Vasili,
Last week after many months of sporadic rain and showers here in Dubbo NSW I got the chance to mix and apply my first ever brew onto my collection of dwarf stone fruit still in pots awaiting readiness from the collapse of poisoned, yes, poisoned Yucas more than 1.0 metre across which we inherited with our new home. Yucas should be banned from everywhere; no argument. The first application of poison onto the Yucas has partially worked and we need to hit another application in spring when the sap reverses in the suckers which have emerged since. Meanwhile the stone fruit stays in pots.
Despite following the mixing instructions exactly I was surprised with the amount of bluestone that didn't dissolve. Let's see next time we mix a brew before I can forward a more informed review of the product.
Meanwhile we had our first frost yesterday and my two avocado (Jala & Reed) survived forcing me to act and finish erecting hessian last night. Tomorrow afternoon (too crook today) we will erect the hessian barrier around the 5 x pawpaw, 5 x dwarf banana and 1 x babaco planted garden bed, all very expensive fruit tree trials growing between the northern fence and the brick garage wall.
It's a whole different climate out here in western NSW compared to Bomaderry on the NSW east coast where we grew lettuce and other leafy greens all year round. May have to grow under shade cloth this summer; more experimentation.
Incredibly, despite missing the tomato season, we got to pick one heirloom tomato (Genovese I think (damm black miners scratch everything including tags)) on 30/6 and it was heaven on earth. Another tomato on the same plant started to rot and tonight I washed and saved the seed on parchment ready for planting in 14 days in Craig’s seedling mix (yours without the sand). Tomatoes grown outdoor being picked on 30/6; crazy! I put it down to the mild winter so far and the improved soil in the 600mm raised and layered garden bed. Thankyou.
What garden beds there were when we arrived 1/3/25 didn’t include any fruit or vegetables, only woody and diseased Camelias, Privett and the aforementioned Yucas. The soil was imported clay which I have been improving in sorts to your layering instructions and planting of fruit trees, vegetables and flowers as to Craig’s regenerative principles. We have also constructed another six raised garden beds with permant tresseiling which have been progressively commissioned and from which we have enjoyed various heirloom crops.
Fruit fly here is worse than our previous home in Bomaderry so here’s hope the CGWS, fruit fly nets, socks and fruition work.
We have a retired citrus orchardist residing directly across the road and retired manager of Dubbo Forestry a few doors down so there is no want of local expert advise and help available.
We look forward to an abundant spring and summer feeding our surplus to neighbours and our daughter’s dietetic staff at Dubbo Base Hospital, the latter fighting over excess giant egglants, zucchinis and beans. Our next door neighbour is a woman’s care home and the delivery of vegetables has created interaction with frightened, handicapped, shy and distrusting elderly women. It is welcome to receive their waves and grunts.
We have yet to enjoy any strawberries due to the grand children so double will be planted this month. The granddaughter (9) eats all the mulberries and the grandson (6) eats all the gooseberries, exactly what we want.
After school he loves helping me in the garden and ever so slowly I share the benefits of chemical free gardening. Despite their youth both agree our strawberries and beans taste exceptionally better than the supermarkets and grocers. Wait till summer when our first crop of black passionfruit (about 20 to date) will be ready, then in the year/s after comparing the taste to red and yellow Panama’s.
So much achieved yet so much more to undertake.
Many thanks to you, your team and Craig.
Yours Aye,
(old sailor talk, not Greek)
Tom