I’m going to paraphrase the lyrics by Terry Jacks, “we had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun” as a jingle along the lines of “we had sweat, we had hard physical labour, we had so so seasonal success in the sun”.

I’ve discovered the most essential component to gardening – water regularly.

Here is the first progress report on the vegetable tunnel.

Take notes, and please, give notes too.

First, the construction:

We could have purchased more or less the same structure for about three times the price the materials cost we eventually paid.

Of course, we have Basie, who is an avid welder, and we have Johannes, who is a very neat “stitcher”.

I must also share with you, an alternate structure, which good friends of ours have made. Less welding required, as the plastic water pipe is slipped over planted poles, and creates a robust skeleton. Note the critter control on this one!

Tip number 1: It is never big enough.

Basie said, the minute we finished the structure, I was going to ask for more space…… And yes, my tunnel is nearly fully planted, and I have not yet experimented with all the seeds.

Tip number 1b: Critter control

Dig your 2^nd layer of defence (chicken mesh) at least 20cm deep, fortified by stone found on the farm (neatly dressed by an anonymous stone mason at some point in the history of the farm). Spring hares, meerkat and squirrels are just few of the cute little vegetable thieves that abound.

We opted for 40% shade net. For mitigating sun damage; and defending pest control.

Tip number 2: Plan your seed purchases

The scene in the seed shop was reminiscent of a shark feeding frenzy. I purchased what I could lay my hands on, with no rhyme nor reason. (Why did I buy a big bag of sunflower seeds again?)

It is quite tough to work out what companion planting combinations to use, but I found that roughly, if you would eat the veges together, it probably works well for companion planting. Like Tomatoes and Basil. Or Peppers and Brinjals.

And cabbage and Broccoli are perhaps good for your eye sight, but the ground after a harvest cannot accommodate other planting for at least 2 years.

Tip number 3: smaller and more seed trays.

I thought I was being clever with these large trays. And it could have worked, if I used them for seeding veges that grow at the same rate. It makes replanting a whole lot easier.

I did also try a sample of direct planting, without the seed tray phase. No definitive outcome there yet.

Tip number 4: protect the small guys

We have this planting station near the kitchen door, which is good for remembering regular watering. And it is good to sun bake the earth for the sprouts to well, sprout. But the minute they start sprouting, get them protected. If it is not the sun that withers your micro herbs into dried herbs, then it will that one last snap of cold, as was the case with these Japanese Mustard offspring.

Tip number 5: I see a bad moon arising

Legend has it, that you should plant above ground veges in a waxing moon, and below ground veges in a waning moon. It should be an interesting comparison of the 1^st seedling trays which I took care to sow in a waxing moon, to the next batch of seedlings, where I was too impatient to wait.

Of all the veges I have tried, the rocket and ground nuts seem to do the best.

I may even harvest some oriental fingerling brinjals, and black beauty brinjals.

Parsley is soo slow. The Chamomile seems to be very fragile. Peppers and Chillies seem to be ready to take off.

I hope to exceed the “accidental vege patch” success, with the properly planned vege tunnel, and report back on the proceeds of my harvest sale within the next 3 months.

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