Natalie's Gardens

Natural and Organic Farming

P O Box 68240, Bryanston, 2021

nataliesgardens@vodamail.co.za

083 448 6832

Garden Map planting table:

 

Vegetable	Planting Times	Planting Depth	Plant   Spacing	Good companion	Location	Harvest	Rotate
Beans	Apr/May	30mm	30cm	Potato Pumpkins	Full Sun	3-4 months	Carrots  Potato
Beetroot	Aug/Oct	25mm	10cm	Lettuce Onions	Full Sun	8-9 weeks	Onion Potato
Broccoli	Dec/Feb	15cm	45cm	Celery	Full Sun	10 weeks	Celery Onions
Cabbage	Jul-Mar	7mm	55cm	Beans Beetroot	Full Sun	3 months	Celery Onions
Carrots	Aug-Oct	7mm	5cm	Beans Tomatoes	Full Sun	3 months	Lettuce Potato
Cauliflower	Nov-Mar	10mm	60cm	Beans Beetroot	Sun / Semi shade	4 months	Celery Onions
Celery	Sep – Dec	10mm	60cm	Broccoli Cabbage	Sun/Semi shade	4-5 months	Squash
Cucumber	Aug-Dec	10mm	45cm	Beans lettuces	Full Sun	3 months
Lettuce	Jan-Mar	8mm	25cm	Beetroot Cabbage	Sun/Semi shade	2 months	Beans Tomatoes
Mealie Corn	Sep-Nov	45mm	25cm	Cucumber Beans	Full Sun	2.5 months
Onions	Feb-Mar	10mm	15cm	Spinach Tomatoes	Full Sun	4 months	No alliums*
Potatoes	July-Oct	70mm	20cm	Mealies Beans	Full Sun	5 months	Broccoli Cauliflower
Pumpkins	Sep-Nov	15mm	60cm	Mealies Beans	Full Sun	3 months	Carrots Beetroot
Spinach	Sep-Nov	8mm	10cm	Onions Cabbage	Full Sun	2 months	No alliums*
Swiss Chard	Aug-Oct	8mm	25cm	Beetroot Cabbage	Full Sun	2.5 months	Not required
Tomatoes	Aug-Nov	7mm	50cm	Onion Carrot	Full Sun	2.5 months	Beetroot carrot

                                

 

 

   GOOD COMPANION HERBS AND FLOWERS FOR VEGETABLE GARDEN

(NATURAL INSECTICIDES and FLAVOUR ENHANCER)

 

 

Vegetable	Herb	Herb	Herb	Herb	Fruit	Flowers	Flowers	Flowers
Beans	Chives	Parsley	Rosemary			Marigold	Nasturtiums
Beetroot	Parsley	Chives				Marigold	Calendula
Broccoli	Dill	Parsley	Sage			Petunias	Chamomile
Cabbage	Rosemary	Sage	Thyme	Dill		Geraniums	Violets	Nasturtiums
Carrots	Parsley	Oregano	Basil	Mint		Roses
Cauliflower	Dill	Sage				Petunia	Catmint	Chamomile
Celery	Parsley					Marigold	Violets
Cucumber	Chives	Dill	Oregano	Lemon Balm		Nasturtiums
Lettuce	Chives	Parsley			Strawberries		Violets
Mealie Corn	Coriander	Dill				Sunflowers	Nasturtiums
Onions					Strawberries	Roses	Petunias
Potatoes	Sage				Strawberrie	Marigold
Pumpkins	Garlic	Chives	Marjoram	Oregano
Spinach	Coriander	Parsley	Chives		Strawberries	Violets
Swiss Chard	Garlic				Strawberries	Roses
Tomatoes	Mint	Basil	Coriander	Chives		Marigold

 

* Alliums = Chives, Garlic, Leeks and Onions.

 

 

                                     CONTAINER PLANTING

 

• Old wheelbarrows – Beetroot, cabbage, Lettuce, Onions, Spinach, Swiss Chard
• Old paint cans – As above
• Old drawers- As above
• Tires – Potatoes
• Any type of container can be used that can hold the weight of the soil.
• ALL containers need holes drilled at the bottom for drainage.
• All Herbs can be grown in containers.

