Getting ready

[Andybear]

Spent all of yesterday turning the compost pile one final time so that it will be ready for spring
. Here in SA it is winter so unlike the people from the USA we don't have the heat. Although I would not mind having a little bit so that I can get going with my plants. I will post pics later today of the new compost pile and some of my winter garden.
Here's hoping for a good crop this year. Going to be planting tomatoes, sweetcorn, cucumbers watermelon and some strawberries.
Any and all advice welcome

[Andybear]

Here is the pic of my new compost pile after turning it on Saturday. I have now started getting my swc containers ready and should have between 20 and 30 ready for planting when things get warmer here.

[Andybear]

My Planting List this season. A bit of a mix as I would like to see which plants grow well in my area and which don't. I hope its going to be a good crop.

Please post any advice on my list and comments on which will do well in SWC and which will do better in the ground.

San Marzano
Bloody Butcher
Ponderosa Pink
Cherokee Purple
Siberian
Ace 55
Money Maker
Seasons Red - Cocktail Vine Red Cherry
Rodade
Caribe
Red Sausage Tomato
Green Zebra
Costoleto Genovese
Pink Brandywine
Beefsteak
Roma
German Red Strawberry Tomato
Black Krim
Amana Orange Tomato
Tigerella Tomato
Marglobe
Oxheart
Little Wonder
Gold Nugget
Thai Sida
Yellow Pear
Riesenstraube Grape Tomato
Bradley
2 Varieties from Vietnam thanks to ScottinAtlanta
1 Varity from Iraq also thanks to ScottinAtlanta



Thanks

Andybear

[Sherry_AK]

Hi, Andybear. Your compost bins look so neat and tidy. Are all 4 bins filled, or do you have an empty and move the compost from bin to bin when turning it? What is your winter temperature at this time of year? Is your compost cooking now?

Good luck with your garden this year!

Sherry

[Andybear]

Originally Posted by Sherry_AK

Hi, Andybear. Your compost bins look so neat and tidy. Are all 4 bins filled, or do you have an empty and move the compost from bin to bin when turning it? What is your winter temperature at this time of year? Is your compost cooking now?

Good luck with your garden this year!

Sherry

Yep all 4 bins are now fill and cooking. but the compost use to be in one big lose pile on the ground which looked a bit of a mess and now I have a 4 neat bins of Compost. Now I can take from 1 bin and not disturb the other bins. Our temperature here on a good day is 20 - 23 deg C but on cold days about 10 deg C at night though it tends to drop to between -3 and 3 deg c.

[maxfromaustralia]

Hi Andybear I have 3 compost piles almost ready because last year it was expensive buying compost. I have been thinking though that my compost made from a wide range of materials might be too nourishing and promote green growth at the expense to fruit. What %age of home made compost do you use in your pots? cheers Max

[Andybear]

Originally Posted by maxfromaustralia

Hi Andybear I have 3 compost piles almost ready because last year it was expensive buying compost. I have been thinking though that my compost made from a wide range of materials might be too nourishing and promote green growth at the expense to fruit. What %age of home made compost do you use in your pots? cheers Max

Hi Max,

This compost is a mix of the last 3 years garden material from grass cuttings to a mix of left over bought compost to old leaves and a bit of house vegies waist. I have turned it a few times already and it is now on its final turn before it gets put on the garden. I have also included coffee grinds in it and watered it with a mix " weed" and organic liquid fertiliser. The "weed" and liquid fertiliser gave some promising results the last time I used it so I thought why not.

Hope that helps.

Thanks