Day TWENTY

Another caterpillar found yesterday, it is due to the moths around the house. I have now moved into damage control!

2nd Caterpillar Attack

I have acquired a mint and thyme plant as they act as pest deterrents and welcome herbs to the Sliver and Bite garden. I am also ensuring the exterior of the house is clean to prevent any moth eggs being laid and hatching.

I am not above installing some form of netting over the garden however I would prefer to keep the garden open to attract pollinators. Installing netting also risks the garden bed from overheating the environment and can causing fungal issues due to poor ventilation.

I have begun a banana tea, 4 cut banana peels in a jar filled with water and placed in a cool dark place for 4 days. Strained, diluting then poured over the plants particularly capsicum, chillies, cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes. The banana tea is great for gardens being an organic liquid fertiliser rich in potassium and will boost flowering and root development. What’s news to my ears is that banana tea is a natural pet deterrent namely aphids.

Day 20 also saw some new additions to the garden bed, there was the aforementioned mint and thyme but also an aloe plant, paprika, cayenne pepper and a society garlic plant which isn’t garlic however gives off a pungent garlic aroma and is a companion plant that also assists with aphids, snails and whilst not native to Australia, deer.

As you can see in a picture below, I have a new feature in the garden. It is known as a bee bath, I may change the vessel however this is what I have available to me at the time. A bee bath attracts bees as there is water for them to drink and the rocks allow them to have somewhere to land. It’s a simple step to attract bees and another tick for the Sliver and Bite Veggie Garden.

Bee Bath