melbaboutown

(Early so I don’t forget)

A heat wave is coming this week!

What do you have planned for your landscape, pots, patch, window box - or even the lone houseplant/cactus in your apartment?

It says ‘January’ but I have no idea if it’s a link that updates to the current month when clicked. Oh well.

Popping it here anyway

It’s getting hotter. If your circumstances let you now might be the time to consider irrigation, drought resistant plants, and mulch. And maybe some wildlife water!

What do you have planned for your landscape, pots, patch, window box - or even the lone houseplant/cactus in your apartment?

It’s coming into Summer, getting hot and sunny. I better get my cherry tomatoes and pumpkins going if it’s not already too late. And keep watering the zucchini.

In the hotter weather what do you have planned for your landscape, pots, patch, window box - or even the lone houseplant/cactus in your apartment?

Saving this for later. I’ve already found some whiteflies on my zucchini and I’ll be dealing with it on my planned pumpkins too.

I knew zucchini and pumpkin weren’t good companions but thought it’d be alright since they both take the full sun of my spot and separate pots would prevent them from competing for nutrients. I could even give both frequent Powerfeed at the same time.

But the downside is attracting the same kinds of pest. At least I can try the same methods to cover both of them.

I’m not sure about the soapy water though as apparently it can damage the leaves.

I have seen a few ladybirds before but not many and have since trimmed the grass. And I don’t know which kind of ladybird it was. Maybe if the pest problem gets bad I could buy and release more ladybirds

If you see this in time give your plants a good deep water while the morning is still cool, or do anything else you need to do to protect them.

My zucchini seedlings have been wilting a bit between waters already so I’ve looked into some things to help over Summer.

There are various options to give plants slow release water. They’re apparently good because it reduces stress from dryness or wildly varying amounts of water (which may result in zucchini becoming bitter/toxic or tomatoes splitting), reduces water runoff, and avoids root rot.

There are plastic spikes used with plastic bottles or terracotta spikes (aka ‘olla spikes’) used with long necked glass bottles. Note that terracotta spikes may take wear and the rim may break with a heavy wine bottle so from time to time those may need to be replaced.

Another option is to seal the bottom hole of a porous terracotta plant pot with caulk and bury it to the rim so it can be filled with water to slowly seep out through the soil. If you do it this way you can use the saucer as a removable lid. Other people choose to flip it upside down, caulk the saucer to the pot to make a sealed ‘bottom’ and have the hole at the top to pour water in. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GRiLhrY2CMc

This is an ancient irrigation method and used to be done with actual ollas which are shaped more like a vase. You can still buy them or make them but terracotta pots are cheaper and easier.

You can also use old plastic bottles with pinprick holes which I will probably do.

Olla watering spikes vs plastic bottles https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XBaQhNDm7q0&pp=ygUaVGVycmFjb3R0YSB3YXRlcmluZyBzcGlrZXM%3D

These can all be used in-ground, in pots or containers, or in raised beds. You just need to check the spacing

Posting this a day early while I remember.

Spring. A good time for vegetables. According to some table it’s a bit late now to sow tomatoes from seed? But you could still buy seedlings.

In the warming weather what do you have planned for your landscape, pots, patch, window box - or even the lone houseplant/cactus in your apartment?

The weather is warming up and it’s good to put out water. Especially now I’ve got magpies here.

However I stopped doing it because of potential disease transmission with avian flu. (Especially owning a vulnerable elderly cat - who is kept indoors but could get sick if I tracked something in.)

I’m physically disabled so would have trouble cleaning and disinfecting the water containers daily.

What’s everyone else’s plan for managing this?

This service is free via the EPA - apply through GardenSafe in Victoria and VegeSafe for the rest of Australia). The only cost is postage. You may choose to donate but it’s not compulsory.

It’s October and the maggies are singing.

As the weather warms up what do you have planned for your landscape, pots, patch, window box - or even the lone houseplant/cactus in your apartment?