Well, how totally slack am I? While there are so many in the blogosphere who manage to post at least semi regularly while also dealing with a dozen kids, four jobs and a collection of farm animals (possibly over stated - all though that Dugger woman seems to be online quite often) I can't even be bothered to get on here to post big news.
So, although every one who knows me/is a FB friend is already aware and I can't imagine who else would be reading this blog, I'm pregnant again. Home star's ETA is early summer. Yes, this is all the EDD you'll be getting. Don't even ask. Morning sickness has been much worse this time around which, I guess, serves me right for being so smug about it during Trogdor's gestation when I was hardly queasy at all. My main learning so far has been that vomiting hummous out of your nose at a bus stop in the middle of the night isn't even as fun as it sounds.
In other news, I'm replanting my garden, Spidermonkey has learnt how to throw a mean tantrum and Spidermonkey's dog just got a level in Dragon Age. I'm nodding at the last one like I understand it...
Showing posts with label Balcony garden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Balcony garden. Show all posts
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Friday, September 18, 2009
With silver bells and cockle shells
Thought I would post an update on my gardening adventures.
Even though we are on the second floor of a block of units the balcony is now never referred to as 'the balcony' - it is 'the garden'. Each morning Trogdor and I inspect the garden together i.e I look at the plants and he eats dirt. In the evening I check the garden again to make sure nothing has wilted or been devoured. I'm a trifle obsessive about it these days.
It all started in June of this year when I thought I would pick up a couple of dwarf fruit trees to provide a bit of greenery and (hopefully) fruit. Then I decided to try to grow tomatoes. Things just sort of got out of hand from there.
I began well before I had any idea of what I was doing. The majority of the 'hardware' (the polystyrene boxes, large tubs, drink-bottle-watering-cans and packing crates) have been 're-purposed' after I found them lying on footpaths around the suburb. I like to think of it as 'County Garden meets Mad Max'.
Some of my garden has been grown from seed (which I think is a hella impressive even if the plants themselves aren't) and some of them are from seedlings (less impressive effort with a more impressive result).
From seeds:
Roma Tomato seedlings. The white around the base is potash which is meant to be very good for them but no two gardeners can decide when is the best time to apply them to the plant.
The first of my basil seeds to germinate.
The first of my 'Cottage Mix' flower baskets. I should be thinning the seedlings but I'm just going to let them grow and see what happens. (Is it odd that I feel horribly guilty after chopping out perfectly healthy plants?)
The second of my flower baskets. This one was sown more thinly with seeds so we'll see how it goes.
Beetroot. Has been thinned. Needs more thinning. (I feel like my garden is on some sort of Jenny Craig ad.)
Coriander.
My snow peas. They have been growing like crazy and are my most impressive seed grown plants.
Things I didn't grow from seed:
Passion fruit. I think it has some sort of fungal whatzi so I've been spraying it with whatzi fungal pesticide. It's going to need a much bigger container if it's going to grow. Luckily I have some 're-purposed' 20L Omo buckets.
Asparagus. I have no idea how to grow asparagus. Apparently it will be another two years before it starts growing spears and only if I chop it all back, mulch it, replant it, give it lots/little/no water and/or fertilizer, sacrifice a goat to the asparagus gods... Plus, it's covered in tiny bugs. I don't think they're meant to be there.
An amused Trogdor, who can't understand why I don't get my food from booba like sensible people do.
(He should probably be in the 'grown from seed' section')
My three strawberry plants with one flower between them.
Spring onions.
My peach tree - formerly known as 'stick in a bag'.
I have also developed an interest in heirloom/heritage tomatoes. I have a few seedlings struggling away at the moment but they're a bit depressing really.
And there you have it folks. My garden.
Even though we are on the second floor of a block of units the balcony is now never referred to as 'the balcony' - it is 'the garden'. Each morning Trogdor and I inspect the garden together i.e I look at the plants and he eats dirt. In the evening I check the garden again to make sure nothing has wilted or been devoured. I'm a trifle obsessive about it these days.
It all started in June of this year when I thought I would pick up a couple of dwarf fruit trees to provide a bit of greenery and (hopefully) fruit. Then I decided to try to grow tomatoes. Things just sort of got out of hand from there.
I began well before I had any idea of what I was doing. The majority of the 'hardware' (the polystyrene boxes, large tubs, drink-bottle-watering-cans and packing crates) have been 're-purposed' after I found them lying on footpaths around the suburb. I like to think of it as 'County Garden meets Mad Max'.
Some of my garden has been grown from seed (which I think is a hella impressive even if the plants themselves aren't) and some of them are from seedlings (less impressive effort with a more impressive result).
From seeds:
Roma Tomato seedlings. The white around the base is potash which is meant to be very good for them but no two gardeners can decide when is the best time to apply them to the plant.
The first of my basil seeds to germinate.
The second of my flower baskets. This one was sown more thinly with seeds so we'll see how it goes.
Beetroot. Has been thinned. Needs more thinning. (I feel like my garden is on some sort of Jenny Craig ad.)
Coriander.
Marigolds. These desperately need to be thinned out. My plan is to replant them into little pots this weekend and give them out as presents.
