Our potatoes went in about a month back and since then more veggies have been planted out every few days. There’s still a few gaps that can be utilised however it wont be long before the garden will be as congested as an Auckland motorway prior to a long holiday weekend. Its amazing how quickly it fills up and I’m thankful that we have plenty of space.

More vegetables means less opportunity for the weeds plus I can’t see the point in losing litres of sweat shifting mountains of muck, mulch and horse manure if one doesn’t produce plenty of fresh vege. We haven’t eaten any tomatoes since last season so I’m really looking forwarded to our first monstrous feast of one of our favourites. That’s still a little way off as traditionally Labour weekend just passed is when tomato seedlings get planted out.

Anyhow rather than boring you with more of my ramblings I will post a few photos of how things look just now. The other reason is time or more importantly the lack of it as there doesn’t seem to be enough hours despite daylight saving.

Below: Seedlings ready to be planted out.

Cucumbers are going to to be trained over frames as this worked well last year. Crystal Apple and Lebanese.

Agria potatoes are looking good.

Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli safe under cover away from, the birds.

Bring on the warmth and sunshine as the tomato seedlings are all labeled, staked and ready to grow. Six different varieties here including usual Beefsteak, Money Maker and one I’ve not grown before Bloody Butcher.

Netting is required here as the birds love the strawberries just as much as we do.

As rats decimated our Honey and Pearl corn last year I’ve covered the seed with wire netting and have a number of traps about the section set with tasty, tempting peanut butter treats. I’m sure there are other vegetables I’ve not mentioned however blogging about gardening is a little like doing it. A little bit often otherwise ones energy and enthusiasm wanes and the enjoyment of growing one’s own can be lost.

Please visit again in a few weeks as our garden is very much a work in progress and yes I need to finish the fence otherwise Jessie and co our hens, could ruin everything.

The photo below shows me making a start on shifting the first truckload. Unfortunately the ground was too wet for the truck to make it around to the back garden so it was a wheel barrow job.

After a some hours of doing this the novelty began to wear a little thin. However a little physical exertion on a cold winter afternoon couldn’t be all bad. Having a big section and garden has helped to keep me reasonably fit over the last few years and it’s much more enjoyable than going to a gym. Cheaper too as there are no fancy clothes and shoes required.

Critical for the hens that I watched my every step as they were constantly underfoot on the lookout for a snack. Sadly for the girls this was all too fresh to be harbouring anything remotely tasty.

No sooner than I had shifted the first pile when our friendly arborist arrived with another yet bigger truck load. This came about because when he dumped the first lot I commented that it was a little on the small side considering what I’d “forked out” for it.

After surveying this second delivery I felt more satisfied with my purchase and made him aware that I had more than enough to go on with. The time had also arrived to use the jumbo wheel barrow that up until till now had only been storing pumpkins and collecting dust on our front deck.

Some of the benefits of using mulch are ….

• Suppresses weed germination and growth.
• Helps to improve the structure of the soil.
• Assists with the breakdown of any clay.
• Aiding water retention during summer means your vegetables need less watering which saves time and money.
• Ground retains more warmth during winter and helps to keep plant roots cooler during the heat of summer.
• Prevents erosion of valuable top soil.
• Add nutrients.
• An easy way to add organic matter to your garden.
• When you have a large garden like ours its more cost effective than buying made up mulches from the local garden centre.
• Lessens garden maintenance.
• Beautification … however this is more applicable in flower beds and when used around trees. Usually short lived in a veggie patch.
• Importantly mulching helps to create a worm friendly environment.

Other than where the strawberries are growing the garden now has been covered with a 10 centimeter layer of mulch.

As shown below I have “slightly” more than needed so its been heaped up ready for future use.

If you use mulch in your garden what type do you use and how often do you apply it? Your comments can be made below.

It was a simple plan, dig the ground, plant some seeds and publish anything of merit on the web. Anyone who has visited my blog over the last couple of years will know that its become a little more than a garden blog. I’ve dug over a lot of dirt and squashed squillions of bugs since that morning however Ive enjoyed every moment.

