| Author |
Posts |
|
|
cruiser
Forum newbie - be nice!
Posts: 7
Location: 4575
Registered: June 2009
|
Home-grown veg --->Disaster? Posted 808 days ago Hi all,
I started a veg garden a few months back and everything is starting to look good now. have not used any sprays as yet (not keen to do so).
Lettuce- the lettuces have taken off brilliantly - the sparrows have recently decided that they like the lettuce too- so have strung up a bird net to deter them.
Tomatoes - the tomatoes are starting to set fruit. Am getting nervous about fruit fly so have purchased a product from bunnings that i need to spray on some ply wood pieces and hang near the fruit to attract the flys and the product kills them after they eat it.
Cucumbers are growing well, first large fruit has set and is nearly ready to pick. Some little yellow (ladybirds?) have taken up residence on the leaves and seem to be causing harm - eating away at the leaves but there are still heaps of flowers and fruit appearing. Should i kill these bugs?
Corn is getting strong, however i fund a nasty grub in the top of one yesterday, It was not the strongest of plants anyway so i removed it completely.
the corn and capsicum both have a few dark spots on the leaves but this doesnt seem to be too much of a worry just yet.
dwarf beans are starting to flower- no dramas here.
the rockmelon and Watermelon have heaps of flowers have not seen any fruit yet- do these need hand pollination as per the cucumber and zucchini?
Beetroot seems to be going well. Have been picking the little leaves and adding them to salads, until i read on a cooking website /forum that they were somewhat poisonous, Don't believe this as the even sell them in the packaged salads at the supermarkets.
Any help/ advice welcomed and wanted.
Thanks. |
0 0
Alert moderator
|
|
|
hutcho
Forum celebrity
Posts: 687
Location: Penrith area n.s.w.
Registered: September 2008
|
RE: Home-grown veg --->Disaster? Posted 806 days ago Re poisonous beetroot leaves...tell 'em they're dreamin'. That'd be your rhubarb leaves. Chock full of Oxalic acid. Boil up rhubarb leaves and use the liquid on veggie plants to kill off grubs, snails etc., but totally harmless to bees. Take appropriate safety precautions, 'cause Oxalic acid can harm humans too. NEVER EVER EAT RHUBARB LEAVES. Not even to win a bet.
_________
Experience is what you get when you dont read the instructions first.I'm a LEO.I am experienced! |
1 0
Alert moderator
|
|
|
dragonace
Forum stalwart
Posts: 200
Location: Parramtta, NSW
Registered: June 2009
|
RE: Home-grown veg --->Disaster? Posted 805 days ago tried mulching yet? that helps and fertilizing with seasol improves your food.
also when the plant has finished producing it's crop it is recommend you don't plant in the same spot to reduce pest and diseases from growing.
_________
No gardener is really good before he has killed one or two plants.
|
1 0
Alert moderator
|
|
|
Georgen
Forum stalwart
Posts: 96
Location: NSW
Registered: August 2009
|
RE: Home-grown veg --->Disaster? Posted 805 days ago I pick up some slugs and snails at night, put crumbled paper in moist pots to get earwigs.
I also hunt for white butterfly caterpillars during the dat, but they are bit hard to catch. Best result if I can see caterpillar poo scattered around then I have to concentrate on smaller area to spot them.
Diseased plants best to get rid of always have some seedlings ready to go to fill in empty spot.
Also if soil gets some rest it is not all bad, it often improves fertility for next year's crop.
|
0 0
Alert moderator
|
|
|
BobbieJ
Forum stalwart
Posts: 120
Location: Lake Macquarie
Registered: February 2009
|
RE: Home-grown veg --->Disaster? Posted 783 days ago Wow, you sound like you are doing great. I love to grow corn, as apart from the caterpillars - and they don't eat too much, you can do really well without too much effort.
Home gardens always have some problems, but if you can manage to eat from it, you have won.
Cucumbers, beans and corn love water. Better to water the roots and not the leaves to save mildew.
_________
Of all the wonderful surprises in life, none is better than seeing that first shoot tear out of the earth and form into a wonderful plant and vegetable.. . |
0 0
Alert moderator
|
|
|
BobbieJ
Forum stalwart
Posts: 120
Location: Lake Macquarie
Registered: February 2009
|
Rhubarb boiled leaves Posted 783 days ago Thanks for that great tip, Hutcho. will give it a go.
_________
Of all the wonderful surprises in life, none is better than seeing that first shoot tear out of the earth and form into a wonderful plant and vegetable.. . |
0 0
Alert moderator
|
|
