Comments

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  Brian Adam October 19, 2009 at 1:40am

  Hi granny, Yes the chooks are installed, and laying right away (for some unkn reason) at a rate of - I have been running the statistics through a spreadsheet - daily egg nos, projected yearly eggs, divide by no of hens = oh I forget now.
  
  Yes we're getting to know them and they're a lot less cagey about us approaching them.
  
  Just trying to think of what they call in zoos 'enrichment'. Means tying the feed plants up high so they have a bit of excersise. Etc.
  
  Brian (grandad)
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  gabe October 5, 2009 at 5:56am

  Hey Pip! Hope you're well and still keen to produce your own coriander(?) I've just sown this season's first lot of it and hoping mine don't get blighted with aphids this time. If you're still interested I've recently learnt that one of the most important things to prevent them bolting is to make sure not to ever disturb the roots. This means always sow them direct where you want them to grow and don't transplant the seedlings. When their roots get messed with the plant gets 'worried' and decides it's time to produce flowers and seeds quickly before it dies! Take care, Gabe.
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  Brian Adam September 4, 2009 at 11:33am

  I don't know what size it is but I get my vermiculite from Industrial Processors Ltd, 70 Waitakere Rd, Waitakere 0782, Auckland Tel 09 810 9627 Vermiculite "SA3" 100litre bag is $38inclgst + $15(!) courier.
  Praps it's time one of us started an Ooooby SFG group! Now back to designing my new chookhouse. I'm having trouble under-building it. I always make things too strong and heavy.
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  Brian Adam August 21, 2009 at 8:43am

  Hi Pip, I found your comments just now about square foot gardening. I love it, and try to plant in batches of squ feet (300mm!). What I particularly like is how when a vegie has finished cropping I can dig it out and if I need to, calso dig out the soil down to about 300mm. I usually replenish the soil, mixing it up in a wheelbarrow with fresh vermiculite (I have found a supplier in Waitakere in west AK) and compost/manure etc, then pop it back in. I also use Mel's guidance when germinating, etc. Later
  Brian, Titirangi
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  Chris Greaves February 11, 2009 at 1:02am

  Hi Pip. I don't know the name of my sage but its a voracious thing. It keeps threatening to take over its end of the veggie patch. Occassionally gets a dark spot lurgy on its leaves but shrugs it off. I've got some seed from it and will be trying to germinate it over the next couple of weeks. You'll be welcome to a couple of seedlings if they work. Alternatively come round and take a cutting.
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  gabe February 10, 2009 at 9:47am

  Hi Pip! How frustrating; coriander's such a great ingredient! Maybe I've just been lucky with them, but I'll try to help ;-) Have you been growing them from seed? At what stage did they fail and can you describe a bit more what happened? I grow mine from seed in a planter box. Maybe the cucumber you mentioned could be an issue if it is casting too much shadow, as coriander does need a lot of light. Alternatively, I wonder if yours have been 'bolting' quickly ie going to flower and seed too early. Kings Seeds do a couple of varieties which are slow to bolt, which might be worth trying if this turns out to be the problem...