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I say that's nothing less than impressive. You have great focus.
What veggies do you grow? I've had tomatoes, aubergenes, peppers, letuces, miniture broccolis, spring onions, bitter gourds, courgettes, some herbs and stuff on my balcony, though recently I'm too busy with my job and other things. Aubergenes are a real challenge to me. I'd like to learn to make good soil because I recycle earth from my old flower pots.


Having been on WP for a while I nearly forgot that we're not the world's standards, haha.


I'm already sure that you will get there.

[quote="whitedragon"]
I say that's nothing less than impressive. You have great focus.
What veggies do you grow? I've had tomatoes, aubergenes, peppers, letuces, miniture broccolis, spring onions, bitter gourds, courgettes, some herbs and stuff on my balcony, though recently I'm too busy with my job and other things. Aubergenes are a real challenge to me. I'd like to learn to make good soil because I recycle earth from my old flower pots.


I grow tomatoes, peppers (hot and sweet), onions, potatoes, carrots, peas, beans, kohlrabi, raspberries, grapes, and blackberries. This year I'd like to get some dwarf fruit trees planted, as well as expand my current garden area. Maybe add some blueberries too. I'll have to see how everything shakes out.

I'm not familiar with some of the veggies you grow. Aubergenes, and courgettes mainly. Are they some sort of a regional thing that you grow? I've seen bitter gourds in an heirloom seed catalog that I get, but have never grown them. What do you use them for?

I can't say that I'm a great soil builder or anything. I grow about half of my veggies in raised beds which I build out of 2x6 lumber and fill with purchased topsoil. I then just amend that soil with home made compost. Do you compost? Even with limited space I'd think you could make some in a bucket on the balcony. I'd like to get some rabbits for manure production too. That would give my soil a good boost.

When you say hot peppers does that mean chillies? Is kohlrabi easy to grow? Is it sweet like swede? Fruit trees will be fun. Are you going to make jelly? In 'River Cottage' the man made lots of ice lollies and sold them on the beach on a very hot day. (May not have had berries in them, can't remember)

-Aubergines (I spelt it wrong earlier) may be called egg plants where you are. I've just googled to find that they come from India (previously I thought South America because of their relation to potatoes and tomatoes). They are tasty and versatile to cook.
-Courgettes in France, Zucchini in Italy. They are green marrows about the size and shape of small cucumbers when you eat them. This vege's quite new to us here too. The plant was good fun to look at. In 'River Cottage' it was made into souffle.
-Bitter gourds come from Okinawa, southern most archipelago in Japan. Someone told me they would make nice shades in summer so I let them crawl on the wall which was fun. You halve them and discard all the seeds and the fluff inside because they're the bitter bit. They slice them up thinly and stirfry with pork and tofu in Okinawa. They live like forever there due to their diet.

I haven't got a house, so compost might be tricky, with neighbours and all.

Yeah, when I say hot peppers I mean chiles, jalapenos, ect. Anything that has "heat" to it. Last season I made up some hot salsa with the jalapenos, tomatoes, and onions I grew. Yum. I've still got 4 pints left that I canned.

Kohlrabi are very easy to grow. They're a cool season crop though. If you try to grow them in the hot, dry summer they tend to get woody. Just start them early in the spring and give them plenty of water and your good to go. I usually harvest them when they're as big as a tennis ball. I slice them and eat them raw. I guess they're good in salads or even when used as a potato substitute, although I've never used them that way.

Ahhh.....eggplant and zucchini. I know what they are. I haven't grown either, but I think I'm going to plant some zucchini this year. Around here people use them in cakes and breads. Mmmmm....it makes the cakes or breads very moist. I can't wait till spring so I can get my hands dirty again!

Cor.


Thanks for the info. Kohlrabi it is for this spring then.


Zucchini/courgette in cakes! Sounds like a yam idea. Perhaps I shouldn't bother you too incessantly (this is how I always feel after I've talked to anyone for a while, haha), but if/when you have time plz tell me how to do that.

I've never made the zucchini bread/cake myself, I've only done the eating! I do have a recipe for the cake that I got from a co worker. I don't know where it is right now, but when I find it I'll give it to you.

Thanks