Newbie in Sydney, Australia

Hi everyone

I'm loving all the great info on this site, lots to read.

As I said I'm in Sydney, Australia and I'm a newbie to SFG and vege gardening, so lots to learn!

I've started off small with two 3' x 4' beds both of which have a fruit tree in one half, leaving me with 6 squares in the front half of each bed. I have plans to add another two beds but that will wait until I know more.

A couple of questions:

In Sydney, can you garden vegetables year round?

What kind of fruit trees? Is there any chance of roots interfering with the veggies? Or too much shade?

If you haven't gotten the book yet, it is a good idea. One place not to skimp is the Mel's Mix! It will be worth the effort.

So what is next in Sydney? A fall garden?

And oh yeah, WELCOME!

I'm new at this so I don't really know but I can't see any reason why I couldn't plant all year round. We only get the occasional frost in my area and it usually misses our place as we're near the top of a hill. We've been here 11 years now and I can only think of 1 or 2 frosts in the backyard in all that time.

As to the fruit trees, I've planted a mandarin and a dwarf lemon, my plan is to keep them fairly small like I did with my last mandarin tree so shading shouldn't be too much of an issue. Could even come in handy in summer! Root invasion could be an issue but that will take a while before it's a problem by which point I should have another two beds up and running so it wouldn't matter too much.

I got my book a few weeks ago and also found the great explanation about bought composts on this site (after I had bought everything, but luckily it was before I had mixed so I was able to buy some more ingredients) so I think my MM is pretty good.

Fall garden? Here we call it an autumn garden!

I bought some seeds for the carrot challenge and planted 1 square this afternoon and I have a few more seeds on order, purple carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and a winter greens salad mix to get me started.
A few more squares will be taken up with the strawberries and some herbs that are currently in pots so I think that will keep me busy!

And thanks for the welcome!

Hi and welcome to the Forum!

Welcome. Alway glad to see what is happening on the other side of the world. Australia is one country I always begged to be sent to but never made it before I retired.

Depending on how much space you have and how many beds you are eventually planning, you might want to keep your herbs in their pots if they are growing well for you. I set the pots of herbs next to my beds although, I always put a basil plant in with my tomatos.

If you like the taste (some people don't) kale and mustard greens grow well in the autumn garden. And snow or snap peas on a trellis are a good choice.

Kay

Thanks for the tips Kay, unfortunately I'm restricted to low growing crops for the time being because I put the citrus at the back of the bed so nowhere to put a trellis. Once I get the extra beds though I'm planning on corn, beans, peas and tomatoes.

The herbs are now staying in their pots....I went to a garden store this afternoon for some plant labels and came out with a punnet of leek seedlings.

I think this is going to be very addictive and I'm going to run out of squares very rapidly!

Yep Ericam, we all got bit by the SFG bug. I think just about everyone on the forum has run out of squares and been "forced" to make extra ones. Garderning itself can be very addictive and the ease of the SFG method just makes it worse. According to the charts I should only need three 4x4 bed to feed myself and do some saving (I freeze), but I started with six and am adding 4 more this spring. There are just so many thing I want to try, things I never even thought about when I was row gardening and feeding a family. My last newbie planting was garlic and shallots, my next a strawberry bed.

Kay

Hi there,

I am new to the forum but have some experience with SFG, which I am addicted to. After a couple of years where I have not been able to plant a garden, I am itching for Spring 2012!

RachelNearSydneyAus wrote:Hi there,

I am new to the forum but have some experience with SFG, which I am addicted to. After a couple of years where I have not been able to plant a garden, I am itching for Spring 2012!

Rachel! Spring is just around the corner for you! Happy Planting! I am just about to put in my fall broccoli up here in Northern SD, USA. Post pics once you get started!

GG

Goosegirl wrote:

RachelNearSydneyAus wrote:Hi there,

I am new to the forum but have some experience with SFG, which I am addicted to. After a couple of years where I have not been able to plant a garden, I am itching for Spring 2012!

Rachel! Spring is just around the corner for you! Happy Planting! I am just about to put in my fall broccoli up here in Northern SD, USA. Post pics once you get started!

GG

Will do! Let me know how your broccoli grows!

Yay, another Southern Hemisphere gardener who can keep our winter spirits up with her spring and summer garden. PLEASE post pictures.
I love to see what is different and what is the same in other areas of the world.

Kay

ericam wrote:Hi everyone

I'm loving all the great info on this site, lots to read.

As I said I'm in Sydney, Australia and I'm a newbie to SFG and vege gardening, so lots to learn!

I've started off small with two 3' x 4' beds both of which have a fruit tree in one half, leaving me with 6 squares in the front half of each bed. I have plans to add another two beds but that will wait until I know more.

Fisrt welcome to this forum and I have found it to be VERY helpful and the people are kind to share pictures, answer my novice questions as I am new too, and always it seems that the people on these boards are kind and helpfull.