Tricked by tomatoes at Woolys

[mellie]

Of course farmers will argue they must charge more, as it's more difficult to grow produce when it's not the right season, but sadly the reality is battery tomatoes don't even have seasons, they are grown hydroponically in polly tunnels and sheds exactly the same way year round.

So....

There's really no excuse.

Bobby, get yourself a couple of tomatoe seedlings from your local nursery ( avoid Bunnings) in spring, you'd be surprised how easy they are to grow yourself. Choose baby Roma, or other smaller varieties because they're more resilient to pests and their yield is high.

I promise you, you won't look back.

Tips, they prefer morning sun, don't grow them against anything that radiates heat, like colorbond fence ( they'll fry) dig some compost through the patch and let it sit over winter.

Keep the water up to them.

They're the easiest and most rewarding thing to grow, they'll even grow at the tip, or on top of a compost heap.

They always give more than the effort required for taking care of them, if you are strapped for space, get a couple of grow-bags and grow them in these.

Use good quality organic potting mix.

You'll want grow-bags / planter bags to be at least 19 litres. Deeper the better.

For a kitchen garden for just yourself, 2 to 4 plants will do.

Roma are great, but you may like to experiment with other prolific disease resistant varieties too.

Remember to save your seeds for next year.



I would recommend seedlings from a nursery for your first attempt. Then you can perhaps consider raising your own seedlings next year, or buy some exotic or heirloom varieties not available in nurserys from seed catalogues ( Ie Eden Seeds).

It's a very rewarding hobby, especially if like us you love tomatoes.

[mellie]

Good thing about grow bags is you can move them if you're expecting a big storm. They have handles, so you can move them about and ensure they're safe from the elements. I think I'll go back to grow-bags myself this year, at least a few of them anyway.

Capsicums and chilli are also easy to grow and are prolific fruiters.

The way our weather is these days, grow bags are the go I think.

Salad greens are great to grow too, particularly in light of salad leaves being contaminated these days .... and because they are watering them with human excrement unfortunately. Gross.

Cucumbers are also very simple.

Just think about walking outside to your own produce with a salad bowl, filling it up with your own produce then taking it inside to dress then eat.

It's a great feeling Bobby.

[mellie]

My biggest concern is how our foods being grown.
I swear, I bought a cucumber a few weeks ago that had a faecal odour about it's taste.

Safer to grow your own basics, because this government isn't concerned with the standard being offered in stores, there's always recalls on salad greens, ecoli ( a faecal organism) is the notorious culprit because these gross farmers are useing filthy water to water them with , cheap fertiliser I guess.
If they're useing water with a high nutrient level, then they can cut costs on soil quality and fertiliser. Disgusting, and our health department doesn't give a toss.

So grow your own, cheap, safe, better all round.

Grow-bags are great for apartments, can grow on a balcony even.

[Jasin]

It's become like New Zealand, where the food stuff gets sold overseas, while the crap and crap imports are sold here.
No good oranges in my area. Just those crap American Navels that taste bitter and very un-orangey.