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Monday, October 24, 2011

Bragging Rights


Ok, I am trying not to be too smug here.....but here is the first tomato at duck herder central ripening on the vine. 


 Yup. In the glass house we have an apollo and a cherry tomato growing in large pots, sitting in a tray of water so they don't dry out. Being coddled and loved and fertilized and covered and double covered and well, here we are.



On the other side of the glass house we have tomatos slowly replacing auto pots of winter salad greens. The Auto pot system is great - only kind of hydroponics because you can grow the plants in soil rather than a non soil medium.


Meanwhile, the main tomato, eggplant and capsicum seedlings are hardening up outside.



Today is very windy - so they are being extra hardened up!



Just one more shot - of my lovely capsicum seedlings - these are "cherry time" - a small red cap. Everything looks very healthy. Growing veggies from seed is very rewarding. It also teaches you a LOT about soil and plant nutrition and soil biology and balance and health. It is all love.

8 comments:

dixiebelle said...

Oh you bitch... I mean, congratulations on your wonderful tomato! And everything else looks fantastic too. I was contemplating a greenhouse as my Christmas present, but erm, arm, decided to wait & think about it more. Autopots, I am intrigued!

Hey, I know you have Nourishing Traditions, but are you au fait with lacto-fermentation? I need a mentor! (You could mentor me in just about everything urban homesteading actually!)

Queen of the Tea Cosies said...

I'm about to run competition with you. Our first ever tomatoes are lush and plentiful growing big and plump. Photos to come. Watch this space errrr, my space, errr my blog.

Unknown said...

Oh Duckie you're so clever! I was quietly congratulating myself on my first flowers .... I've been meaning to ask if I could be your bee apprentice next year when I get back from the uk winter? Please please huh? I'm not allowed to keep my own cos hubby's very allergic to bee stings and knowing our close relationship to Murphy and his law .... I thought of you and your bees and their crazy combing!
Greenie x

Frogdancer said...

Great. Now I want a greenhouse...!

ian_rm27 said...

Thanks for reminding me,Ms Herder.Must plant the tomatoes.

alison@thisbloominglife said...

Clever, clever, clever. Is the greenhouse one of those you put together from a kit? How do you find it etc...

The Duck Herder said...

hee hee! why thank you ladies for your VERY gracious comments!

dixiebelle I have made a few pots of this and that - cucumbers, zucchini, cabbage, turnips etc which have all been fabulous, but not sure if I am an expert! just an enthusiast..... but happy to compare notes....I think the "wild fermentation" book is a very comprehensive guide...well worth the purchase price.

Well, MS QotTC, you are ON. I am looking forward to seeing your pickies of your new garden!

Greenie - of COURSE! You might want to keep a hive at our community garden with mine....? We can look after them together if you like....?

Frogdancer - welcome! Your blog is great. Thank you for visiting. I love my greenhouse. I wish it was bigger sometimes...but I always love it.

Hello Mr Slow RPM -yes! It is almost time...or perhaps it is already time in Melbourne.....?

Hi Alison! I bought it from Sheds Plus in Queanbeyan many years ago.....it has been great. I will do a post about it if you like.....the main bit of advise I would give anyone considering a hot house is to go the extra expense of getting an automatic vent opener.....DEFINITELY. This simple but clever little thing saves so much time, effort and worry. I am grateful many times a month for it!

Thanks folks!

littlekarstar said...

I'm envious. I want a greenhouse too!! And bees...agh! Your pics make me even more impatient to get them!