely not amazing. The leaves have curled up along the leaf, forming a U-shape, not sure why that is going on. I fed them with tomato feed, (I am feeding all my chillies with a mixture of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Epsom</span> salts and tomato food now, hopefully it makes them grow more fruit), I can only guess it is a <a href="http://www.icmag.com/gallery/data/500/1134Nitrogen-m-m--s1.jpg">nitrogen deficiency</a>, they came from a d<a href="http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/Nursery-meals-39I-wouldn39t-feed.4162941.jp">odgy nursery</a> so will be interesting to see what happens to them.<br />The basil all looks pretty good, it seems to be winning its war with the slugs, plus the beer trap is doing its job pretty well. My wife refuses to touch the trap now, she says she <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">doesn't</span> care how many slugs are in it, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">that's</span> my job and mine alone. Anyway, the plan of growing enough basil to use ifor bottling the tomatoes is working, except I seem to be growing 3 times too much basil. Guess what my friewnds are getting for presents later!<br />The slugs seem to be winning in the patch of green veggies though, they successfully destroyed one of my pumpkin seedlings, but another one appeared right next to it so should work out al right. The cucumber looks like it has taken a pounding, but should pull through, The peas and beans are growing at an amazing rate, I think they tripled in the size I was there! My mom was surprised that I was growing them now, she doesnt think they will work due to the summer heat. I have no idea what will happen, Im just happy green things are appearing!<br />I tried a bit of my chocolate mint the other day, it would have to be one of the most amazing plants I have ever smelt. It is exactly like smelling a high quality mint chocolate, I dont think it will have many leaves on it very soon!<br />I went to the local nursery for a bag of coir mulch for the pots, instead came away with a bag of composting mulch and a Hoa Lat chilli plant. I dont seem to be able to find it on t<a href="http://www.thechileman.org/">he Chileman's site</a> though, not sure what it really is, or if I have something very new. It is meant to be a hot little sucker, bearing lots of fruit. Either way, my better half has t<a href="http://www.digitas.harvard.edu/%7Eperspy/old/issues/2000/retro/lorena_bobbitt.html">hreatened certain parts of my anatomy with certain kitchen knives</a> if any more plants come home, I may have to concede that 12 plants is all I get this year. I am already working on building a list of seeds for next year, although planting time is still 9-10 months away!<br /><br /></div>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03962595185046987128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238664977318344375.post-13951277448161176762008-11-11T21:10:00.004+09:002008-11-17T16:54:39.978+09:00Why why why?How is it that I get so frustrated by people? I have been looking at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">youtube</span></a> for a little bit tonight, and am finding a lot of videos on people eating the world's hottest <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">chilli</span>. Good idea. Except its not the world's hottest <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">chilli</span>, its a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">habanero</span>. Not a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naga_jolokia"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">naga</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">jolokia</span></a>, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.brisbanetimes.com.au/articles/2007/08/01/1185647946289.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">bhut</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">jolokia</span></a>, or whichever <a href="http://www.musicianguide.com/biographies/1608003522/Prince.html">pseudonym you wish to use today</a>. And its not even like its hard to find out either, have these people not heard of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">wikipedia</span></a>? Sure, what you read may or may not be one person's imagination, or, indeed, a <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6947532.stm">government organisation's late night activities</a>, but is usually pretty reliable. But I digress. These people are smart enough to put their video on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">youtube</span>, or at least someone they know is, so why not check your facts? I do, however, take a large amount of pleasure from watching them eat their chillies, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">regardless</span> of which ones they are. <a href="http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=MvK2Y1hv9mY&feature=related">At least this is a proper one</a>, with one of my favourite quotes, "It feels like someone <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">tazered</span> my mouth".