Vegetable gardens

Pitbull said:
Damn, that's pretty ingenious.

Mine is way too big. I was thinking of putting those shade netting all over it but will require me building a massive steel frame first. So that will have to wait till I have harvested my current vegetables (If they grow that is :D)
Click to expand...

It is, however im sure cheaper materials can be used and also not everything needs to be in a green house.
 
Nerfherder said:
It is, however im sure cheaper materials can be used and also not everything needs to be in a green house.
Click to expand...

True.

I was actually driving to a dump site a week ago and saw a place near Brits called MultiPlant. They apparently sell seedlings of various vegetables and the likes. So if my seed doesn't take this time round I'll buy seedlings for my next attempt. Maybe even if these grow and are harvested I think it's easier to buy the seedlings than it is to plant. Maybe just more costly.
 
Well, I don't have a veggie garden, but I do have a veggie.... balcony!

More specifically, a chilli balcony.

I planted them recently. In fact, I am still waiting for some seeds to germinate. Yes, I know it is the wrong time of year to plant chillies. However, I have a Plan.

My plan is that I have built 8 self watering planters. A self watering planter is basically a pot plant with a built in reservoir of water. Water is wicked up from the reservoir into the soil (or growing medium) as needed by the plant. To water the self watering pots, you pour water into a plastic pipe that sticks out of the growing medium. The top is covered in black plastic, which insulates the soil to keep it warm, keeps water from evaporating from the soil, and keeps weeds from growing. I'm using plastic from a black plastic bag at the moment, I might change this to thicker black plastic.

How am I going to keep my chillies going during winter? I'm going to put them into upside down 5l clear water containers with holes drilled into them (just a few, for air). These 5l plastic containers will act like mini greenhouses. The plastic keeps the air moist and warm around the chillies, while the black plastic covering the growing medium keeps the soil warm. The water in the reservoir means I don't have to worry about them drying out in winter. Plus, I think the water will also help keep temperatures stable at night.

If all goes well, by the time spring comes along, my plants should be decently sized.
 
Beachless said:
Planting can be a pain but wait till the weeding starts :) my suggestion is get a duch hoe and be proactive.

Those are pretty hardy so you should not have too many issues althought I would still plant a few plants that attract beneficial insects year round. I planted fennel, dill, origanum, marigold and a few others but there are many you can choose from.
The idea is to have enough flowers around to keep bees around most of the year and also have some place where the beneficial insects can lay their eggs. The herbs are also very useful on their own of course.

OH and a few chickens would be really helpful once the garden is established since you have the space.
Click to expand...

Yea, My chickens love pecking 2 or 3 holes in a tomato then moving onto the next one, once done with that they scratch my garlic stalks to the ground, bend my plants over and eat my cabbage (just the heads mind you).

Oh, and if you have a mint problem they are excellent at destroying it for you :)
 
purpleheart said:
If you want to go organic you should look into companion planting and should definitely be planting marigolds throughout all your beds.
Click to expand...

If you don't want to go organic get to your closest farm corporation and buy a box of Methomex 900 SP
About R200 for a 10pack. Each pack can make around 100l of potent insect killer.

I think you could keep a rugby field insect free for about 3 years with a box of that stuff.
 
Ancalagon said:
Well, I don't have a veggie garden, but I do have a veggie.... balcony!

More specifically, a chilli balcony.

I planted them recently. In fact, I am still waiting for some seeds to germinate. Yes, I know it is the wrong time of year to plant chillies. However, I have a Plan.

My plan is that I have built 8 self watering planters. A self watering planter is basically a pot plant with a built in reservoir of water. Water is wicked up from the reservoir into the soil (or growing medium) as needed by the plant. To water the self watering pots, you pour water into a plastic pipe that sticks out of the growing medium. The top is covered in black plastic, which insulates the soil to keep it warm, keeps water from evaporating from the soil, and keeps weeds from growing. I'm using plastic from a black plastic bag at the moment, I might change this to thicker black plastic.

