Rob's Regular Garden

[Rob]

Hi Everyone... ok, so i don't have any aquaponics or anything yet, but am an avid grower in my regular "dig" garden. So i thought i'd share a few pics and things...

What we started with... a bunch of seedlings
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/plants-1.jpg



And a few weeks after it went in... with a bit of a run down of what's in there.


Strawberries - beginning to grow and ripen
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/two_weeks-10.jpg

Celery - i LOVE celery
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/two_weeks-11.jpg

Capsicum (also called peppers in some places)
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/two_weeks-12.jpg

Lettuce - we are growing about 7 different varieties, and enough to produce more than enough for us, and probably half our street
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/two_weeks-13.jpg

Truss Tomatoes - beginning to form - also growing Gross Lisse and a few cherry varieties
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/two_weeks-14.jpg

[Rob]

More pics

Goji Berries - i'm sure i don't need to explain
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/two_weeks-15.jpg

One of the other tomato varieties
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/two_weeks-16.jpg

Cucumbers - two different varieties
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/two_weeks-17.jpg

Another variety of capsicum
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/two_weeks-18.jpg

Button squash
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/two_weeks-19.jpg

Pineapple!!! Yum!!!
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/two_weeks-20.jpg

[Rob]

Our garden (well, part of it).
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/two_weeks-21.jpg

Citrus trees still to be planted. Fruits include Oranges, Lemons, Mangoes, Apples, Avocado, Peaches and more.
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/two_weeks-22.jpg

Chilli
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/two_weeks-25.jpg

More capsicum...
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/two_weeks-26.jpg

Corn - oh sweet corn... i love corn :D
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/two_weeks-27.jpg

[Rob]

Here are a few pics of our early fruits.


Our first ripe strawberry.
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/two_weeks-100.jpg

Capsicum ( or peppers in some places )
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/two_weeks-101.jpg

Tomato - out biggest by far (but only about 2 inches in diameter) :D
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/two_weeks-102.jpg

Rob

[Rob]

Here are some more pics about 4-weeks in...

Alfalfa sprouts - they taste fantastic (these are grown inside).
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/4-weeks-1.jpg

Strawberry flowers
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/4-weeks-2.jpg

Snow peas - SO delicious (this one was eaten about 10 seconds after the photo LOL)
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/4-weeks-3.jpg

Cucumber flowers - we'll have some fantastic cucumbers very soon
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/4-weeks-4.jpg

Lady bugs - they're everywhere, which is great as they help control pests.
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/4-weeks-5.jpg

Technically a capsicum, but really a super hot chilli - awesome
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/4-weeks-6.jpg

[Rob]

Capsicums growing. I picked the last one, but didn't take a pic - they're deep purple when ripe.
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/4-weeks-7.jpg

Truss tomatoes - have HEAPS of tomatoes growing
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/4-weeks-8.jpg

Corn cobs forming - looking forward to that.
The cobs are the parts that have "hair" at the top.
We have two younger plantations so we should have corn all through summer - nice!!!
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/4-weeks-9.jpg

Button squash - it's leaves are about 40cm in diameter - the photo doesn't do justice to just how big it is, heaps of flowers about to bloom, so we'll have squash soon too.
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/4-weeks-10.jpg

A baby snow pea
Isn't it cute LOL. It'll get eaten in a few days...
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/4-weeks-11.jpg

[Rob]

Some more pics... from about 6-weeks in.

Some butterflies doing um... not sure what :D
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/6-weeks-1.jpg

Our first cucumbers - they're MASSIVE, and VERY tasty... you can get an idea how big they are relative to hands holding them :D
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/6-weeks-2.jpg

Button squash - going insane - heaps of them on there, some ready for picking (they're hard to take pics of since there's so much going on in there)
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/6-weeks-3.jpg

Rob

[Rob]

Yet more pics ...

Capsicum (this variety are deep purple)
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/6-weeks-4.jpg

Button sqaush
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/6-weeks-5.jpg

In amongst the potatoes (don't think anyone would guess this one LOL)
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/6-weeks-6.jpg

Baby capsicum all by itself...
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/6-weeks-7.jpg

Marigolds
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/6-weeks-8.jpg

A baby (very baby) Rockmelon in case you were wondering...
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/6-weeks-11.jpg

Rob

[Rob]

And some more pics (i put these in another thread about the bee)..

I found this little guy (although technically "girl") in my garden this morning with a few friends. Trigona carbonaria is the name of this species (thanks to Russell (Native Bee Keepers) (http://zabel.com.au/) for the ID confirmation. They're an Australian Native Bee.

http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/native_bee_lores.jpg

They've been doing a fantastic job of pollinating my melons (watermelon in the pic) which are producing an absolute bumper crop!

I am looking at purchasing native bees, so great to know they're happy around these parts.

Oh and for anyone interested, some of the melons they've been busy pollinating - in progress :D

Not long pollinated, but started developing. About 2.5" long.
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/melons-1.jpg

Watermelon that's a bit older. About 4-5" long but growing fast!
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/melons-3.jpg

Rockmelon - about 6" long.
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/melons-2.jpg

:D

Rob

[GaryD]

Nice photos Rob.