<br /><br />/rantSimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03962595185046987128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238664977318344375.post-28982623267830909742008-11-11T13:14:00.002+09:002008-11-11T13:17:45.046+09:00Good newsMy wife just phoned me, she is in Perth, she said that I have about 40 tomatoes growing right now on my plants, she thinks there are more, but she lost count. The best news is that that is only one Roma plant (with 7 on it) and the rest are cherry tomato, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">grosse</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">lisse</span> should be coming along in a couple of weeks. Cant wait to head to Perth to see them!<br />On another note, my pumpkin seedling was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">apparently</span> chewed on recently, the leaves are on the ground next to the stem, will have to inspect that one to see what did it.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03962595185046987128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238664977318344375.post-7627647665068554872008-11-09T23:29:00.005+09:002008-11-10T13:40:57.843+09:00Sleep be damned, its research time!<div style="text-align: justify;">Was just trolling around for info on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">chilli</span> growing tips, and found that spraying a 2% <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Epsom</span> salt solution every two weeks or so onto the leaves of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">chilli</span> plants will increase the size of the plant substantially, but not so much the yield. Epsom salts are high in magnesium (their chemical name I think is magnesium sulfate), which the plants are supposedly lacking in. I might try spraying a couple when I get the chance, see if there is any <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">noticeable</span> difference. Wont be a real test though, I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">don't</span> have enough plants of the same type to compare sprayed Vs non-sprayed, plus if its going to help, I want to do it to all my plants! This is what I found at <a href="http://www.downtoearthdistributors.com/fert_nutritiontips.html">Down to Earth Distributors</a>:<br /><ul><li>Magnesium (Mg) Aids in chlorophyll formation and energy metabolism; it increases oil production in flax and soy beans; helps regulate uptake of other elements.</li></ul>Quite simple really. Bring on the Epsom!<br /></div>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03962595185046987128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238664977318344375.post-78620807774397031112008-11-09T10:07:00.009+09:002008-11-10T11:55:10.903+09:00Plant Update<div style="text-align: justify;">Since at the moment I am living a few hours away from home, due to the <a href="http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=btEpF334Rtc">current job</a> that I have, I am also away from most of my plants. I do, however, have a whole bunch of chillies with me, mainly because they will fit in the car with me for the drive back to Perth. Im finding it quite relaxing to have something to look after, which I guess is the reason I got into gardening in the first place. Im trying to become a <a href="http://transformers.wikia.com/wiki/Paradron_Medic">paramedic</a>, and I figured I should work on <a href="http://www.geekculture.com/joyoftech/joyimages/1014.gif">stress relief</a> before its needed, get a system going if you will. Anyway, enough rambling, now for the plants:<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3cVN1_VzPCJucRdZ95AoGog_RJzpDlM66-Gm9hcs44JRCULKsqs28MMXZehPc-NlVe59NsrXrnd2wZFncvN6pAFMfo-3FdqcszLLZBIWI-aXfh68IJVxjUpLhacvItgzXo7QIlYg-IU/s1600-h/Black+Pearl+3+weeks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3cVN1_VzPCJucRdZ95AoGog_RJzpDlM66-Gm9hcs44JRCULKsqs28MMXZehPc-NlVe59NsrXrnd2wZFncvN6pAFMfo-3FdqcszLLZBIWI-aXfh68IJVxjUpLhacvItgzXo7QIlYg-IU/s320/Black+Pearl+3+weeks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266470595073402834" border="0" /></a>My <a href="http://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceball.gif">Black Pearl</a>, not to be confused with <a href="http://www.nextag.com/black-pearl-pirate-ship/search-html">cheap trash</a> of a <a href="http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/liveaction/pirates/main_site/main.html">similar name</a>, I picked it for its ornamental value, plus the fact that I hadnt seen one before. It is a hot variety, apparently around 30'000 <a href="http://www.chilliworld.com/FactFile/Scoville_Scale.asp">scoville units</a> (read on for more), with black fruits ripening to red. A tad smaller than what I would like, will wait and see how it goes.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj00SjTHsXMVv1rFF4t23yMc8AtyGdk3iY6Mb9AArWMUH5CBb0mUQJ9c2mEkNZd6bKwQd1CC43wyXbyv7zz_014X3q9PFSUIi1gmXE7Xf41pvMsxbngvKpV8ZKanQkE4ej4cmrVP4gk34/s1600-h/Red+Cayenne+Hot+1+week.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj00SjTHsXMVv1rFF4t23yMc8AtyGdk3iY6Mb9AArWMUH5CBb0mUQJ9c2mEkNZd6bKwQd1CC43wyXbyv7zz_014X3q9PFSUIi1gmXE7Xf41pvMsxbngvKpV8ZKanQkE4ej4cmrVP4gk34/s320/Red+Cayenne+Hot+1+week.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266470602488803266" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Red Cayenne Chilli Pepper. An impulse buy, but really, they were all impulse buys. I figured I love cayenne pepper, so why not the plant that provides the raw ingredients! Just got it home yesterday, repotted it last night, sprayed with food today.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOy7fp-uyK8tcT8KS1n3ScxKq51rTjt3I-DFoK4xOPexGkKxJAVX1jjHRlmvvkPRmpCi7kGcdltiG4mcMc-cUNGqQ8NG_tRetO4ZxI4SzIFAeyulooTjACahgz5TT-4JgFFl7Uk1notQ/s1600-h/Mini+sweet+chocolate+capsicum.