How am I going to keep my chillies going during winter? I'm going to put them into upside down 5l clear water containers with holes drilled into them (just a few, for air). These 5l plastic containers will act like mini greenhouses. The plastic keeps the air moist and warm around the chillies, while the black plastic covering the growing medium keeps the soil warm. The water in the reservoir means I don't have to worry about them drying out in winter. Plus, I think the water will also help keep temperatures stable at night.

If all goes well, by the time spring comes along, my plants should be decently sized.
Click to expand...

any pics? have restricted space as well.
 
Nerfherder said:
[video=youtube;FiDCVBsTZ64]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiDCVBsTZ64[/video]

Legit - Im actually going to try this. Obviously large scale it gets expensive but considering it should last a few years it might just be worth it.
Click to expand...

This is pretty dope hey. I will be doing this, just a pity the area that I want to plant does not receive much light.
 
Ancalagon said:
Well, I don't have a veggie garden, but I do have a veggie.... balcony!

More specifically, a chilli balcony.

I planted them recently. In fact, I am still waiting for some seeds to germinate. Yes, I know it is the wrong time of year to plant chillies. However, I have a Plan.

My plan is that I have built 8 self watering planters. A self watering planter is basically a pot plant with a built in reservoir of water. Water is wicked up from the reservoir into the soil (or growing medium) as needed by the plant. To water the self watering pots, you pour water into a plastic pipe that sticks out of the growing medium. The top is covered in black plastic, which insulates the soil to keep it warm, keeps water from evaporating from the soil, and keeps weeds from growing. I'm using plastic from a black plastic bag at the moment, I might change this to thicker black plastic.

How am I going to keep my chillies going during winter? I'm going to put them into upside down 5l clear water containers with holes drilled into them (just a few, for air). These 5l plastic containers will act like mini greenhouses. The plastic keeps the air moist and warm around the chillies, while the black plastic covering the growing medium keeps the soil warm. The water in the reservoir means I don't have to worry about them drying out in winter. Plus, I think the water will also help keep temperatures stable at night.

If all goes well, by the time spring comes along, my plants should be decently sized.
Click to expand...

I think I've seen it in that hydroponic gardening thread?

Edit: nvm, I see it was zenbaas. (Even this is cool)
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/496912-Hydroponic-Gardening-DIY/page30?highlight=hydro
 
akescpt said:
so how big is the erf and what you planning for it? an Nkandla type setup?
Click to expand...

My section that's been worked into bedding is probably about 20 meters by 10-15 meters. I would guess around 200sqm.

I have a smallholding now which is 2.2ha Half I plan on building houses on to rent later currently only using about 1/2 of the land
 
Pitbull said:
My section that's been worked into bedding is probably about 20 meters by 10-15 meters. I would guess around 200sqm.

I have a smallholding now which is 2.2ha Half I plan on building houses on to rent later currently only using about 1/2 of the land
Click to expand...

If you have someone reliable that can spend about 2 to 3 days a week in the garden go organic, otherwise don't.
 
AstroTurf said:
If you have someone reliable that can spend about 2 to 3 days a week in the garden go organic, otherwise don't.
Click to expand...

This is the hard part.

Atm, it's me and the kids trying to juggle things as they are. And this is just sorting the watering daily. I'm dreading the time all the seedlings have sprung as this will turn into one hell of a mission. Still trying to think of a way to get all done once the work starts. Will see how it goes :o
 
As well.... well not this winter, have renovations to finished first, but when they're done I'm planning on starting a veggie garden. Setting aside around 50sqm ultimately... might be more if I can actually grow things.
 
What an exiting time ahead.

When I got home on Friday the seedlings have been out in full force. Now I need to give them time to settle so I can replant them in the correct spacing... The Spinach, Radishes and the Beetroot have all sprung. I took pictures will upload them later :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X