 

 

                                     VERTICAL PLANTING

 

• Gum poles 2.5 meters high and 100mm-120mm thick.
• Screws and washers (to prevent plastic bottles tearing)
• Empty plastic 2 liter bottles ( 8 per pole – 4 on either side)
• String to hold Tomatoes and Cucumbers in planting bags or buckets or drums.
• Vegetables suitable for plastic bottle planting: Runner beans and bush beans, lettuce, spinach,
• Swiss chard and nasturtiums and all herbs.

 

 

• Dig hole and bury the pole half a meter deep. Compact the soil very well around the pole with another pole or back of a spade so that it is very sturdy. You will have a pole that is 2 meters high.

 

• Cut the bottom (1/3) of the plastic bottle off. You are left with 2/3 of the bottle and the lid. Drill
• Holes in the plastic lid for drip irrigation. Fasten lid back on bottle.

 

• Fasten the 4 bottles upside down on each side of the pole with screws and washers.(lid facing the ground)
• One on top of the other. Divide the spacing equally between the bottles allowing at least 40 cm between the last bottle and the ground.  

 

• Make sure the bottles are in a straight line so that the water can drip from one bottle to the next.

 

• Fill each bottle with a mixture of ground soil and compost.2/3 full.

 

• Plant seeds.

 

• Lightly water frequently with a watering can. Water each bottle until the vegetables have germinated and then water the top bottle only allowing the excess water to drip into the bottles below.

 

• Plant tomato and Cucumber under each side of the bottles closest to the ground in 25 liter planting bags or plastic buckets or drums.( 2 planters)

 

• Nail Nylon string into the top of each pole and let it hang to the ground. When the Tomato and Cucumber are tall enough, attach the stems of the vegetables with soft wire to the strings and they will climb up the pole.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                       MATERIALS

 

• Shade cloth for lettuce and spinach if over 24 degrees. Sticks to hold the shade cloth above the ground. The quantity is determined by how many lettuce and spinach beds are planted.
• Shade cloth and Hessian are available at builder’s warehouse. Other vegetables might require shade cloth (broccoli and cauliflower) if it is extremely hot between 11h00 and 15h00.

 

• Drill and extension cord for poles. Bags of screws and nylon string determined by the amount of vertical planting you want to do.( builders warehouse)

                                                    WATER WISE

 

• Beds and containers to be watered before 09h00 and after 15h00 in summer
• Beds and containers to be watered after 09h00 so they can have the whole day to dry out in winter.
• Empty plastic 2 litre bottles. Prick bottle in the neck and the shoulder of the bottle. Fill with water. Leave the lid on and bury in the vegetable bed close to the roots of the vegetables.
• In large containers do the same and push right down into the centre of the container and leave the water to seep out. Check if the bottle needs to be filled after 3 days.
• Hosepipe watering. Only water the vegetables and use an adjustable spray attachment to soften the jet of water.
• Make permanent pathways around the vegetable beds and clear beds so that water is only used where necessary.
• Water is scarce and more valuable than gold.

 

 

                                                    MULCHING

• Mulching is adding organic matter to the surface of the beds.
• It regulates the temperature of the soil like a blanket. It keeps the soil cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
• It saves water and reduces evaporation, keeps the soil moist and reduces weed growth. Weeds compete for water.
• It helps prevent soil- borne diseases and strengthens root growth
• It adds nutrients to the soil and provides food for earth worms.
• Mulch is grass cuttings, cardboard, egg shells, bark chips, winter leaves, newspaper, straw, hay, long cut veld grass and reeds.

 

                                                                

                                                          COMPOST

 

• Compost is decayed organic matter
• The compost heap should be in semi –shade ( if in full sun, it requires regular watering
• Compost needs to be contained. Use old bricks, building supplies, wooden planks, chicken wire etc.
• 2/3 brown (carbon) – dried leaves, bark, sawdust, straw and twigs.
• 1/3 green (nitrogen)- grass and garden clippings, all vegetable waste from the kitchen
• When starting out, add bonemeal or manure to boost the process. Horse or pig manure NOT CHICKEN MANURE – too acid.
• Turn the pile regularly and add water in the centre if extremely hot.
• Always add to the top and take out from the bottom.

 

 

 

                                             LIQUID MANURE

 

• Fill a drum with water. Half fill a sack with manure.
• Tie the top of the sack with string leaving the ends of the string long.
• Tie these around a strong stake and place it across the top of the drum with the sack in the water.
•  Leave it for at least 2 weeks
• Remove the sack and cover the liquid manure.
• Dilute 1 part Liquid manure with 2 parts water and spray onto vegetables.

 

                                             HAPPY PLANTING!!