Emma Rose's Page

Hi Emma

Going by my dealings with them in the past few weeks, they would be better employed in getting their customer service sorted out first. There is no comparison between locally-produced and spray-free food to the krud which is in the supermarkets. However price for those of us who are seniors on restricted incomes, price is important. There are only so many dollars. I am giving FC a whirl and so far the experience has not been a happy one.

Em - read second post first :)

notes continued..

Bush beans good with beetroot seedlings.

Try snowpeas or leeks or dill in with the celery (need trellis for snowpeas).

Try basil or silverbeet in that empty socket - it will grow tall enough to reach light (make sure dripper is on).

Try chives under bay tree? Or bush beans.

Everything looks like it has enough food. If anything starts to look pale make compost tea (colour of weak tea) and water with that every fortnight or so (until it comes good). Can also top dress with compost if you like (whenever there's a gap - 5-10cm is good) - this prevents need for liquid fertilisers. About twice a year is good.

You could grow garlic in the chilli pot whilst it's not doing much.

That tomato didn't look happy. Might be dodgy genetics by the look of the bay tree. If you want a tomato, recommend you get a fresh pot with amazing soil and don't grow anything else in there. Consider planting some alyssum (eg base of bay tree or turmeric or chilli) to see if it keeps the aphids away (attracts hover wasps - but will they make it up there!?)

Get frilly looseleaf style lettuces - pick outer leaves, cut and come again. Not hearting ones ;) Plant one hand width apart.

Hey Em
OK, notes on your balcony garden

That parsley is fine - not pale which is the primary indicator of magnesium deficiency. Otherwise a sprinkling of dolomite would be the go - but I don't think it needs it. Also i think that's thrip damage, not white fly, and I wouldn't worry about it at all - it's very mild, the plants will grow past it, and you can't really prevent it.

Turmeric: it will die back for the winter and shoot again about next November. You could plant something else in the pot for the winter - eg basil, bush beans, leeks, silverbeet. Or you could put the pot aside somewhere and put another one there -maybe plant native raspberry.

Don't forget try turning the top drippers up a bit if you're losing the oregano etc.. Maybe put a rosemary up there as well?

Try putting a mirror against the glass behind the mini garden at the bottom to improve the light for that socket that's too dark (where the mint escaped from)?

Chives. Normal chives. A clump of those is always good. Try as companion plant for strawberries?

Coriander. With the bok choy or the lettuce.

Also a good guild = lettuce seedlings and then sprinkle carrot and spring onion seeds. Can also sprinkle this over the parsley.

Rocket best by itself.

stupid weird interface - I couldn't write a message on that seed film thing i sent. might make a good film night?

woo! thought they were in new farm park. would love to go to lord howe, amazing.
thanks for climate change forum on the weekend, i really enjoyed it. georgia potter was amazing, ian lowe excellent value.
yes- absolutely this could get spruiked at the relocalisation thing - but i will be in melbourne. can someone else do it? would be fantastic...!

hello you're online too :)

thanks Emma
Hey, Maisie and I were climbing in those same trees this morning :)
My bananas are flowering and i've got crazy new birds coming for the nectar - blue faced honeyeaters, and they're completely larrikin. I'll try to get a photo up, they rock.