"Let there be light"

I have just spent another incredible 2 days in Melbourne at the home of the Autopot System Garden Smart and one of the things that I learnt was the importance of the amount of light plants need to thrive and produce at there ultimate. Though I have been pleased with my results to date I still felt that I could do better and light was just one of the many topics that we discussed during my visit, so on my return home I immediately decided to re design my entire Garden. One of the things that stood out most when walking around the Garden Smart operation was the fact that all of the vegetable where just growing out side getting maximum daylight along with the rain and wind. it was only the Tomatoes and Cucumbers along with many plant under research that where under cover so with this in mind I have shifted all my veggies out side though I have a little white shade cloth just to reduce the intensity of our mid day sun up here in mid Queensland and though it's only 2 days since i moved everything I can see a difference in the leave colour all ready. From now on my covered area will be solely for Tomatoes, Cucumbers and Capsicums. One thing that did amuse me was just how much stuff I had growing in such a little space as you will see in the Photos.

These boys are loving the extra space

My snow peas are loving it.

The Zucchini love the extra light

Just a little shade to reduce the midday heat

Hanging Baskets

GARDENSMART MELBOURNE

Onions in Hydrotrays

Here are a few photos of some of the beautiful flowering pots and results that abound the display area at Garden Smart. Plus I will include a couple of photos of research that is happening around the  Aquaponics side of the business which the company is heavily into. Mr Jim Fah the inventor of the Autopot System would be one of Australia's leading authority on the subject so if you want to get into this side of things let me know. I have not caught that bug yet and will focus on the hydroponic growing of plants for a while.

How beautiful is this

More baskets

another example

How good is this

Hard to walk past 

Autopot Aquaponics

Watching these chomp into sweet potato leaves is unbelievable

Rainbow Trout almost plate size

One Month down the track

"HYDRO GARDENING"

with

                                                                Is without doubt 

"The simplest Growing System in the World"

What you see here is one months growth. I think the pictures speak for themselves

the only challenge I have is keeping the bugs at bay they think it's Paradise and this Summer has been very wet and humid so ideal for pests.

Just 31 days and only about 6m2 of space

Zucchini, cabbage beans and herb pot all thriving

Our window box salad bar keep us in greens

 Snow Peas in a Hanging Basket

Cucumbers gone mad

This is the last of my PINK PEARL a great tomato, but more coming on

A second Capsicum planting

21 days

Well it's only 21 days since I planted the Tomato's and Cucumbers along with the Beans, Zucchini and Cabbage which take up the centre of the plantings. I think you would have to agree this is wonderful progress. I have also added a hanging basket to the system with Snow peas in it along with 4 pots of curly parsley in another window box, my current lettuce supply consists of 2 pots of Combination and a new planting of Asian Mix. My 12 inch single hydrotray with its mixed herbs is of to a flying start.
                                                                  Have a look at this!

21 Days growth for most of what you see.

Snow Peas in Hanging Basket

My Salad Patch and new Parsley planting

A morning stroll around my Autopot garden

The first thing I do each morning is wander out and look at how the garden progressed over night
and it is like magic that plants seem to re energize and smile up at you, I find this very motivational.
Maybe their is something to be learnt here so I will share with you a stroll around my Patch.

ENJOY!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXoryMVB3sY

What a way to start the day,  sharing with nature.

Zucchini

Lettuce

Cabbage

What you are seeing here is only 14 days since I posted the first photo of the expanded Garden, If you can find an easier way of gardening let me know.