Well almost every moment ….

Like any gardener I’m certainly not immune from the occasional trials and tribulations that nature dishes out.

Firstly there was the case of the mauled and missing potatoes.

It was a lovely sunny October afternoon and surprisingly I had persuaded Fraser to help me plant the potatoes. We had enough seed to plant about seven rows so whilst I dug the holes and applied the blood and bone he placed the potatoes.

After raking the soil back over the spuds and commenting to Fraser that we made a great team I was content with a job well done. Sadly that contentment was to be short lived.

Sunday morning was tranquil and still as I took my ritual wander around the back yard but that quickly changed when I spotted  potatoes scattered to the four corners of the garden. What made matters worse was that many had huge chunks taken out of them. I replanted them the best I could however the resulting rows had a few gaps in them. You can view the complete post by clicking here.

Another amusing incident was when we received an unexpected visit by a runaway weaner pig.

Can laugh about it now but at the time I was more than a “little stressed”. When I was much younger one of my tasks was to feed the pigs and I can vividly remember the resulting chaos when one of us boys forgot to shut the garden gate. Fortunately this little guy didn’t discover my garden but he did cause me a few sleepless nights.

Click here to view “Vegetables under threat from runaway weaner”.

This blog has become much more than a record of my garden as many of my “one of projects” have become a part of the Just Add Worms business.

Firstly there was that tui feeder that every one admired and which has subsequently become one of our most popular products.

The first prototype still attracts tui to our back yard (bottom centre of photo) although it has been refined and improved over the years.

Our latest deluxe version which is already proving to be popular was launched just a few months back (right of photo)

We then got worms (doctor said not to worry) and lots of wonderful juice for the garden.

Next came the bees which have been challenging and fun. Everyone loves our honey and it sold out within a matter of a few weeks. Hopefully we will have more next summer assuming our bees make it through the winter.

Lastly 8 chickens, now hens and they’re all called Jessie. Its so nice being able to collect the eggs every morning plus it reminds me of my boy hood days on the farm.

By the time I’ve written the 200th post if that comes to pass who knows what new ventures I will have taken on. My philosophy is that as long as I’m enjoying it I’ll keep trying or dreaming up new ideas.

If you feel inclined to comment please do so as we love to get feedback.

Like last season this has been a bumper one with more tomatoes than we could ever hope to use. I’ve enjoyed experimenting with several new varieties and have achieved good results from the old tried and true performers like beefsteak and moneymaker. As described below several other types have been less than impressive.

I may ease back a little next year because 40 plus plants creates a fair amount of up keep but in spite of this I still hope to trial a few new varieties. I simply refuse to eat shop or supermarkets tomatoes as they are insipid and tasteless. Additionally who knows what sprays have undoubtedly been used on them. Here in New Zealand it seems that consumers don’t have a right to know, if they did I’m sure more would dig up some dirt and grow their own.

Never mind I will just go without until next summer. It’s no big deal as homegrown garden fresh tomatoes are always well worth the wait.

Beefsteak are one of the largest tomatoes out there and are great to eat raw or in a salad. A couple of slices of fresh bread and a beefsteak also makes for a magical sandwich. I’ve been growing these for the last 30 years as they are good reliable producers and can exceed 1 kilogram. On the farm my Dad always grew beefsteaks and I can still remember those amazing sandwiches we used to have for lunch. If you’re into big tomatoes these are well worth the time and effort.

Just like the supermarket ones but with one major difference of course … these have flavour. Moneymakers always get a place in my garden because I know if in the unlikely event of the others failing these will keep us in good stead. With massive crops every season they are a good choice if you only intend to grow one variety. They are easier to manage than beefsteak as they grow to a uniform medium size and shape.

Tommy Toe were added to my list of “tomatoes to grow” 2 years ago and have now earned a permanent spot there. These are one of my favourites as the they grow like crazy and taste sensational. This cherry tomato rarely makes it to our kitchen bench as I love to eat them straight from the vine, that’s when they taste best. Tommy Toe also work well when sliced in half and thrown into a salad.

