Beck’s Basics

The Good Oil If you’re a user of olive oil like us, you’ll have noticed that the price of extra virgin olive oil has skyrocketed - more than doubled!! So the I’ve been hunting around for the best value as our stocks (that we bought as part of our food storage a couple of years ago) are starting to get low. The best value I’ve found so far are the 3.78L La Gina and Remano brands in Woolworths and Aldi respectively (don’t shoot the messenger if you’re opposed to these stores 😁). Both $50 for the 3.78L which is $13.30/ L (which is still extortionate!!) and better value than the 4L tins. I expect the difference in the price is because of the tin for the 4L rather than a plastic bottle for the 3.87L. IGA online has Ybarra. Baldacchino and Aurora brands for under $40/4L but hear appear to be old prices and even if you order them online, they never get delivered and the staff say they’re out of stock. So that’s best value right now. Please let everyone know if there’s better value out there. 💕💕Beck #becksbasics

G’Day Folks Sorry it’s been a while - just been super busy with work. Hasn’t stopped me from thinking about you all always💕💕

TEA TIME TIP What veges to plant in July? Although we’re in the middle of winter, there are still a number of food crops you can plant right now. The following can be sown now in every region in Aus and NZ: - cabbage - lettuce - rocket - onions The following can also be planted now but only in the areas noted: - beetroot (all areas except cool and hot regions) - broad beans (all areas except cool regions) - broccoli (temperate and hot areas only) - carrots (warm and hot areas only) - cauliflower (temperate and hot areas only) - leeks (warm areas only) - silverbeet (all areas except cool regions) - peas (temperate areas only - use Sugarsnap variety for max food value) - parsnips (temperate areas only) - spring onions (all areas except cool regions) Also - you can plant almost anything now except tomatoes, eggplant, peas, and parsnips in hot regions. So get those green thumbs out and build your self sufficiency and food supply with some home grown deliciousness 🥬 🧅 🥦 Please share: https://t.me/becksbasics

For those who prefer to view in Telegram: Why do pea plants fall over and the simple solution https://www.youtube.com/embed/5DlwA_iPM7Y #becksbasics Please share

For those who prefer to view in Telegram: Tips and some critical points for planting peas: https://www.youtube.com/embed/c4ChDVYGk54 #becksbasics Please share

TEA TIME TIP What veges to plant in April (Southern Hemisphere) The following can be sown now in every region: - beetroot - broad beans - broccoli and cauliflower - chives - leeks - lettuce - peas - radish - rocket - spinach and silverbeet - spring onions The following can also be planted now but only in the areas noted: - beans (hot areas only) - cabbage (warm and hot areas only) - carrots (all except cold areas) - capsicum and chillies (hot areas only) - celery/celeriac (warm humid and hot areas only) - corn (hot areas only) - cucumber (hot areas only) - eggplant (hot areas only) - pak choi (all except hot areas) - parsnips (warm humid and hot areas only) - pumpkin, melons and squash (hot areas only) - strawberries (all except cold areas) - tomatoes (hot areas only) - zucchini (warm humid areas only) So get those green thumbs out and build your self sufficiency and food supply with some home grown deliciousness🥦🥬🍓

Happy Easter everyone. I hope you have a blessed day 💕Beck https://youtu.be/DdFzqyhtMQc?si=nXjlChpju7mSFaAw

https://www.youtube.com/embed/06kwuz7jtEo #becksbasics Please share

How to plant out brassicas: cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, etc including companion planting for pests https://www.youtube.com/embed/06kwuz7jtEo #becksbasics Please share

For those who prefer to view in Telegram: How to plant out brassicas: cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, etc including companion planting for pests https://www.youtube.com/embed/06kwuz7jtEo #becksbasics Please share

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZzuupO1Mhj4 #becksbasics Please share

TEA TIME TIP Autumn/Fall Pruning Autumn is a great time to prune your fruit trees. Pruning now will allow cuts to heal quickly and increase the amount of flowers you get in Spring whereas pruning in Winter will increase the amount of Spring growth you get (with Spring growth being preferable if you have a young tree - so wait until Winter if that’s what you’re after). Start by removing all dead branches and old fruit. Then prune the centre of tree so that it forms a vase shape that’s nice and clear in the centre for maximum air flow (see drawing in the comments). After pruning, feed with dolomite lime to sweeten the soil and help the tree store energy for Spring. #becksbasics

Hi Folks I’ve been contemplating over the last few weeks how I can continue to help you as I feel like I’ve shown you most things I can about the standard veggies we grow in our gardens. One day we’ll move out onto a property and there will be much more to show you as I reach back to my upbringing on the farm. For now I’m thinking that there could be a couple of ways I can continue to support you moving forward: - repost the videos we’ve shared together in past seasons as we progress back into that season as reminders and prompts on how to look after what you currently have growing - be a place that you can continue to ask your questions so I can be here to help you when you need me I’m open to ideas - what do you all think? Remember - my main aim is to help you become even just a little more self sufficient. 💕💕Beck

