Posts Tagged ‘Tomato’

An Update At Last

Gardening, General | Posted by Dean
Oct 28 2008

Well it has been an eternity since i felt like blogging or indeed that interested in the Web in general. Yes, my bi-annual dose of internet apathy has struck. This morning I find myself, again, unable to sleep and surfing the web looking at nothing in particular. So I decided I should write this post. Not much has changed in the months since the last update.

The biggest thing is that I have once again taken up ten pin bowling. In fact I am close to life best form. I am still using my trusty old Track Black-Gold Stomp and it is doing the business currently. In fact, often it is over reacting. The ancient Ebonite Grey Wolf is not doing enough and I think it is screaming out for final retirement, as such I do not often bring it out of the bag. Unfortunately with the Australian dollar plummeting at the moment it is not a good time to get a replacement. Hopefully, that will rectify soon and I can update my kit.

The garden is going stronger than ever. In terms of the harvestable plants there are strawberries being harvested at the very least weekly. I have several tomato bushes going strong, all have developing fruit. I am very keen to see what the yellow variety brings. The cherry tomato is starting now to bear ripe fruit. There is quite a healthy bunch of carrots, pumpkin, broad beans and beetroot developing. My capsicum and chilli bushes are beginning to flower so with luck there should be a nice crop coming. Finally on the harvestable crops I also have some lebanese cucumber seedlings in the crates.

In terms of the non-fruit bearing plants the White Bird of Paradise (Nicolai) is still yet to produce a flower. Nicolai though is in a well protected (gets windy here) corner of the outdoor area and so with luck will start to produce one of the most anticipated flowers in our garden. The established standard Birds of Paradise (those already in the garden) are producing prolific flowers with a number of double bangers. Makes the working day go quickly when you can look out at the flowers and bird bath. There is always something to see, unless theres one of the neighbourhood moggies on the loose. Yes, even in the new digs there a constant intrusions of the pussy variety in our yard. Thankfully though they are brief incursions, unlike the old place where they camped in our yard.

I also must congratulate socko who has managed to grow some wonderful Sweet Peas from seed. They are very fragrant and their odour is wafting through the room as I type this blog. socko also takes credit for the broad beans and generally managing the garden when I have not had the time or been bothered.

To all those interested in the drip spikes, I never got around to trialling my fixes before winter arrived. Now that summer is here I may pull them out and give it a go this season.

We have also been to the mecca of Australian motor sport, the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000. We were of course cheering on the Holden driver generally, and for me at least, the Sprint Gas/Tasman team of Jason Richards and Greg Murphy. Richards/Murphy were the consistent and always in the top 3 in practice. In fact Jason Richards became the second quickest around the circuit in history, second only to Greg. Unfortunately Jason did not get it hooked up in qualifying and as a result the grid position was back a little. Due to the grid position, and the fact the car was faster than where it was, led to an altercation with Craig Lowndes/Jamie Whincup tin can with wheels that ended up with damage to the Sprint Gas car, and eventually an early pit stop. This ultimately cost the race win to Lowndes/Whincup in an ugly red/silver F**d. The weekend though was great. It is always good to get away to Bathurst and escape reality for a few days.

Had the pleasure of seeing Greg in person at the motor show the week after. Managed to get his and Rick Kelly’s signature.

Anyway I think that is it for this post. I hope it will not be so long until the next.

Location, Location, Location

Gardening, Herb, Fruit and Vegetables | Posted by Dean
Jan 07 2008

As with real estate success in the garden often has a lot to do with location. In my garden I have noticed that some plants are thriving, yet sister plants in a different location are struggling to continue. So I have relocated several plants in the last few days. The reason is to encourage increased growth and to ensure the plants are all getting a fair share of the conditions.

On the chilli front I moved the producing mystery chilli forward slightly to an even more sun drenched location. I have also turned about 90 degress to hopefully encourage the jalapeno into action. I have also moved the ebony fire with these chilli’s. So now all my chilli plants are together and overseen by the Mexican Guitar Playing Burrow Rider looking from above.

I also clustered the grape tomatoes with the beefsteak and grosse lisse tomatoes. This just looks better to my mind, and has not changed the conditions the plant was already experiencing very much indeed.

My sisters lavendar has been moved to a more sunny position to encourage further growth. It is right next to our flowering dwarf lavendar that is thriving. Given that both lavendars require the same conditions it should really thrive in the new location.

Finally, I managed to repot our pink rosemary. The plant was seriously constrained in a little pot and was becoming root bound. It is now in a converted stainless steel cooking pot that was simply sitting near the barbecue for the past six to twelve months. I have now put it to a good productive use. In its new surrounds the pink rosemary should thrive.

Will keep you all posted.

Easy To Grow Herbs

Gardening, Herb, Fruit and Vegetables | Posted by Dean
Jan 04 2008

Today I have decided to write about some of the easiest to grow plants in our garden. They are Chives, Ku Chai (Garlic Chives), and Sweet Basil. The two forms of chives are great chopped up finely in a salad.

Regular chives are a prolific plant that grows easily. Chives are great chopped un in a salad giving it a hint of onion, without over powering a salad like an onion can. They are growing in a full sun position within a half barrel pot. Chives grow long and tall with a tubular construction, they look much like a spring onion. I have split the original plant into both extremes of the planter to encourage growth. It has worked as you can not even see where we have actively harvested the chives. They are a very easy plant to grow, and anyone that likes chives should grow their own.

