Category Archives: Garden Tips

Apartment Living – How to grow tomatos

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If you live in an apartment or unit you might think you don’t have the space to grow any fruit/vegetables. Well here are some tips on how to grow tomatos with limited space, time or money. Checkout the slideshow above and follow the step by step instructions below and you will be enjoying home grown tomatos in no time! You will need the following…1 x bag of potting mix, 2 x tomato seedlings, a blade or scissors, screw driver.

1) Go down to Bunnings and pick up a bag of premium potting mix and 2 x tomato seedlings. Get 2 different types, for example Cherry Tomatos and Roma or Big Reds as you will more likely consume more if they can be used for different meals/salads etc.

2) Take the knife (or scissors) and cut the bag of potting mix through the middle on one side only. Grab the cut bag underneath from the middle and lift it up so both halves are now standing upright. Do this outside as it will be a little messy!

3) Cut the other half of the bag to separate them and push the sides in to make them both a more round shape. This will help them stand upright on their own.

4) Place the bags in a position where they will receive the most sun, this might be a spot in your courtyard, a balcony or on a window sill. Plant one seedling in each bag.

5) Finally pierce each bag around the bottom about 6 times with a screw driver or similar for drainage. DON’T do little slits with a knife because if you try to carry the bags to a new location they are more likely to split open. Water each plant with approx 500ml of water every 2nd day or daily after extremely hot days.

HINTS…try to place plants near a wall or hand rail as you will want to tie up the plants when they get grow taller. If keeping the plants inside by a window, place an old towel under each plant to absorb any excess water.

Vegetable Planting for Summer

Vegetable gardens are becoming more and more popular in landscape design as people are realising the importance of organic foods. However you don’t need a professionally designed garden to introduce a small veggie patch. There are many ways you can start or build your own veggie patch and in as little time as 4 to 6 weeks you could be enjoying your very own home grown organic foods. If you don’t think you have the room then check back in a few weeks when I post some cool ideas on how to get your own veggie patch even if you live in an apartment!

For more information on how to build your own raised veggie patch click here .  This link provides a lot of good information on how to get the best out of your garden. If you have any other questions you can always send us a message via our Contact Us page.

Below are a list of popular veggies that will do well over the coming summer…

Beetroot, Broccoli, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrots, Celery, Chives, Chilli, Coriander, Cucumber,

Leeks, All kinds of Lettuce, Oregano, Parsley, Parsnip, Pumpkin, Radish, Rocket, Silverbeet,

Squash, Corn, Tomatoes, Spinach, Watermelon, Zucchini.

All of the above can be planted in full sun and harvest times will vary from 6 to 14 weeks depending on what it is, location, soil quality etc.

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Tip For September

It’s time to start fertilizing your veggie patch for planting. In Melbourne I’ve found a good mix of pea straw, manure and a blended soil from your local garden supplies or even Bunnings will yield the best results.

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