After reading many glowing reports about this Russian black heirloom I felt compelled to give it a try. Tula is located approximately 193 kilometres from Moscow and is the area from which this tasty specimen originates, hence it’s name.

It’s has an amazingly rich slightly salty fruity flavour which makes it some what unique. Of all the tomatoes I grew this past season Black from Tula was number one when it came to flavour and taste.

Last year I had a great crop of these but for some reason this season they were rather ordinary. Can be rather gnarly and ugly as well as being prone to cracking. Ascetics aside Pink Brandywine are a good sized flavoursome meaty tomato as they have small seed cavities. It’s flesh is pinkish in colour and especially nice when fried up on the barbeque, I just love mixed fried tomatoes.

Until last week I only knew this as a yellow tomato because it came from a packet of Yates’s heirloom seeds that I impulse purchased at the garden centre. Upon making inquiries with the fine people at Yates, special thanks to Chris, I was informed that it was Yellow Brandywine. The three I planted this year had some huge tomatoes on them. Unlike it’s pink cousin these are smooth and round. Certainly looking forward to growing more of this variety.

This orange variety came from that same Yates’s packet and is known as Kellogg’s Breakfast. I only got a few tomatoes off the two vines and these were ordinary to say the least. Intend to give these a miss next season.

The tomato above is called Deliciuos and I decided to try it because I’d heard that they grow exceptionally large. Had hoped to set some records but alas it was not to be.  When planting I made extra effort working in generous amounts of compost and horse manure with the expectation of growing some prize winners. They grew but certainly didn’t impress therefore I can’t really give much of an opinion of them. There’s always next year.

The last on my list is the well known heirloom Black Krim. Until a few months ago this was at the top of my most liked list but has now been out performed by Black from Tula. It’s still a magical tomato and will find a place in our garden next spring.

If you love growing and eating tomatoes as much as I do it would be wonderful to hear about those that take pride of place in your veggie patch.

I must admit that sometimes I ask myself the same questions especially when its time to stake, apply ties, remove laterals, water, feed and of course finally harvest. Tomatoes are relatively easy to grow however when you have in excess of 40 vines it becomes a size-able task.

When asked my reply is always the same, “I just love growing them”.

Doing a little often plus plenty of sunshine, water and a fortnightly helping of worm juice are just some of the ingredients needed for great results.

To the second question … eat as many as we can and then give the rest to neighbours family and friends. Sharing them is the other enjoyable aspect of growing tomatoes.

I’m not on my own in this respect as tomatoes are the most popular fruit /vegetable in New Zealand. Like last year I’ve grown a number of different varieties as I enjoy observing each type take on their own shapes, colours and flavours.

I’m not suggesting that everyone should grow as many tomatoes as I do however you can get a good crop from just a few vines if you follow some simple rules.

The images below showcase my tomatoes from the time of planting back in late October until now.

Above … prepare the soil well and dig in plenty of compost and aged animal manures. Ask about … you can usually get this for nothing. Trademe is a good place to start or talk to your horsey or farmer friends. Use labels and good strong stakes.

Plant seedling deep and right up to the upper leaves which encourages vigorous root growth. A more extensive root system simply means more tomatoes.

Tie up and remove laterals on a weekly basis. Growing prize winning tomatoes is all about fruit growth not foliage growth.

When the tomatoes begin to to ripen cover them with netting or similar to deter the birds. The main culprits in my patch are blackbirds and thrushes. I still lose a few as shown in the photo on bottom left.

Finally it’s harvest time and a chance to show off a little and enjoy the fruits of your labours.

The secret to growing a bumper tomato crop is a little time often spent attending to those all important tasks such as watering, feeding and removing laterals and excess foliage.

A fortnightly helping of our “Worm Juice Plant Booster” also works wonders.

If you’re tired of just an “average” tomato crop perhaps it’s time your tried our magical ”tomato tonic”. Click on the link above or visit our garden shop.

