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From this to this
In just a few short weeks
Time, water and NPK
produce results |
SOIL
Because W.A. soils are basically just sand they lack nutrients, compost and they also tend to repel water. To overcome this water repelling it is important to use a soil wetting agent like Wetta Soil or Easy wet. This comes in a container that can also be used as a spray on applicator. All you have to do is attach the garden hose and spray it over the area you have prepared for your veggie bed.
When I started my current garden I had only been in the house a few weeks so I did not have the time to add much organic material to the soil. To kick things off I bought some cheap potting mix, used a spade to turn over the soil and added some granulated NPK fertilizer. I also dug a series of pits in areas not initially planted with vegetables and filled each pit with kitchen scraps before leveling the surface.
Over time I have added more and more organic material to the soil and eventually the veggie beds will become the right consistency.
The garden beds shown on this page were nothing more than beach sand when I started.
Before each new planting we dig the veggie beds over to aerate them and add some extra slow release fertiliser.
We are trying different methods in each of the garden beds with the latest bed being well prepared with a good organic fertiliser and mulch mix. So far the results have not shown any better performance in this bed then in beds that had just sand and NPK granulated fertiliser.
COST OF ITEMS WE HAVE PURCHASED FOR THE GARDEN SO FAR
Everything in this shot was grown in our garden
MAKING A CHEAP SHADE HOUSE
Items needed
Shade cloth (preferably already edged with eyelets) $30-40. 6 38mm x 38mm x1.5metre wooden posts 6 x $3.76 20 Metres 19mm black poly pipe $12 Packet of large strong zip ties $7 Packet of screws $6
Tools needed
Electric Drill Screw driver Hammer Stanley knife (box cutter)
Method
Measure out the post placement using the shade cloth as a guide. Hammer the posts into the ground until at least 500mm is buried. Cut three lengths of poly pipe to use as arches from one post to another. Make the arches low as the poly pipe is not very strong. Drill three holes in each upright post and corresponding holes in the ends of the poly pipe. Screw the poly pipe in to place. Cut two more lengths of poly pipe to run horizontally along the tops of the posts and affix using zip ties. Cover the poly tube arches with shade cloth (30% is probably best) and affix with zip ties. To give more shade simple attach shade cloth to the sides if required.
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