Growing veges...

[nikky]

Growing veges...

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We have started a vege patch at home and have been planting seeds. The corn and cucumber are going really well but I'm having trouble with everything alse, I planted colli flower, broccolli, onion and bean seeds and non of them have come up. Also I planted lettuce seedlings and they are dying. I water them once a day, twice on hot days. We made our own mulch, it's really good soil so I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. Especially since the corn and cucumber are doing so well, the corn has grown higher than my head in 1 month, it's amazing!

[tamarab30]

Re: Growing veges...

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I think the heat would really not be helping anything much at the moment, especially your lettuce. Personally, we don't get any shade in our yard in the afternoons in summer, so I don't bother planting anything till mid March.

[Amanda.R]

Re: Growing veges...

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I find most seeds I plant directly in the garden don't germinate (except for broad beans, snow peas and radishes), I usually have to start them in seed raising mix and then transfer them later.

[Asha]

Re: Growing veges...

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I never have much luck with direct seed planting into the garden. I would also suggest raising seedlings in small containers first and then transplanting. It is much easier to control the watering of them that way, I usually use a spray bottle so as not to blast the little seeds around.
Are you planting them at the recommended depth? The small seeds barely need to be covered. The larger seeds like beans can be planted a bit deeper, usually the diameter of the seed is right depth. I think I read that the most common problems associated with failure to germinate is sowing at the wrong depth. Also damping off - a fungal rotting disease brought on by too much watering. A good seed raising mix will be sterilised to help prevent the damping off.
RE the lettuces - this time of year is tough to grow lettuces. They actually prefer a little shaded cover in this heat, rather than direct sun. You could try planting them in the shade of a larger plant, I usually find this helps in the QLD climate.
Good luck, it will be worth the effort! I know how frustrating it can be when it doesn't work though, I have had my share of failures this year.

[elbin]

Re: Growing veges...

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brassicas, (cauli, broccoli) are a winter crop, and shouldn't be sown until late summer/autumn. lettuce is difficult to raise from seed, and suffer in tyhe heat, definitely put them in a shady area, provide plenty of water, and raise seedlings in potting mix first, or buy seedlings. beans should be ok this time of year.. were the seeds old possibly?

[Bronnie]

Re: Growing veges...

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there's also planting by the moon to consider, and other factors (such as PH)

Crop rotationbyAussie Organic Gardening according to this website, no planting until the 27th now. just preparing beds.

[lcorteen]

Re: Growing veges...

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Yeah, pH could be it - Perth coastal soils are really alkaline. If the pH is too high the plant can't get access to the lovely nutrients available in the soil. Our soils here near Freo are pH of about 8 for example (pretty high - should be about 6.5 ideally). You can get a cheap test kit form bunnings or any nursery.

Our soils are also pretty water repellent - maybe check that the soil is getting wet beneath the surface layer (stick a finger in). If the soil is dry, you'll need to apply a wetting agent OR an organic alternative would be to add seaweed extract and dig in some coco peat that's been soaked in seaweed solution.

Hope that helps. We have lettuces growing at the moment - in shade and in a wine barrel, but it's luscious. I'm also having success with some 'perenial spinach' bought at bunnings - like silverbeet but slightly less bitter. Silverbeet would probably be OK too. Beetroot will grow over summer too and you can eat the leaves. Eggplant too if you like it. Cherry tomatoes are really easy to grow and tolerate the poor sand here - 'sweet bite' is a yummy readily avail variety and self seeds for next year (though you need to move them to a different spot - need to only toms in the same spot every 3rd year to keep disease at bay). You could also try melons and cucumbers. It's a bit late but I have jsut planted mine.

[lcorteen]

Re: Growing veges...

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just realised i have written an ad for bunnings! oops!

[nikky]

Re: Growing veges...

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Thanks, I have put the lettuce inside next to a window and they are going well now. Someone mentioned my seeds being old and the ones that never came up were brought about a year ago so maybe that was the problem. Does anyone know how to grow potatoes? I have never seen potato seeds in the shops, or do you just plant a potato?

[Bronnie]

Re: Growing veges...

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potatoes grow from the eyes that happen if they're in a dark, moist place (or light moist place, or anywhere really ) they're really easy to grow and if you mound soil up around them as they grow, you'll get more and more potatoes. there's lots of information from google out there

Potatoes

Growing potatoes