Welcome to the Melbourne Community Daily Discussion Thread.

  • Baku@aussie.zone
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    1 year ago

    Is there anything you can recommend to a beginner that’s perhaps a little less likely to die? Or should I just go straight to something slightly more difficult (I really want to try my hand at strawberries) and keep trying until I get something from it?

    • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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      1 year ago

      I wouldn’t start with strawberries, they’re disappointing mofos IMO.

      Building on Catfish’s other comment, I recommend growing dwarf snow peas from seed. High germination rate, not that many pests/diseases, don’t take up much space, not that picky (just keep it well watered), will twine even on a couple of sticks, enjoys part shade, long growing season (so easy to just keep sowing every 6-8 weeks for a continuous crop), usually prolific and quick to fruit - plus you can eat the shoots as well as the pods :)

      They’re a popular choice for kids. Legumes are generally fun. When I was a kid, it was mung beans in a plastic paper cup.

      And don’t take it too hard if you kill a plant, EVERYONE has done it regardless of skill level or experience - I have a graveyard of dead houseplants I still haven’t tidied up… Just keep going and you’ll start accumulating successes that you can build on :)

      E: I also heartily recommend starting with pots. Just easier to control and manage and a lower rate of encountering insects (usually).

      • Baku@aussie.zone
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        1 year ago

        Ah alright. I’m not a huge fan of peas, but I may give them a go even just to try and build my confidence with plants up a little bit. Not entirely related, but will food banks take homegrown stuff like that? I don’t really do peas, but if it’s fruitful and I can’t find anyone who wants them, maybe donating them could be good?

        The only thing I’ve tried to keep before was a succulent. I meant to find it somewhere nice in my room where it’d get a bit of sun but I forgot about it and by the time I found it again 4 months later it was long dead and basically dust. I don’t think I’ll screw up that badly again though, my current succulent seems to be doing somewhat okay

      • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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        1 year ago

        cabbage

        pretty easy

        U wot m8. If you didn’t have a caterpillar problem you do now! I find them impossible to grow at all, let alone to a nice head, without picking off eggs/caterpillars every single morning and even then something else comes and devours it…

          • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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            1 year ago

            Lucky, I usually have terrible results with brassicas - I often can’t even get seedlings to establish without something trying to eat it at all times… Mustard and rocket no trouble though.

              • Rusty Raven @aussie.zoneM
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                1 year ago

                Lettuce can also be very prolific when allowed to seed. I currently have a fight for garden dominance between the parsley and the lettuce which seeded themselves this year.

              • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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                1 year ago

                Garlic chives are a strong contender to be in that list too!

                E: also agree with Rusty’s assessment of lettuce. Have seen it grow in gravel pavements and get quite hectic under a downpipe. Mizuna (and some other mustards) can be like that too

        • Baku@aussie.zone
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          1 year ago

          Oh I guess it’s a good thing I don’t really like cabbage then. Though I do love lettuce, which I assume will be a similar story?

          • just_kitten@aussie.zone
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            1 year ago

            I find lettuce a lot easier to grow and not as susceptible to pests! I personally dislike lettuce but have grown the loose leaf (vs heading - eg iceberg) varieties before. They’re definitely a good starter plant. You can keep picking off leaves as you need them, until the plant bolts and goes bitter

      • Baku@aussie.zone
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        1 year ago

        I’d like to grow full on food eventually, but I’m happy to start with a herb if that’s best