Chives

Ku Chai on the other hand is more delicate in texture and flavour. It though grows in the same way. Our Ku Chai is doing exceptionally well on the front porch. The plant receives a large period of full sun daily and are growing very well. They also taste great in a salad. The flavour of Ku Chai is a little more sweeter than regular chives. The other major difference is that the plant grows in a thinner and flatter manner aswell.

Ku Chai

Sweet basil is another easy to grow herb. Ours is growing in one of the same half barrels as the Ku Chai and Chives. The plants are growing prolifically and healthily. Sweet basil can be used for seasoning meat or combined with Tomatoes to form a pesto. It is an aromatic herb, that is also rumoured to assist in keeping flies away, although an awful lot of basil is required to be a truly effective deterrent.

Sweet Basil

These are great complimentary herbs that are easy to grow. It is definately a good move to begin growing your own. A small pot and a few dollars worth of a good quality potting mix is all you need for great herbs.

Tomato Bushes

Gardening, Herb, Fruit and Vegetables | Posted by Dean
Jan 03 2008

I love tomatoes of all varieties. From the cherry and grape tomatoes, to the big juicy beefsteak varieties. I currently have 9 tomato bushes in the garden. The beefsteak tomato is fruiting the heaviest. Here is the first picture of this wonderful plant.

Beefsteak Tomato

The Beefsteak Tomato is a large juicy fruit. It is a large bushy plant and is relatively hardy. The only thing that this bush has had in encouragement is sufficient water, the odd shot of worm juice, and some 2 small doses of a commercial liquid fertiliser. It has gone well right from the time of its planting in the Rich Gro Pro Mix potting mix. I am very much looking forward to consuming one of the developed tomatoes.

Cherry Tomato

The Cherry Tomato plant is also doing remarkably well. It is a paltry 6 inches tall but has fruited incredibly heavily. In fact it was purchased already fruiting. At one point I really worried that we would lose this plant, however since its relocation to a sunnier position it has gone gangbusters and has produced many small sweet and juicy fruits.

The recent additions are also doing well in a growing stage. I am not expecting any fruit from these this season, however they should be mature and hardy by next year. I then expect a heavy successful year. From left to right the varieties are Black Russian, Mortgage Lifter, Tigerella, and Green Zebra. These should be great fruits next season.

New Tomatoes

I also have a grape tomato bush growing, however do not have any associated imagery. I will get some soon.

All these plants have only had worm juice and the very odd application of a commercial liquid fertiliser. All are growing well and we are confident of continued success for this year and the next.

Gladioli Bulbs are Planted

Flowers and Decorative Plants, Gardening, Herb, Fruit and Vegetables | Posted by Dean
Dec 29 2007

Dame Edna Everage

In the increasing effort to ensure pollenation of all our plants, especially the fruits and vegetables, we have decided to plant some of the 50 Gladioli bulbs in spite of it not being the best time to plant in Australia. That said the Sydney summer so far has been mild to date, so with luck that will hold out for the next few months whilst the Glads develop and flower. We have planted them in some of the many accumulated seedling pots. Excuse me for the photo, but Dame Edna and Gladiolis go together.

I am quite interested in seeing what colours we get from the Gladis as the corms we got or mixed ones with 50 all up. We planted around the 20 mark in 16 pots. I am hoping they will put a burst of colour in the garden and attract many pollenators to the garden to keep the crops producing.

We are also waiting for several seeds to germinate in my planter tray. As I do not have a sheet of glass or a proper cover I have placed a sheet of thin plastic from a wrapping across the top of the tray to hold the moisture and warmth in. It is certainly doing the job. The seeds that we are waiting on are some carrots, corn, and another vegetable that at the moment escapes my memory. As I am not near my diary I can not even look it up. I will update that tomorrow.

We also planted the roly poly carrots that were bought as seedlings prior to Christmas. It is a tribute to the strength of the plants that they are still alive. I am relieved to have them in the soil. Also sharing the tub is some corn seedlings. These will produce first and will be harvested, hopefully in time for the freshly germinated seedlings to take over the corn producing role. The zucchini is also now in the Rich Gro Pro Mix and is developing another zucchini. As I love zucchini in dishes this is good news.

The tomatoes are also coming on strongly. There are 6 fruits developing nicely on the Beefsteak Tomato bush. Likewise there are 6 Grape Tomatoes on the way. One of the Grosse Lisse tomato bushes also has a fruit developing. More importantly both Grosse Lisse tomato bushes are growing strongly. Clearly the move of the tub has improved their lot and is allowing the soil to dry out, rather than remain waterlogged. The stunted Cherry Tomato is laced with fruit. I will be looking at this again in the morning as some were looking very close to harvestable today. The new plants are in a position out the back and are really in a growth phase.

The Ebony Fire chilli is also growing well with more fruit to be picked tomorrow. The mystery chilli is likewise throwing more fruits. They are not yet harvestable, but I certainly will be taking a close eye to them tomorrow. I will also be looking at the Jalapeno that as yet has not produced fruit. I suspect it may be in need of its own pot.

On the capsicum front things are looking grand indeed. Both Yolo Wonder plants are full of flowers, buds, and developing fruits. I am very much looking forward to these as they are a staple of any stir fry that I cook.

Finally, I should mention the perennial spinach. I will be harvesting some of this tomorrow. It is going gangbusters to the point of filling the bottom part of the wheeled planter.

Tomorrow I will make the effort and get some photos for you all to look at.