Growing in Australia

[Penny_Oz]

Salty, I'm from western Victoria, between Ballarat and Ararat.

Tessa, I don't have any experience of NZ. It's just my experience, that the sunshine here has changed in nature over the last few decades, coinciding with the depletion of the ozone layer.

I remember one day working out in our orchard with my husband. It was early spring, some time in the late 70's. The sun had a real mid summer sting to it, which we hadn't experienced before at that time of year. Not long after we started hearing about the the ozone layer.
Til then it had been pleasant to be in the sun for much of the day, most of the year.

[Salty_Dog]

Thanks Penny, i know that area well. Watch out for those Wind Turbines

[Salty_Dog]

Well... the forecast for the next week will sure test out our theory of Southern Australian growing.

I just moved my tender plants under cover, scorching sun and 20 degrees C at 5am, currently 30 degrees with hot North winds and not a cloud in the sky!

Does make you wonder... Do i leave them out to enjoy the suns goodness, or do they need protecting from it??
Should i give them a cooling spray with the hose??

I did get up at 5.30am to water all of them in readiness for the hot weather... i just didn't realise it was going to be this hot.
I transplanted some new Peppers last night too, into 8" pots... Can they handle more sun and heat than a Tomato?

The million dollar question

P.S. Penny, i am watching a Horse Racing feed live from the Ararat track as we speak, sure looks hot out there, blue skys, no wind and even the commentator is complaining of the sun burn he is getting waiting to do the cross.

[Blueaussi]

Hot wind would be more of a concern to me then sun.

[Aussiemark]

Salty Dog,

You probably know this already, but when the hot days are coming on I find it best to water at night, shortly after sunset, give the plants all night to suck the water in and get ready for the next day.

Last summer I planted a very young seedling (maybe 7cm tall) in the heat of summer and it would literally be lying on the ground by the end of the day, and completely flat leaves and stem had no form. I would water it at night and the next morning i would be fully upright again (it was pretty amazing).

So how are the plants handling the heat, they are saying this heat wave is a new record for November.

Mark

[Salty_Dog]

Well Mark, seems they are doing exactly as you describe.
First few days they were knocked around, but now... OMG, they just love it.

I have been watering morning, lunchtime and evening... Only because of the heat and the fact they are all in containers.

The SWC are doing well, but needed a Top Water kick start (Thanks Ray)
The other are powering along.

And the seedlings have finally found their legs, able to withstand the heat and full day of sun.

One of best things i have read recently was a whilting plant after a hot day.... much like us it explianed, we look battered after a hot day in sun, but come morning we are fresh and ready to go again.... Tomato's are just the same.

[Aussiemark]

Salty Dog,

Interesting you say your seedlings are kicking along now. I planted mine out about 5 weeks ago and they are just starting to get a move on now.

Since my plants are at a site that I only see once every 2 weeks, or so, it's always a surprise for me to see how they are doing (I have them on an automatic dripper system with rain water tank and pump)

Out of curiosity why are you growing in pots? All in pots? from your photos it didn't look like you had any lack of space?

Mark

[Salty_Dog]

No lack of space... i just like the idea of pots i guess.
Neater, i can move them and after session clean up leaves my place untouched.
Plus i can grow in the same spot each year.

Sure the Potting Mix gets a bit expensive.
I have also given away 6 plants to friends in the recent week, which is easy to do in pots.
Growing in pots lets me place them on my paved areas and decked areas.... otherwise i'd have to dig up my lawn.
There is some room in the garden, but not much.

[Patrina_Pepperina]

I really enjoyed reading this thread, fellow Aussies, since I've been wondering what to do with my front garden beds that are basically in full sun for the greater part of the day. It's the hottest November on record here in Adelaide

Anyhow, part way into the heatwave Mr Pepperina and I rigged up some shade as best we could for the outermost bed (which isn't doing too well in general and which therefore is more susceptible to everything!). We were going to be away for a week and the plants are still relatively young and tender. 43 C / 108 F was going to be a real test of survival! The shade helped tremendously since it also stopped the large rocks that wall in the raised beds from getting heated up by the sun. However all the plants suffered flower drop during that period so my crop is going to be very small this season. Later flowers will possibly set during the current cooler spell, but it won't be long before the heat is back.

Anyhow, I'm seriously thinking of getting a huge sail in front of the house. It has to be something that looks OK seeing that these 2 raised beds are out the front. Interestingly, the raised beds out the back mainly get morning sun, and by the hottest part of the day are in complete shade. The plants out back are definitely doing better, however, the plants that get the least amount of sun also have the least amount of flowers each year and therefore not a lot of fruit.
My brother-in-law found out similar when he had his tomato plants in the shade - nice looking plants but no fruit.

I have extremely low fruitset at this point!

Patrina

[Aussiemark]

Patrina,

I think I have been slowly coming to the same conclusion you have.

Too much shade, nice big plants not so much fruit.

Too much sun, plants don't grow as well, reasonable fruit but have also seen plant and fruit burt out or stunted from too much sun or heat.

So there must be a balance in there somewhere?

Maybe full sun under a 25-40% shade cloth?

I suspect the plants would preform best with a full days worth of sun (time wise), but with the intensity turned down.

Interestingly my corn, pumpkin, and pole beans have no such issues with the full sun, even in the brutal heatwave we got last summer.

Mark

[Salty_Dog]

I'd have to agree Patrina, Adelaide is one of the hottest places in Australia i have been... It is just consistently hot and scorching.
After spending 4 weeks in Darwin, and thinking that was hot, i went to Adelaide for a 4 day Car Race and got burnt every day.
Dryer heat and not as energy sapping as Darwin, but it more than makes up for it with it's intense sun rays... Things just burn!

I am happy now, all my plants are flying, wouldn't matter what you threw at them now, they are all strong and drinking well.

Like yourself though, my fruit set is a little down. My vigor is up and it's time to prune and tame these things before it gets out of hand.