I have had a moment to sit and think and hope this helps.
Growing vege and fruit in Perth has become more difficult every year as the temperatures in summer get higher and the water resource is scarcer and more expensive . Add to this the yearly
shift in the seasons and things are changing! I have learnt that the solutions are simple but need to be smart in application. I have gone from overhead sprinklers to subsoil dripper pipes, from flat even beds to raised garden beds plumbed with water and dripper tube from the start. Corner posts to hook up shade for the inevitable high UV days that Perth can deliver. If you don’t fruit cooks on the vine or branch! So I
have used reticulation controllers and framed 20% shade – mulch and rock mineral fertilisers.
For the last 5 years the garden has been productive and the routine supplies the family and friends with large amounts of broccoli tomatoes corn or whatever is on the go! Recently 1000+ bananas a
year and Paw Paw , apples to grapefruit, blueberries and the list goes on. With the increasing price of water comes the next challenge – rainwater tanks (I have 1) and even talk of a bore! Now I get to the point this year I followed all the usual processes for summer – holidays away mean setting everything up before leaving so neighbours can just feed the chook and pick the strawberries! Shade frames up and shade netting over the beds for the 35+oC days. Losses are expected since I am not here to supervise little spot watering and spraying fruit fly etc.
This year I took the magic elixir Pyro-Ag wood vinegar,from Amos and treated the garden to the 1:500 solution with the usual worm/compost tea 2 weeks later I come home to a very green and productive garden with few losses and in fact everything is in fruit and double size. I had cut the water back a little as the water authority complained about my using more than other houses –forget that I feed my family and neighbours quality fruit! We returned home to find no losses and in fact the garden had thrived! 11-12 days to produce a 3.255 kg Zucchini not deliberate I just found it and then the next day 2 more over 2kg a piece. I have had years like this before but not this size and speed of growth! 6 Varieties of tomato – all in heavy fruit and productive – so Black Russian and Kumato and the Tiger/Zebra stripes plus some yellow cherry, Roma! I treated all the fruit trees as well and figs grapefruit bananas and amazing Paw Paw!
So less water, same amount of shade and organic fertilisers etc but more productivity – conclusion the one variable to change is the PyroAg! 30 years as science teacher tells me that the test is not conclusive but ticks many boxes of a controlled study!
I let my photos speak!
Oh did I tell you about the roses!?
Another day!
John Wood B.Ed
On Photos – check out the green! A richness in colour across the garden despite hot days and a little water stress when I cut back the time on the drippers! Also the fruits are keeping longer after picking! I cannot wait to try on leafy plants in winter! Next years Asparagus will be an exciting prospect!
