C clamps

I’m building a new raised bed for my vegie garden. I thought I got everything ready to go; I have the timber, brackets and bolts and nuts but then I need some c clamps to hold the timber together so I can drill holes for the bolts. So it’s back to the hardware store again for me. I want to do it properly so it has to be perfect.

Asian vegetables

Over the last two decades our strong and growing connection with Asia has had a large influence on the food we eat today. A huge variety of Asian vegetables are available in the marketplace and are helping us to expand our culinary exploits. Their distinctive flavours combine well more traditional Australian foods. Many of the plants originate from tropical parts of Asia, particularly China where they have been cultivated and used for centuries.

\Many of these plants have strong and distinctive flavours and are often quick growing, tender and have a variety of parts of the plant that can be used. Like many ingredients in Asian cuisine, nothing is wasted. Many of the plants have parts (leaves, flower heads) that can be periodically plucked without disturbing the whole plant. Some of these varieties are ready to harvest in as little as six weeks from sowing and many can be cut and a used throughout the growing season

www.peterglenn.com

The problem with shopping online is that it can cost more than if you were shopping in the country of the shop just because of your geographical location. Plus the shipping cost can also make it un-worth it. Go to www.peterglenn.com and you could find online shopping worth your while again. They can buy items for you and ship them directly to you at a low cost so you can enjoy online shopping again.

Seaweed concentrate

Seaweed concentrate is an excellent soil conditioner. It contains alginates and thus improves the soil structure. Use seaweed concentrate in a very dilute form, no more than a couple of tablespoons in a full watering can. Remember it is not a fertiliser but it does contain lots of trace elements. You can use this solution to water seeds which will absorb all the trace elements.

You can make a spray of seaweed concentrate plus a teaspoon of the trace elements zinc sulphate, iron chelate, magnesium nitrate and boron. Spray it on to the leaves and stems where it will be absorbed by the plant. The liquid will also drip on to the soil where it will improve the soil structure.

Flying pig statue

I love my garden and I have lots of flowers and shrubs growing in it. I also like to decorate it with statues and other ornamental. Recently I bought a flying pig statue to set as a focal point at the end of a long passage way leading to the pond. It’s lovely, I’m always striving to improve my garden and it’s never too much work for me. Maybe I should get a fountain next? Yeah right, when pigs fly!

Hanging Baskets

Hanging baskets are wonderful for utilising spaces that would otherwise be wasted. They are literally hanging gardens of foliage or flowers and can be inside or outside.

Finding the right basket for the purpose and plants is the first step. There are a multitude of different baskets. The two basic types are wire ones made from galvanised steel or iron and plastic ones with attached drip trays that are excellent for indoors. You can water baskets with drip trays quite a lot without worrying about over-watering, as long as the drip tray isn’t full. They are also useful because they can be watered directly into the drip tray.

The wire ones are relatively cheap and cost costs around $10. These baskets need to be lined in order to hold soil. You can buy liners or make your own out of shade cloth cut to size and pushed into the basket. To remove the folds, make slits in the cloth at intervals. The cloth will then overlap neatly in the basket. Use about 3-4 layers of cloth. Half fill the basket with potting soil and trim any edges of cloth that hang over. Hanging baskets can get very heavy, so it is advisable to hang them up while planting.

Snackwarehouse for stacy's pita chips

Teenage kids are like hungry monsters; they could eat a horse if you let them. I have to make sure there’s plenty of food and snacks in the pantry when they come home. I don’t mind as long as they eat healthy and occasionally a snack here and there is fine too. That’s why I go to snackwarehouse for stacy's pita chips. My kids love them and so do I.

Organic Fungicide

Discovering a disease in the garden is often a trigger for a gardener to use a chemical, such as a fungicide to get rid of the powdery mildew. But chemicals often cause other problems. They can affect beneficial micro organisms in the soil, and can kill pollinators, like bees, and without those there probably wouldn’t be many tomatoes. As an organic gardener, I believe pests and diseases should be kept in their place, so all the remedies used in my garden are safe. They're safe for pets, for wildlife and for kids. The ingredients for some favourite organic remedies are hiding in full view, probably in every kitchen. They include milk, coffee, bicarbonate of soda, vegetable oils, detergent and white vinegar. Let’s see how to mix these up to make some effective controls for a range of plant problems.

Smallfower special on taylor of old bond street

I’ve been using products of taylor of old bond street for years now. This brand name has grown on me and I’ve recommended to most of my friends. As a bonus to myself I’ve found some smallfower special on taylor of old bond street that will save me a bundle. This really helps because this month coming up to Christmas is not too healthy on my wallet!

Sprayer Care

Fungicides are important for controlling a range of diseases. In my Brisbane garden, I use solutions of milk, wettable sulphur and copper based fungicides. Sprayers are important pieces of equipment, which should always be ready for action and so it’s essential that they are properly maintained. When you’ve finished spraying, it’s time to service the equipment. Use fresh water to thoroughly rinse the whole device and empty the rinsing water into the garden – don’t put it down the drain. Certain chemical fungicides can actually corrode the brass nozzle. Others can block the nozzle. But just use a sewing needle to unblock it. Rinse three times. This might sound fussy, but it’s important to ensure there’s no residue in the tank and not in the pipe. Sometimes fungicides form a lime scale that might be similar to what you get in your kettle. It’s important to rinse and clean because any residue from a previous spray may chemically react with future sprays. And the result might be harmful to plants, which undermines the reason for spraying.