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Natural and Organic Farming

 

 

 

 

 

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!!

 

 

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