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOy7fp-uyK8tcT8KS1n3ScxKq51rTjt3I-DFoK4xOPexGkKxJAVX1jjHRlmvvkPRmpCi7kGcdltiG4mcMc-cUNGqQ8NG_tRetO4ZxI4SzIFAeyulooTjACahgz5TT-4JgFFl7Uk1notQ/s320/Mini+sweet+chocolate+capsicum.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266470605819311474" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My <a href="https://secure.diggersgardenclub.com.au/pc-909-37-capsicum-sweet-chocolate.aspx">mini sweet chocolate capsicum</a>, not actually a chilli variety, but bought once again for the appearance, it comes from <a href="https://secure.diggersgardenclub.com.au/default.aspx">Digger's Heirloom</a> range. The fruit ripens to a 'chocolatey' colour, with a sweet taste. This is the first of my plants to set fruit, with one solitary fruit hanging off of it near the top. It has a couple more flowers on it, so hopefully there is more to come. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJMaOkHO1QOdRFlOWzccpGWSJXggM-OGeV0YluCoG1JfhwhCtf3ONYOZX6DL380TZEie3NDFw8EONYEM3PmxP7Nv0-EvZsjvaY9h5gsISZwxuQ6V29YSUeRh9r79iPcox3Sr8cdzrW94/s1600-h/Habanero+3+weeks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJMaOkHO1QOdRFlOWzccpGWSJXggM-OGeV0YluCoG1JfhwhCtf3ONYOZX6DL380TZEie3NDFw8EONYEM3PmxP7Nv0-EvZsjvaY9h5gsISZwxuQ6V29YSUeRh9r79iPcox3Sr8cdzrW94/s320/Habanero+3+weeks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266470600574846658" border="0" /></a>My orange Habanero plant, hopefully this one gives me lots of fruit, as Im hoping for big things from this one. Just to be sure, I bought another two a week ago, they are in Perth with my other plants, where my better half is taking care of them for me. This one was bought two weeks ago and seems to have droopy leaves, not sure why, but hopefully repotting it into something bigger, as well as adding a lot of compost does the trick. This one, if grown properly, will have fruit with a <a href="http://www.chilliworld.com/FactFile/Scoville_Scale.asp">scoville rating</a> of around 200'000-300'000. To put this into perspective, a rating of 0 means no heat, <a href="http://www.tabasco.com/main.cfm">tabasco sauce</a> is around 2000, serrano peppers come in at 20'000, tabasco chillies are at 30'000-50'000, and the hottest recorded ever is the <a href="http://www.growitseeds.com.au/store/product.php?productid=16135">naga jolokia</a>, which comes in at around 1'000'000 scoville units. That one is on the wishlist for next year. More about that to come...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9P6xixAxf2vyy3qFs2KXXeumEhS-Q-4AURoDAnn_7Zx_fCpnfnkefD7oj5EqUXn2tzPcOTJQJXWGCpe0CIzNFswRW062a2aO1jk_tFCy_kt8b5nmBz6L7RP1Qy6AK_vrrECqkiaMMcuo/s1600-h/Chilli+Inferno.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9P6xixAxf2vyy3qFs2KXXeumEhS-Q-4AURoDAnn_7Zx_fCpnfnkefD7oj5EqUXn2tzPcOTJQJXWGCpe0CIzNFswRW062a2aO1jk_tFCy_kt8b5nmBz6L7RP1Qy6AK_vrrECqkiaMMcuo/s320/Chilli+Inferno.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266515327371737698" border="0" /></a>This is my chilli serrano, bought when I didnt think there was much selection around, so I had to buy what I could. Since then (all of 2 weeks ago), I have found that it is regarded as a medium to hot chilli, producing an average crop of fruit. More on this one in upcoming editions.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">All of the plants that are on the table in the photos above were just repotted last night, some because the old pots were too small, others because the pots werent mine. I left them in the shade today, tomorrow they will go back in to sunlight again, plus they were all watered with Seasol before transplanting, which is said to lessen the transplant shock. Im using coir mulch to stop too much evaporation, which seems to be working quite well. After two days without water, in 20-25 degree days, the soil is still quite moist a couple of centimetres down. An added bonus, hopefully, is the increased humidity they give off, which should help make the plants hotter.<br /></div></div>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03962595185046987128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238664977318344375.post-45493146918422860492008-11-08T16:13:00.006+09:002008-11-10T09:45:02.778+09:00Garden Update<div style="text-align: justify;">Well, so far my tomatoes are flowering, as are some of the capsicum varieties, namely the <a href="https://secure.diggersgardenclub.com.au/pc-909-37-capsicum-sweet-chocolate.aspx">mini sweet chocolate capsicum</a>, and the mild something-or-other chillies I got from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bunnings</span>. Hopefully I get some good fruit off of these ones, I was told to pinch off the early buds to extend the harvest of fruit, but I cant bear to do that this year. somehow, the thought of being mean to my plants just <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">doesn't</span> sit right. Hopefully just a passing fad.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The slugs seem to be enjoying the sweet basil that I have planted around the place, I think its now down to a final battle over how much survives. I have on my side a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Moes-tavern.jpg">beer trap</a>, some slug pellets, and a ready salt shaker, while they have protective mucus, large numbers, and the inability to form <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">conscious</span> thought. For the sake of my tomato sauces in the coming months, I hope I win!