The First Salvo of the Challenge Fired: Soil pH map of my plots

While the garden is still lying fallow I've got to write about something. Recently I took 21 soil samples in a grid pattern across my three plots and measured the pH (10 grams of dried soil in 50mls of distilled water, measured using a pH meter).

Here's the results (click on the image to enlarge).

Really interesting that the pH varies so much across the plots. This is probably due to the different types of organic material that I have used over the years, and that I have imported organic loam into only parts of the plot. I used a lot of mushroom compost in the western plot about 3 years ago, and imported loam into the middle plot. The eastern plot is more natural in that Ive only used relatively small amounts of organic matter there.

Good news though. The pH of the eastern plot is perfect for tomatoes - and its that plots turn this year.

The Richard G. Plots

My 16sq metres consists of three plots. The eastern plot next to the house that is being prepped for my tomato patch, a small central plot which will be full of potatoes, and the westerly plot up against the shed that will contain the rest of the veges - the mix of which is yet to be determined (but will contain cucumbers, beans and chillies for a starter)

Here's what they look like at the moment. Mostly fallow, but I've been trying to boost the organics by digging in well composted cow manure and handfulls of blood and bone.

The Eastern (House) plot destined for tomatoes. Notice my fat assed cat Minty in the top left corner sharpening her claws on one of my dwarf peach trees.

The Central Plot - Pontiac potatoes planted two months ago on a whim and a prayer. A few Sebago potatoes are just popping up at the front.

The Western (Shed) Plot. Destined for a mix of veges including cucumbers, beans, lettuce, and chilli to name a few. This plot is sheltered from the prevailing colder south-westerly winds by the shed, but it gets hammered by the extreme summer heat particularly later in the afternoon. Currently the plot has a few oak leaf lettuce and stupidly some Black Tuscan kale. I have no idea why I planted it.

And finally, the entire plot taken from the far westerly end. You can see my beer drinking spot under the pergola at the far end, This is where I look over my vegetable subjects on the 30C Adelaide summer evenings.

Gearing up

Two activities occupied me over the weekend. 1. Eating from my garden and 2. Preparing the garden for Man v Carrot.

On the eating front there were two events. Firstly a feed of silverbeet - cooked nicely, but can I really endure a week of this? Secondly, I havested my crop (if you can call it that) of brocolli - it tasted nice but there wasn't much. I'm not going to survive long on that! Was this all a harbinger of things to come?

On the preparation side, there was cow poo to be dug in, I had to check the progress of my sown seeds, and potatoes - how were they going?

Patrick had input to my potato crop - landing the football right on top of one - smashing it - I think Richard paid him to do it.

Additionally, I saw that Bear Grylls was in town - maybe he could offer some advice, but since we aren't allowed to eat various critters, I passed him up. I'll be bare grilling eggplants (with olive oil, while holding a beer! - according to the rules).