My vegetable garden

[Fanie]

Well. If any one is interested in bonsai gardening for small yards I can give you some good tips. My strawberries are the size of pea pips and the tomatoes are the size of marbles.

Some of the vegies I planted in November are still only 30mm high, there are 70 containers of which a few are larger plants. We calculated that they should be "adult" in about 5 years time at this rate.

Something went wrong with what I thought were these zuchini's which turned out to be cucumbers surprise surprise. It made bonsai fruits as far as it went and at 30mm long and 4mm dia they'd turn yellow. One day when I was arranging the crown broke off, just after a cucumber. The plant must have gone berserk because there is now a real life size cucumber on it It just started swelling unbelievably. It's so huge compared to every thing around it ! I don't know what to do with this one massive cucumber because it's costing me roughly around R400 considering the soil, pesticide (yes it got some plant lice thanks to the ant hill we live on) not to mention the watering etc. I've never eaten vegetation that was that expensive. Maybe if I wait a few months the pricing in the shops will catch up and I won't feel guilty eating a vegie no one else could afford...

Anyway, gardening is just a hoax. I plant stuff today and even two days later nothing happened. Then when you have lost your patients, finally there appears some of zooooomah's promisses, and then nothing... Seems a lot like the rest of SA.

I guess the best diet there is is living off'n your own garden

[Alice Rain]

Vanash I definitely need to get some hints from you! Your veggies look wonderful! and yes there's nothing better than picking from the garden! My chillies are doing the best and my spinach, oh and 4 to 5 small avo trees seem to be thriving. I tried a home thing to kill whatever was eating my beautiful big sweet basil bush and I killed it! Peppers are looking good too.

[Citizen X]

Vanash I definitely need to get some hints from you! Your veggies look wonderful! and yes there's nothing better than picking from the garden! My chillies are doing the best and my spinach, oh and 4 to 5 small avo trees seem to be thriving. I tried a home thing to kill whatever was eating my beautiful big sweet basil bush and I killed it! Peppers are looking good too.

Hi Alice,

To be perfectly honest with you, I have neglected my vegetable garden. I currently have only bay leaves( a huge bay leave tree), Rosemary, mint and chillies.
My garden in general though is well maintained as I work in it myself. My lemon tree is thriving.
I took these photos a few minutes ago..

[wynn]

I tried a home thing to kill whatever was eating my beautiful big sweet basil bush and I killed it! Peppers are looking good too.

Boil some chillies and after the water has cooled off sprinkle it about your veg, keep it off the leaves though or you will sweat when you eat it.

[Pap_sak]

Well. If any one is interested in bonsai gardening for small yards I can give you some good tips. My strawberries are the size of pea pips and the tomatoes are the size of marbles.

Some of the vegies I planted in November are still only 30mm high, there are 70 containers of which a few are larger plants. We calculated that they should be "adult" in about 5 years time at this rate.

Something went wrong with what I thought were these zuchini's which turned out to be cucumbers surprise surprise. It made bonsai fruits as far as it went and at 30mm long and 4mm dia they'd turn yellow. One day when I was arranging the crown broke off, just after a cucumber. The plant must have gone berserk because there is now a real life size cucumber on it It just started swelling unbelievably. It's so huge compared to every thing around it ! I don't know what to do with this one massive cucumber because it's costing me roughly around R400 considering the soil, pesticide (yes it got some plant lice thanks to the ant hill we live on) not to mention the watering etc. I've never eaten vegetation that was that expensive. Maybe if I wait a few months the pricing in the shops will catch up and I won't feel guilty eating a vegie no one else could afford...

Anyway, gardening is just a hoax. I plant stuff today and even two days later nothing happened. Then when you have lost your patients, finally there appears some of zooooomah's promisses, and then nothing... Seems a lot like the rest of SA.

I guess the best diet there is is living off'n your own garden

It's takes a while to find out what grows in what area of your garden AND at what time of year. But get some spinach/ swiss chard in first - you at least should be getting some return. Radishes also generally grow everywhere and grow quickly. I cannot seem to grow proper tomatoes - but do very well with cherry tomatoes. I buy all my seed on Bidorbuy - cheap and huge variety. trying out a couple of versions of kale at the moment - taking it's time though.

As for snails - I understand they hate copper - esp copper on those pot scrubbers. Bought some ages ago to unravel and staple on the top edge of my grow beds - but snails haven't been to much of a problem so far so haven't bothered. I take a walk out when it rains and do a bit of squishing though. I remember a neighbor used to get his kids to collect them - he then would cook them up and eat them!

[Alice Rain]

Hi Vanash
Been far too busy with work and poor garden has felt the brunt! Please can you give me the exact measurements for the stuff to spray on the plants [dish liquid] - as I don't want another episode of killing anything. Thanks a ton!