My snow peas. They have been growing like crazy and are my most impressive seed grown plants.Things I didn't grow from seed:
Passion fruit. I think it has some sort of fungal whatzi so I've been spraying it with whatzi fungal pesticide. It's going to need a much bigger container if it's going to grow. Luckily I have some 're-purposed' 20L Omo buckets.
Parsley. Needs re-potting. I have also been growing parsley from seed but it's harder than I thought it would be. Apparently the seeds have a very low germination rate and even if they do germinate I've found them to be quite temperamental (they just die for no discernible reason)
Dwarf lemon tree. Lots of flowers. All the other lemons in the area are covered with fruit so I don't know if the little guy is a bit backward.
Broccoli. I have to remove the middle row and re-pot them. Note to new gardeners - pay attention to the spacing guidelines when you're planting!
Asparagus. I have no idea how to grow asparagus. Apparently it will be another two years before it starts growing spears and only if I chop it all back, mulch it, replant it, give it lots/little/no water and/or fertilizer, sacrifice a goat to the asparagus gods... Plus, it's covered in tiny bugs. I don't think they're meant to be there.
An amused Trogdor, who can't understand why I don't get my food from booba like sensible people do.
(He should probably be in the 'grown from seed' section')
My three strawberry plants with one flower between them.
Spring onions.
My peach tree - formerly known as 'stick in a bag'.
I have also developed an interest in heirloom/heritage tomatoes. I have a few seedlings struggling away at the moment but they're a bit depressing really.
And there you have it folks. My garden.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
My balcony garden
Ever since I was a little 'un I have had a dream. A dream of verdant landscapes; fecund, hanging vines; quiet, green and lush nooks bespeckled by peeping flowers. A dream of a garden I had planted which not only didn't die - thrived.
I do have a green-ish thumb. Not vibrant green by any means. A faint green. Sort of like that blush of green on bread after it's been left on the bench after breakfast on a humid day. I have a mouldy green thumb.
I have had quite a few gardens since I was a kid. I'm okay with herbs. In terms of veg over the years I have successfully harvested a few tomatoes, a lettuce and a few handfuls of snow peas. In the back yard at my parents place there have been mangoes, bush lemons, macadamia nuts, peaches (unusual in the tropics) and custard apples but I can't take any credit for that. I enjoyed their fruits and managed not to kill them. Most of the trees were there when we moved in and a few of them are there still.
The initial stages of putting in a garden are fine. I can get seeds to germinate. But then I get busy - generally with theatre. Now that Trogdor is taking up my time I figured I now have the oppurtunity to sow some crops.
So, I have started again with a balcony garden. My garden so far comprises:
1 Lemon Tree: covered with flowers at the moment. I'm not sure if I should re-pot it. I'm a bit iffy about changing it when it seems to be happy.
1 Peach Tree: or as I think of it my 'Stick in a Pot'. It's not doing much at the moment. Maybe it's gathering strength and will burst forth with green and fruity vigour come November. Or not.
1 Passion fruit Vine
1 Asparagus Plant/Bush/Shrub/Thing: It has three teeny tiny spears poking up at the moment! I have no idea how many plant things I would need for a decent crop.
3 Strawberry Plants
Seedlings:
Spring Onions
Broccoli
Snow Peas: I'm growing these from seed and the first green heads appeared this morning!
Seeds that are sitting around in trays not doing much:
Parsley
Coriander
Marigolds - these seeds are so old I am not expecting to see any growth
Tomatoes
Wish me growing vibes! I'll put in some photos if I can ever find the camera.
I do have a green-ish thumb. Not vibrant green by any means. A faint green. Sort of like that blush of green on bread after it's been left on the bench after breakfast on a humid day. I have a mouldy green thumb.
I have had quite a few gardens since I was a kid. I'm okay with herbs. In terms of veg over the years I have successfully harvested a few tomatoes, a lettuce and a few handfuls of snow peas. In the back yard at my parents place there have been mangoes, bush lemons, macadamia nuts, peaches (unusual in the tropics) and custard apples but I can't take any credit for that. I enjoyed their fruits and managed not to kill them. Most of the trees were there when we moved in and a few of them are there still.
The initial stages of putting in a garden are fine. I can get seeds to germinate. But then I get busy - generally with theatre. Now that Trogdor is taking up my time I figured I now have the oppurtunity to sow some crops.
So, I have started again with a balcony garden. My garden so far comprises:
1 Lemon Tree: covered with flowers at the moment. I'm not sure if I should re-pot it. I'm a bit iffy about changing it when it seems to be happy.
1 Peach Tree: or as I think of it my 'Stick in a Pot'. It's not doing much at the moment. Maybe it's gathering strength and will burst forth with green and fruity vigour come November. Or not.
1 Passion fruit Vine
1 Asparagus Plant/Bush/Shrub/Thing: It has three teeny tiny spears poking up at the moment! I have no idea how many plant things I would need for a decent crop.
3 Strawberry Plants
Seedlings:
Spring Onions
Broccoli
Snow Peas: I'm growing these from seed and the first green heads appeared this morning!
Seeds that are sitting around in trays not doing much:
Parsley
Coriander
Marigolds - these seeds are so old I am not expecting to see any growth
Tomatoes
Wish me growing vibes! I'll put in some photos if I can ever find the camera.
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