Gardening Archives - Page 5 of 17

Aquaponics update; the first month

October 26, 2015December 14, 2015 Stephen Carlin

Our aquaponics system has been running-in and settling-down for a month now. As expected, it has needed some adjustment, but it is working well for a first time try. Now that the system has proved itself it’s time to expand and get some of those rain-sensitive Summer crops going. Tweaking the system has involved more structures, like a shade house for the pond, a sand filter, and setting up for expansion, but the main issue has been controlling the pH of the reservoir.

Growing zucchini ‘Costa Romanesque’

October 12, 2015December 27, 2015 Stephen Carlin

You’ve got to love growing zucchini as a home garden vegetable. They are quick, easy and delicious. This year I’m growing the ‘Costa Romanesque’ cultivar. I have two plants that I started early, and they have raced ahead in the warmer Spring weather. I have been watching them closely to check whether there are both male and female flowers, so was astonished to find this huge first zucchini; either I overlooked it or it grew tremendously overnight.

Tongue orchid, Dockrillia linguiformis

October 7, 2015December 27, 2015 Stephen Carlin

This sweet little orchid, native to the East coast of Australia, has been amazingly forgiving of some pretty harsh treatment, but hopefully it is now in a spot where it can flourish. It is an epiphyte, growing on a piece of wood on a tree trunk, and has lovely spikes of white flowers in early Spring.

Dandelion chicory, a pick anytime vegetable

September 28, 2015December 27, 2015 Stephen Carlin

I have been really impressed with dandelion chicory in the garden. I knew it as a vegetable from the greengrocers; a few big bunches always up the back of the greens stand, a little forlorn and unloved, mainly just providing a striking backdrop to the more bought (and known) greens. I got the seeds thinking I’d use it as a salad vegetable, a few of the dark green leaves adding interest to a lettuce plate, but all that has changed. Now I know it’s the leaf stems that are the…

Setting up an aquaponics system

September 25, 2015December 27, 2015 Stephen Carlin

Our new aquaponics system is up and running, and supporting some healthy tomato seedlings. It is a gravity recirculating system driven by a solar pump. Here I’ll outline the basic system, with reasons and tips for starting one, and plans for the future.

Growing Dendrobium nobile

September 22, 2015December 27, 2015 Stephen Carlin

This has been the runaway success of the orchids I have planted in trees here. Dendrobium nobile takes care of itself high in the fork of a tree above our house, and is making a lovely show on the driveway for Spring.

Growing watercress; green goodness

September 14, 2015December 29, 2015 Stephen Carlin

Whether you treat it like a herb or a vegetable, growing watercress is rewarding for the home gardener. In the cities you’re likely to find a reliable if costly supply, but I haven’t seen it for sale out here, and it’s very handy to have to pick at anytime for a garnish, or to liven up a sandwich, or on the larger scale to use as the main vegetable in a soup or frittata. A problem with bought watercress is that it tends to be all stem with yellow leaves low down,…

No-dig beds; are they any good?

September 10, 2015December 27, 2015 Stephen Carlin

I was keen to try no-dig beds, as they seem an ideal solution for opening up new garden areas without the considerable effort of hoeing and digging over new soil. My first efforts have not been entirely successful, although I’m still working at finding a method that works for me. Here are a few tips if you’re thinking of giving this method a try.

Growing strawberries over black plastic

September 9, 2015October 12, 2017 Stephen Carlin

This really works! As a kid we went to strawberry farms which had huge rows of black plastic with strawberries planted along them, and it always seemed a bit mean to the plants to have them almost smothered, but it really works for growing strawberries in the home garden too.

Growing onions in the subtropics

September 8, 2015December 28, 2015 Stephen Carlin

With our mild frost free Winters and warm wet Summers, onions generally don’t do well in the subtropics. They are cool-weather growers, and need a bit of chill to form bulbs. I have tried about six different varieties from seed, plus leeks and chives, and have had good results only from white bunching onions, meaning that these might be the subtropical onions for me.