Comments

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  7seas January 11, 2017 at 1:33am

  Hi, I am interested to learn more about walipinis or pit greenhouses, which are lowered into the ground. Pros / cons / recommendations? I am located in a warm and temperate zone, average 14dC, 2100mm rain (Waihi). We have a sloping dry site exposed to strong winds, north facing. Walipinis are designed for much colder climate conditions, however, I think the structure could withstand quite some wind gusts. My interest in pit greenhouses grew when my neighbours told me how their newly constructed off-the-shelf greenhouse lost each and every panel in the first small storm. I'd love to get into contact with someone who has built a walipini. Further information here: 

  instructions   http://www.solaripedia.com/files/1257.pdf

  http://peswiki.com/directory:walipini-underground-greenhouses

  modifications: http://permaculturenews.org/2014/02/05/robs-modified-walipini/

  I am new to green housing and have only a few years of gardening experience, none under glass. 7seas

   
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  kiwi brown December 9, 2012 at 7:53am

  Read lots and lots about D earth and it does seem to be indiscriminate but so are most things...except perhaps Neem.  Certainly most sites recommended not using around flowers (bees) and I wondered if they would take it too their hives!  One person said she had used it for years and had lots of worms in her garden.  I plan to be careful as am with all things that kill.  It is good to have something can use w/o worrying that it will hurt people.  A glasshouse seems to be a good place to use it.  We are going to put it on the leaves and branches of the fruit trees and also around them because the cicadas are so bad where we live.  Thank you Matt and Ingrid for your advice and suggestions. 
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  Matt Moir December 9, 2012 at 2:20am

  dosn't matter what you use it would be indiscriminate but if you want a safe method DE earth is the safest friendliest product out there out there
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  Ingrid Ennis December 8, 2012 at 9:29pm

  I would be worried about using diatomacious earth widely - it seems to be a pretty indiscriminate killer of every insect. I want to have a healthy ecosystem in my garden. Maybe its good for very localised applications?
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  kiwi brown December 7, 2012 at 8:57am

  Hey Matt, that is a really good site for D earth, I didn't even know it is good for people too.  Only used it for insects inside the house in Hawaii.....so many cockroaches and ants there!  Thanks for taking the time to tell me about it.  Cheers and happy holidays
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  Matt Moir December 7, 2012 at 12:40am

  De earth can be used in the garden even with all the rain I mix a cup or so in a 5 liter sprayer and apply it in spray form Food grade de earth is costly hear is a link to a supplyer as well as a very goot info web site http://www.denz.co.nz/
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  kiwi brown December 6, 2012 at 8:26pm

  Thank you for that suggestion D & D!  Hope to have a friend now in Auckland to find some diatomacious earth.  Will also try it in the garden but probably be less effective there because of rain.  Still, anything is better than leaving them to multiply.  Am new to glasshouse planting but have grown lots of seedlings in there so far and kept the tree seedlings during the winter.  Thanks again, happy holidays and cheers to you too.
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  Dian & Dennis Patterson December 5, 2012 at 10:56pm

  Hi : For white fly, Dian recommends companion planting mariigolds, and dusting with food grade diatomacious earth.

  Cheers,

  D&D
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  kiwi brown December 5, 2012 at 8:21pm

  Does anyone have an affective way of dealing with white fly in glasshouse?  I have sprayed with water, soap, pyretheum (sp?) and then washed off but the veg plants really do not like it.  Tried the trick of yellow color with sticky on and a light at night time with water under it which also got a few. Are there plants that white fly don't like that I could plant with others to hide them a bit?  Any ideas welcome.
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  Suburban Micro Food Forest August 14, 2012 at 1:32am

  Miranda Robinson - Its impossible for anyone to advise you without more information - it could be the growing medium, pH, nutrient deficiency or imbalance, soil moisture, irrigation, drainage, humidity, airflow, temperature, fungus, virus, bacteria, micro-organisms, pests, propagation techniques, timing, seed quality or varieties. I would read three or four books on glasshouse growing to begin to grasp the fundamentals, then you will know where to start looking for the answer. Im currently reading my tenth permaculture book.