Be aware that, on your way to an aqupaponics system, you can set up a simple recirculating aquaculture system and water your soil-based garden with the water from it.

Take a look at my threads to see what you can achieve with mega bins and small bio-filters. You can put a small mega bin RAS together for about $500.

You still get two crops......plants and fish......and clean fresh food......for exactly the same amount of water.....while you're putting your aquaponic growing systems together.

Doing things that way enables you to put your AP system together as you find the time and the money. In the meantime, you're growing your fish and using the nutrient-rich water for your garden. Good deal.

Gary

[Rob]

Thanks Gary. Yes, i'm currently researching ponds, as i'm very keen to make a decorative, yet productive pond feature that i can use in the manner you describe.

I recently found a local nursery that has LOTS of useful pond/aqua supplies, so that was awesome (they also have Banana trees, which i've been on the lookout for - nice!).

Rob

[Rob]

And while i'm at it, a few more pics...

1. Our first potato harvest (i probably should have left them a few more weeks, but was too eagre LOL).
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/garden_jan-1.jpg

2. Our recently finished garden extension. We're in a battle-axe block, so have a 40m driveway. We've built a raised bed all the way down, so it's an extra ~50m square of garden! We've planted the citrus down there, and will plant all sorts of crops in between (those are 3m sleepers on the straight section [to the left of the pic] to give you an indication of size). There's a few weeds and stuff to get out of there still.
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/garden_jan-2.jpg
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/garden_jan-3.jpg

And some melons...
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/garden_jan-4.jpg

The rockmelon's have these tiny cracks on them. Not sure what it's from, but it seems to form that funny surface on them that they have. Does anyone know if it's a problem?
http://www.inspiredgraphix.com.au/achilles_journey/garden_jan-5.jpg

Thanks,

Rob

[GaryD]

Hi Rob,


i probably should have left them a few more weeks, but was too eagre LOL
We have a similar problem around here.


Gary

[Rob]

I made some mashed potatoes from our harvest last night, along with some chicken and gravy. It was absolutely delicious! :D

Rob

[Bear]

Hi Rob
We have not been able to resist the urge to rob the potato bed before it is ready.
The discussion, usually held while watering the potato bed, goes something like " do you think there is actually anything growing under here?' reply is always, "well, we should find out if we are wasting good fish water" thats how we end up eating the poor little beggars before they are old enough to leave home.
There is nothing better than freshly dug potatoes boiled and served with butter or sour cream.
Our next potato bed will be a wicking bed, because, as Fishfood has established the results are amazing.
Considering the space you have available to, you your results are excellent. Isn't it a great feeling of achievment when you sit down to a meal and know you produced all or part of it?

Jan

[Rob]

Hi Rob
We have not been able to resist the urge to rob the potato bed before it is ready.
The discussion, usually held while watering the potato bed, goes something like " do you think there is actually anything growing under here?' reply is always, "well, we should find out if we are wasting good fish water" thats how we end up eating the poor little beggars before they are old enough to leave home.
There is nothing better than freshly dug potatoes boiled and served with butter or sour cream.
Our next potato bed will be a wicking bed, because, as Fishfood has established the results are amazing.
Considering the space you have available to, you your results are excellent. Isn't it a great feeling of achievment when you sit down to a meal and know you produced all or part of it?

Jan

Thanks Jan.

I know it's so hard to resist! I did a little ferreting about a week ago, and found some massive potatoes. Since the top side growth was dying, i thought it was the right time, but i was a little early :D

They still tasted great, but i think the yield would have been far greater a few weeks later.

Oh well :D

Yes, i'm building some wicking beds shortly, i love the idea!

Yep - absolutely love meals where it's all home grown (meat is the exception to the home-produce in our meals, but that's usually it).

:D

Rob

[Bear]

Hi Rob
We usually provide near everything on the dinner menu from our own little patch here at Bundamba.One exception at the moment is vegs( which I grant you is a biggy) but waiting for the components to arrive to set up Gary's new systems.
Still have a dozen or so Murray Cod and Barra in the freezer.

Jan

[Rob]

Hi Rob
We usually provide near everything on the dinner menu from our own little patch here at Bundamba.One exception at the moment is vegs( which I grant you is a biggy) but waiting for the components to arrive to set up Gary's new systems.
Still have a dozen or so Murray Cod and Barra in the freezer.

Jan

Great to hear Jan :D I have read alot of material suggesting that a 1/4 acre sort of block is actually quite ideal in terms of productivity and management... (although ours is a bit larger, we don't use it all productively at the moment).

We seem to do ok with what we have. We too are in between a few crops like cucumber and squash, but we still have enough from our previous crops in the fridge.

The only thing we don't have at the moment is lettuce, as they all bolt to seed with the extreme heat, so our later crop isn't quite ready to start picking yet.

Oh well. It's all good fun, and everything tastes heaps better than even the organic stuff i usually buy :D

Rob