]]> http://www.justaddworms.com/2011/02/23/grow-tomatoes-that-will-turn-your-family-and-friends-green-with-envy/feed/ 2 http://www.justaddworms.com/2010/10/27/october-mayhem-in-my-vegetable-garden/ http://www.justaddworms.com/2010/10/27/october-mayhem-in-my-vegetable-garden/#comments Tue, 26 Oct 2010 23:25:20 +0000 Rodney http://www.justaddworms.com/?p=8956 Its been a few weeks now since I last blogged about the status of my garden as I’ve just been so busy. Between waiting for the weather to improve, getting the seeds sown, working over the soil and making up orders for Just Add Worms there hasn’t been much time left to tinker the old computer keys.

Rather than writing screeds about all that’s been happening I feel the images below will better illustrate whats been going down of late in my veggie patch.

The seed propagator shown below is made from an old shower tray I purchased on Trade Me and makes the task of germinating seeds so much easier, no more crouching or sore backs. The adjustable stays on the side means I can control the temperature and air flow stay during the day and then close at night to protect the seedlings from the cold. As the season progresses and the weather warms up. I will remove the plastic from the top as it generates too much heat however the netting remains to keep the birds and neighbourhood cats out.

Every keen vegetable gardener should have one of these but that’s a story for another day.

Several weeks back the tomato stakes went in …

Yesterday was Labour day and time to deal to all that horse manure … this will give the toms a good head start.

My seedlings go into the ground mean and lean … no unnecessary foliage and in up to their arm pits to encourage plenty of root growth.

By days end I had planted 28 seedlings … that number will increase “slightly” I suspect.

Tomato tags lest I forget … stapled and glued on.

Its not all about tomatoes … have molded the first rows of potatoes we planted and they are growing really well.

Our bees also need ongoing attention so I have plenty to keep me occupied … and of course there’s always that occasional blog post.

Great that’s another job out of the way now where did I put that string line?

In spite of the fact that the ground is still rather wet I decided to get a couple of rows of potatoes in so that we can hopefully harvest some in time for Christmas.

After turning the soil a trench of about 20 cm deep is made into which the seedlings are placed approximately 35 cm apart.

A few handfuls of blood and bone thrown into the mix should help them along.

Plant label as I always forget … lets face it we all do!

To finish the job its just a matter of filling in the trench. I have four more trays to plant but will leave these for a couple of weeks until the grounds dries out a little more.

]]> http://www.justaddworms.com/2010/09/29/spring-means-its-time-to-get-growing/feed/ 0 http://www.justaddworms.com/2010/09/16/tomatoes-set-the-tempo-in-my-garden/ http://www.justaddworms.com/2010/09/16/tomatoes-set-the-tempo-in-my-garden/#comments Wed, 15 Sep 2010 11:43:42 +0000 Rodney http://www.justaddworms.com/?p=8664 Weekend Gardener Magazine – Issue 298 ( Sept 9th – 22nd)

Click on image below for larger version.

I enjoy growing as much as I can from seed plus it’s much cheaper than buying seedlings.

Now that spring is finally here it’s time to plan the veggie patch and figure out where everything is going to fit in. As anyone who has visited this blog before will know I have a mania for growing tomatoes and this year will be no exception. The first tomato seeds are in the mini plastic house and should be popping through within the next few days.

Those small leaves already showing in the photo above belong to cabbages, lettuce, silverbeet and broccoli.

Tomatoes I intend to grow this season are  …

• Black Krim
• Pink Brandywine
• Beefsteak
• Moneymaker
• Tommy Toe
• Delicious
• Black Tula

I am trying two new varieties this year namely Delicious and Black Tula.

Due to a very wet winter I’ve not been able to spend much time preparing beds so its all looking a little drab out there just now. Having said that the last few days have been more spring like and this has allowed me a little time to turn over some of the ground. The new stainless steel fork I received for fathers day works a treat and makes this job easier however the soil is still rather wet and claggy.