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I just bought two new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">chilli</span> seedlings today, having had to rule out growing from seed due to the time of year. I picked up one jalapeno, and one <a href="http://www.yates.com.au/products/seeds/vegetables/chilli-pepper-long-red-cayenne/">red cayenne</a>, both utterly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">root bound</span>, and about to be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">repotted</span>. So far I have just been giving them some <a href="http://www.seasol.com.au/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=206&op=page"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Seasol</span></a> before transplanting, and then putting them in a mix of potting soil, compost, sometimes lime, and sandy soil as a filler. A wise uncle once told me that the sandier the soil, the hotter the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">chilli</span>, will have to see if this is true.</div>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03962595185046987128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238664977318344375.post-20790167162209541272008-11-08T14:04:00.002+09:002008-11-10T09:45:46.988+09:00'My name is Simon and I am a gardener. I have been clean for three weeks...'<div style="text-align: justify;">For some reason I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">don't</span> seem to be able to stay away from the seedling section at my local gardening store, every time I go past I just seem to find more and more plants that need to come home with me. Not that I have been gardening for long, only 2 months at this stage, but once I get stuck in to something, it just seems like I cant stop. <a href="http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=QFYsa_TfVis">ADD, anyone?</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, a bit about me. I am in my late 20's, have been travelling the world for the last few years, and have final<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ly</span> found love and settled down. We have an 18 month old daughter together, and for the first time are actually staying in the one spot long enough for me to grow a garden, a completely foreign situation for me. It took me a while to realise that I could grow 'things' now, but since then I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">haven't</span> looked back. My wife, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">I'm</span> sure, cant wait for me to stop buying things, especially seeing as how we are rapidly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">running</span> out of room in our small courtyard, but she also knows that she gets to eat what I grow, so <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">doesn't</span> mind too much.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We are living in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perth,_Western_Australia">Perth</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perth,_Western_Australia">, Western Australia</a>, out near the sea somewhere. We have a <a href="http://www.lookatwa.com.au/AboutPerth/climate.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Mediterranean</span> climate</a> here, wet cool winters, hot (mostly) dry summers, with temps getting to 40 degrees at their worst, but never below freezing. Hopefully this means that I will be able to keep my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">chilli</span> collection alive over winter next year, time will tell.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So far I have half a dozen <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">grosse</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">lisse</span> and cherry tomatoes each, eight different varieties of chillies, some capsicum, lots of basil, some carrots, and have just planted some beans, peas, and spring onions, with some pumpkin and cucumber about to get their third leaves soon. Fingers crossed, they wont get eaten, by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liger"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">ligers</span></a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Mugabe">small crazy men</a>, or <a href="http://www.worsleyschool.net/fun/dangerous/creatures.html">other dangerous beasts</a> before I get a chance to prove that I can actually grow something!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Because of my spectacularly bad timing (I just found out about the <a href="http://www.chileseeds.co.uk/bhut_jolokia_chilli_seed.htm">bhut jolokia</a>, but now I have to wait until next year to grow it, ferchrissakes), I have no idea where my garden will go from here, Im not even sure what will get planted over winter yet. Suggestions, anyone? Im thinking that I want to grow more and more hot and superhot chillies, time will tell! I recently read about <a href="http://www.refiningfirechiles.com/">this guys story</a>, and thought <a href="http://www.howtohydroponics.com/">hydroponics</a> sounded like a good idea. Then I remembered I am trying to go to university, and I have no money, I live in a small apartment, and my better half would castrate me if I did it. Would be fun though!</div>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03962595185046987128noreply@blogger.com0