AUTUMN FRUIT TREE PLANTING Autumn is really the optimal time to plant fruit trees for a number of reasons: - it gives the trees time to acclimate before winter sets in - the roots have time to bed in and become a little established before it gets cold - Autumn usually has higher rainfall so your trees will get plenty of natural rainfall to help them settle in - the weather is cooling down so there is less likelihood of heat stress So, if you’re planning on putting in some fruit trees, give them the best start and plant them in Autumn so they can grow and thrive rather than just survive. And, if you’re not getting much Autumn rainfall after you plant your trees, remember the “watering in rule”- Water well: - once a day for a week - once a week for a month - once a month for a year #becksbasics

It’s Autumn Folks - Time to get your Autumn veggies planted.😁 Buy our ORGANIC, NON-GMO, NON-HYRID, HEIRLOOM Vegetable Seeds here Each pack contains enough seed for one season - so you have super fresh seed each season which is more likely to germinate. Posting Australia-wide only **NOT posting to WA or TAS due to quarantine restrictions   Beetroot - 30 seeds $2.50 Broad Beans - 20 seeds $2.50 Broccoli - 20 seeds $2.00 Cabbage (Golden Acre Green) - 20 seeds $2.00 Cabbage (Red) - 20 seeds $2.00 Carrot - 100 seeds $1.50 Carrot/Radish Mix (to make sowing easier) - 100 seeds $1.50 Cauliflower - 20 seeds $2.00 Celery - 20 seeds  Fennel - 10 seeds $2.00 Kale - 20 seeds $2.00 Leek - 20 seeds $2.00 Lettuce (Iceberg, Cos, or Salad Mix) - 100 seeds $2.00 Onions (Brown) - 20 seeds $2.00 Parsnip - 50 seeds $2.00 Peas (Greenfeast) - 30 seeds $2.50 Radish - 30 seeds $2.50 Rocket - 100 seeds  Silverbeet - 20 seeds $2.50 Spring Onions - 20 seeds $2.00 Plus postage (usually only a few dollars) DM me for orders 💕💕Beck

TEA TIME TIP What veges to plant in March (Southern Hemisphere) The following can be sown now in every region: ⁃ beets ⁃ cabbage ⁃ chives ⁃ leeks ⁃ lettuce ⁃ radish ⁃ spinach and silverbeet ⁃ spring onions ⁃ strawberries The following can also be planted now but only in the areas noted: ⁃ beans (warm humid areas only) ⁃ broccoli (all except hot areas) ⁃ carrots (all except cold areas) ⁃ capsicum and chillies (hot areas only) ⁃ cauliflower (all except hot areas) ⁃ celery/celeriac (warm humid areas only) ⁃ corn (hot areas only) ⁃ cucumber (hot areas only) ⁃ eggplant (hot areas only) ⁃ pak choi (cool and temperate areas only) ⁃ parsnips (all except cold areas) ⁃ peas (all except hot areas) ⁃ pumpkin, melons and squash (hot areas only) ⁃ tomatoes (hot areas only) ⁃ zucchini (warm humid areas only) So get those green thumbs out and build your self sufficiency and food supply with some home grown deliciousness🍓🥦🥕🥬 Please share #becksbasics

AVOIDING TRANSPLANT SHOCK Autumn is the perfect time to transplant perennials into larger pots (if they’ve grown too big for their current pot) or more suitable spots in the garden. One thing to be careful of is “transplant shock”. This is where your plants get too stressed by the move and can die. To avoid transplant shock, follow these steps: - transplant in the cool part of the day, preferably a cool evening so the plants have at overnight without hot sun - water in well but just around the base of the plant and not on the leaves if you’re transplanting in the evening as this can cause diseases - water in with a Seasol solution which helps roots to adjust to their new home - keep in a shady spot or cover with some sort of shade for at least a week to keep plants cool while they start to grow new roots and get bedded into their new home #becksbasics

HERB MAINTENANCE FOR A FRESH AUTUMN CROP A little TLC bring your old, tired hens back to life #becksbasics

GARDEN MAINTENANCE AFTER HEAVY or PROLONGED RAIN Some of Australia is currently experiencing heavy, sustained rainfall and, while rain water is much better for your garden than tap water, heavy rain can actually be detrimental to your veggie patch. You see, heavy rain can actually leach (wash) nutrients out of your soil or pot plants. That’s why lemons can go brown in the middle of it rains a lot (treat this with a handful of borax by the way😁). So, if you’re experiencing heavy or extended periods of rainfall at the moment (and Autumn is notorious for lots of rain), plan to fertilise your veggie patch after it stops to replenish what’s been washed away. Choose fertilisers that also add back micro nutrients (like manure or blood and bone) to get a good, comprehensive replacement of what’s been washed away. #becksbasics