April 2020 Blog.

Latest Update 10th April 2020.
 
Its my intention to abandon crop rotation in my 4 Ecobeds.  I want to concentrate on refining the conditions in each bed to suit the crops I grow in them every year.

Ecobed 2 has been selected to grow climbing legumes with catch crops of Cabbage and Lettuce in between. The relocatable climbing frames shown in the top photo have been de-commissioned and replaced by permanent pest exclusion frames capable of protecting tall crops from bird and insect pests and from extreme weather in summer (above). This new framing system provides support for peas or beans climbing up to 1800mm tall.

Ecobed 3 will be upgraded later in the year with a similar new exclusion frame capable of supporting 16 climbing tomato plants. Marigolds and Sweet Basil will be grown between the tomatoes during the summer months as companion plants.  

Both these beds will grow other vegetables as required when the main crops are finished.

January 2015 (2)

Its mid Summer and the beans, cucumbers, pumpkin and capsicum are in flower and starting to set fruit.  The relocatable climbing frames are working well and its easy to access the vines despite them being planted close together.

The hot weather at the beginning of January gave way to cooler, wetter weather last week, very unusual for Melbourne at this time of year.  My rainwater storage tanks are now full, and the Ecobed's tanks are full to overflowing.  The water tank overflow systems worked perfectly during the week and although the soil got quite wet when it rained, it drained afterwards and very quickly returned to its usual moist state.

This Ecobed has carrots, lettuce, beetroot, leeks, cabbage and marigolds growing in it.  The bed is heavily shaded, and will stay like this all summer.  Growth has not been impeded too much, and the plants, especially the vulnerable leafy vegetables do not wilt in the strong summer sun even on extremely hot days.

The bed is free of insect pests and its noticeable that cabbage white butterfies don't visit my garden any more.

January 2015

Happy new year everyone.  Its early January and our first 41 deg C maximum is forecast for tomorrow.  I will run the drip irrigation tonight and all the Ecobed water tanks were filled yesterday.  The lettuce and cabbage are heavily protected with 75% shadecloth, but the legumes and solanaceae will have to manage without.  At least they will all have plenty of water.

November 2014 (2)

I have started to harvest potatoes and this is the 3rd plant to be dug up so far this year.  Its about a month earlier than usual and the tubers are immature.  The crop looks particularly strong and I will end up with a glut and storage issues if I dont start to harvest early.  They are sweet as.. at this stage (avge 70mm long) and although it will effect overall yield, taking some now will work best in the long run.

November 2014

I have just harvested the rest of my mature broad beans from the legume Ecobed.  I have already had a substantial harvest of juvenile beans from these plants taken a few at a time over recent weeks and cooked in their pods.  

October 2014 (4)

I have just harvested some beetroot from one of my Ecobeds.  Despite having to compete with carrots on one side and garlic on the other grown tightly together, they are a good size (about 100mm diameter), and free of pest damage.  There are still 4 more to harvest from the row, but these 3 are enough to fit comfortably in my pressure cooker.

October 2014 (3)

I'm happy with my crop of Italian Red Garlic, although I think I can grow them even tighter together next year.  I got 29 good sized Garlic bulbs from 2 saved from last years crop, and next year I plan to grow 35 bulbs in a tighter 1500 x 200mm space.  Fingers crossed.

October 2014(2)

My climbing peas are nearly ready to start picking.  They are growing on each side of one of my relocatable climbing frames, and are very happy reaching out to the frame and their neighbours for support.  They are about 900mm high at the moment, but should grow to about 1800mm before they finish.

October 2014

Its late September and the weather is warming up.  I have just removed a few spent brassicas, and I need to re-invigorate the soil ready for the next planting.

The plant debris and remnant straw mulch has been removed and consigned to the compost heap, and a 60mm top dressing of home made compost applied to the soil.  To give the microbes a boost, I have drenched the compost with diluted seaweed extract.

A generous layer of sugar cane straw is about to be applied to keep the compost moist and the worms and microbes busy.  I will be planting lettuce, cabbage and turnips in about 3 weeks.