Hopefully the next couple of weeks will bring warmer weather and I can once again begin to load up my patch with a host of wholesome tasty veggies.

It’s been a long winter and I’m keen to get growing again.

It’s amazing to think that soon all those northern hemisphere gardeners will have to bid spring and summer farewell as it will be the turn of gardeners down under to savour their magic.

Just a few weeks away and already I’m feeling a little under pressure as I have so much planned for this growing season. The last few weeks have been very wet here in the city of sails therefore there’s not a lot I can do in the garden because it’s very soggy underfoot.

As always I’m keen to start preparing the soil but I just have to be patient and wait for the spring sunshine to warm and dry things out. Other than laying straw around the strawberries nothing much has been done.

The seeds from Kings arrived a few days ago so my garden fork and string line are at the ready.

This season it’s pretty much more of the same however there will be a few new comers to the ranks or more accurately speaking “the rows” in my garden. The plot has grown a “little bigger” and the challenge is to improve on what I achieved last year but most importantly to enjoy myself whilst doing it.

In that respect I guess I’m no different to gardeners the world over as we all seek to get the very most from our square metres of dirt.

Can’t wait to get growing again …

On my list of favourite things to grow pumpkins are well up there and come in a very close second to my all time favourite, yes you guessed right, tomatoes.

This past season I grew four different varieties:

Whangaparaoa Crown (Weighed in average 3.6 kg)

I’ve been growing this grey skinned variety off and on for over 30 years because it’s a reliable producer, seven to nine pumpkins off each vine this year. As a dry pumpkin it stores well and makes for a tasty soup and is equally good when roasted. These two are about half way to maturity and will double in size.

Marina Di Chioggia (Weighed in 6.4 kg)

This Italian heirloom originally from Chioggia in the province of Venice, Italy came highly recommended so it will be interesting to see how it tastes. Upon checking this last week I discovered dry rot developing in the stem so I decided to bring it in.

It was planted in an area where the soil hadn’t been prepared as well as it could have been and as a result I’ve only ended up with a few of these. The one pictured above is the biggest and best of the crop. I intend to save the seeds and plant in a better spot next season.

As it grew the changing colours have been quite amazing and it has grown from a handsome adolescent into this ugly old ogre shown below.

Guess you can’t judge a pumpkin by it’s skin and based on what I’ve read about this variety it should be well worth the effort. Probably need an axe to open it up when the time comes to savour this gastronomical wonder.

Queensland Blue (Weighed in 4.7 kg)

Normally I wouldn’t let an Aussie near my garden but I guess there comes a time to let bygones be bygones. Also I feel the need to see if Australia can produce anything worthwhile besides Midnight Oil, Victorian Bitter and Fosters.

To be sportsman like I will hold off passing judgment until this one hits my taste buds.

Strange as it may seem I suspect this Queensland heirloom could prove to be “fair dinkum”.

Now lastly I should mention the most prolific producer of this cucurbita foursome.

Waltham Butternut (Weighed in average 2.3 kg)

Along with one Whangaparaoa Crown these were planted in the the corner of my garden as there was no where else for them to go. By doing this I broke one of my own rules as I never plant pumkins in my main growing area as the tend to take over.

The crown pumpkin was true to form and set about smothering everything in sight but the butternut only took up a minimal amount of space but yet produced a bumper crop. This variety therefore would be a good choice if you only have a small garden.

For me the success in growing pumpkins is:

• Plenty of space where they can grow undisturbed.
• Good soil with plenty of organic material such as compost and aged animal manure.
• All day sun.
• Ongoing feeding.
• Regular watering if things become too dry as happened this season just past.
• Having plenty of bees included bumble bees to handle that all important task of pollinating all those flowers. A little hand pollination also helps.

Now that I have a beehive situated within a stones throw of where the pumpkins grow it will be interesting to gauge next years pollination results against the current ones.

If you have the space I’d suggest growing pumpkins as they are easy to grow and don’t require a lot of effort.

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