Your comments and tips

20 Sep 19, Peter Devenny (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

hi anon, I live in a unit and grow all my vegies in Pots on the balcony with great success, however as you stated pots can dry out quickly and nutrients do leech out , i use seaweed mix once a fortnight and dynamic lifter (pelletised) once a month, i also diligently keep an eye on the moisture lvls, i have found using a good mulch about 3 cm deep on top helps with the moisture retention, Happy Gardening. Peter

Reply or Post a new comment

22 Apr 20, Meme (Australia - tropical climate)

Thanks for this info as I too will be growing a lot in containers as I am older and bending is not an option I have anymore as well as on my knees. Oh for the good ol' days when my body was more able. Regardless growing especially things you love is a great and satisfying project

Reply or Post a new comment

25 Sep 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I fertilise before I plant with straights (chemical fert) and water 3 times a week. My fert costs $1-1.5/kg compared to up to $15-20/kg for some of the small fancy stuff. I do take it that people in units have a very limited growing area. And as I said doing pots requires a lot more attention. I also use mulch around most of my plant. I do 12 pallet size raised garden beds half a year for a school. A 12m x 2m home garden 9 mths of the year. I am presently setting up (and will be the operator) 12 garden beds, each 4.8m x 2.5m for a disable group. I'm just finishing off a 6 bay composting system. They are each a pallet high, wide and deep. Cheers

Reply or Post a new comment

17 Sep 19, Peter Devenny (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

yes you can , however I personally would go with Searles brand, available in 30 or 60 ltr bags, depending on potting mix you might like to add some sharp sand for extra drainage and of course the cheaper potting mixes will require extra fertilizers before planting

Reply or Post a new comment

21 Sep 19, Peter Devenny (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I also add a 20ltr mushroom compost and a 1 in 3 mix of sharp sand to help with the drainage to the 60ltr searles premium potting mix, i also use self watering pots for the more susepitable vegies to drying out. happy gardening :)

Reply or Post a new comment

15 Sep 19, Kathleen Foxwell (Australia - tropical climate)

I have planted shallot seeds. When they are due to be harvested they are only as thick as a piece of 8 ply wool. How do I make them grow bigger?

Reply or Post a new comment

16 Sep 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

For over 50 years my mother and I have always grown shallots from bulbs. Kept some bulbs from one year (from spring crop) for planting the next year - autumn into late winter. A lot of different people have different names for shallots. The way to have good thick stalks is to grow in full sun, plenty of fertiliser and water. If the leaves are a nice deep green colour all is right - if light green yellow - they need fertiliser.

Reply or Post a new comment

14 Sep 19, Greg O'Brien (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Hi Anyone! We’re keen to try growing golden shallots and need to find a contact where we can buy a reasonably large amount of seed cloves. Anybody able to help?

Reply or Post a new comment

16 Sep 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Do you mean the little gold/brown shallot/onion. I grow what I call shallots - the cluster of bulbs - purple/brown colour when fully grown. You let the shallot fully grow and seed and then harvest the cluster of bulbs. I usually save some from one year for the next year. I had a lot this year and have a few left now. Usually by now they have dried out to nothing or when some humidity about they start shooting. I doubt I have enough for you but what I have left could be planted - have to be real soon though. I live Coral Cove - via Bundy.

Reply or Post a new comment

04 Aug 19, Rosemary Smit (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)

I have a salad and herb garden at my restaurant. Where to go to buy shallot seedlings or bulbs. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Rosemary.0728844936.

Reply or Post a new comment