Vegetable gardens at home.

[Mojoman]

I thought we could see who has a veg garden and if it works for you!

 

My main one is around 5x5 metres, the previous owner used to 'burn' her rubbish here, after cleaning the area I wound up getting 3 bakkie loads of horse manure, chicken manure and soil to get it going. I also have a compost heap, this is supplied with about 1lt worth of vegetable waste each day! I will be building a retaining wall with 'pillars' where the herbs will go but that's another project oneday....!

 

The garden really works for us as we are vegetarians and we have more than enough produce to give some to the neighbours as well, it also helps that the property has 2 black grape vines, a peach tree and a fig tree!

 

I usually just plant what we eat and what we can do other simple things with, I make my own chopped tomatoes and freeze this in old marg/yoghurt containers. I also do a lot of ratatouille as well. Both freeze very well. Spinach can just be 'flash fried' in tiny amount of olive oil. You can also just chop it up, add a little cream and feta and its pretty good grub in under a few minutes!

 

I use marigolds and mint and herbs in the garden to help keep pests down and also use a 'chilli' mix which is just some boiled chillis and water to spray on any pests I see.

 

The potatoes are just planted in old motorbike tyres (mate has a bike shop!) and you just add a new tyre and soil every so often, nothing better than fresh baby potatoes! Go to fruit and veg and find their oldest stock of potatoes (not hard!) and cut them in half and plant in the ground. I have also planted some garlic that was 'growing' and it grew pretty well!

 

My plants are:

Tomatoes

Chilis

Egg plant

Various herbs, especially basil!

Spinach (grows like a weed when you pick it regularly)

Rocket

Peppers

Peppadews

Butternuts

Garlic

 

And going in the ground soon will be:

Cabbage

Cauliflower

Brusells (nothing like the shop bought crap)

carrots

onions

Brocolli

 

 

All in all is pretty good fun and saves us quite a bit these days.

[Mr Winter]

I've started my own little veggie garden this year, its been a bit of a learning experience so far. I've successfully grown some carrots, green beans and radish. I planted some sweet corn and they were looking really good then all of a sudden started looking really bad and never recovered.

 

I've now planted some lettuce, green pepper, cherry tomatoes and onion so looking forward to see how those turn out.

 

I still have a lot of work to do on the garden, I think a lot of top soil and chicken manure is required to get the ground perfect. I also want to get a old pallet and make a hanging herb garden.

 

So much to do so little time

[Eddy Gordo]

I have somthing similar at home. We have herbs, various types of chillis, peppers, sweet patato, patato, butternut, egg plant, peaches, ornages, lemons, curry leave tree, plums, beans, naartjies, onion, spring onion, beetroot

Edited January 30, 2014 by Eddy Gordo

[Willie2011]

Nice One.Also have a Patch in my Garden.Mostly Spinach Tomatoes and Cabbage.All veggie waste goes into the compost heap.

[Mushilele]

I LOVE veggie gardening. I refuse to buy herbs - specially basil and coriander. They grow so easily - rocket is a weed! And there is nothing like your own chard, beans, toms etc fresh from the garden. I have grown asparagus from seed - and have three generations going. Lots of spears - asparagus tastes like fresh peas when picked out the garden, and doesn't make your pee funny like the bought stuff. I use raised beds as we have mole rats here. And irrigation - timer etc. We have the odd bird and mouse but there is enough for everyone. No pesticides. I use worm tea made from own worms - and I have a friend who supplies magic moo poo to amp up the nutrients from time to time. Seeds are generally bought from Living Seeds or Sought After Seedlings or Gravel Garden.

 

Mojoman - thanks for the pic of the garden. Nicely done!

[Bloukrans]

We have a very small patch with cocktail tomotatoes, herbs, potatoes - struggle a bit with the sandy soil in Slaapstad.

[JJS]

Do you buy the seed packets available from almost any shop?

 

 

[Imploder]

I'm trying the Square Foot Garden thing, check out: http://sfgsa.co.za/

Carrots and onions in the near most row.

Lettuce and Swiss Chard in the second

Peppers in the third

and baby tomatoes in the back.

 

I'm struggling with an Ant and snail problem at the moment.

 

This is what it looked like at the start

[Willie2011]

I'm trying the Square Foot Garden thing, check out: http://sfgsa.co.za/

Carrots and onions in the near most row.

Lettuce and Swiss Chard in the second

Peppers in the third

and baby tomatoes in the back.

 

I'm struggling with an Ant and snail problem at the moment.

 

This is what it looked like at the start

 

Your Dog seems very happy about this project.Mischievous smile

[Mojoman]

Do you buy the seed packets available from almost any shop?

You can, even places like Checkers, Spar, Mica etc. You can also see if there are seedlings available at a local nursery to help you get going, this works quite well if a friend/neighbor also plants then you can share the seedlings instead of having 20 tomato plants or something!

 

Bonus with the seedlings is you can get the spacing right when planting.

[Mojoman]

We have a very small patch with cocktail tomotatoes, herbs, potatoes - struggle a bit with the sandy soil in Slaapstad.

Make friends with horse owners! The manure is pretty good in nutrients and 'texture'! Although it can also bring some weeds with it!

[Ed-Zulu]

I'm trying the Square Foot Garden thing, check out: http://sfgsa.co.za/

Carrots and onions in the near most row.

Lettuce and Swiss Chard in the second

Peppers in the third

and baby tomatoes in the back.

 

I'm struggling with an Ant and snail problem at the moment.

 

This is what it looked like at the start

Good growing method...I used this last year on a 5 x 5m piece...had really good success with it...unfortunately I have no photo's to show, but was mostly winter veg, pak chow, baby cabbage, beetroot, carrots, spring onions...

 

I used a 100% compost base...the cabbage attracted snails...I have since seen a friend plant marigolds around his growing boxes, which wards off most bugs

[Andrew Steer]

I need to get started with one of these... think it will probably have to be a vertical garden though - my staffies will make a meal of a flatbed - anyone got any cool idea's or seen any handy links?

[Bloukrans]

Make friends with horse owners! The manure is pretty good in nutrients and 'texture'! Although it can also bring some weeds with it!

Thanks Mojoman - will remember. You have a beautiful garden going there - keep it up - the repo rate is "eating" us

[Mr Winter]

I'm trying the Square Foot Garden thing, check out: http://sfgsa.co.za/

Carrots and onions in the near most row.

Lettuce and Swiss Chard in the second

Peppers in the third

and baby tomatoes in the back.

 

I'm struggling with an Ant and snail problem at the moment.

 

This is what it looked like at the start

 

Love the dog guarding the veggie garden

[Mr Winter]

I need to get started with one of these... think it will probably have to be a vertical garden though - my staffies will make a meal of a flatbed - anyone got any cool idea's or seen any handy links?

 

google pallet hanging gardens, you'll find some awesome ideas