Companion planting: carrot, daikon, lettuce & marigold

This companion planting is by mere of coincident. I didn't plan what to plant in the raised bed earlier, i just dumped everything in to save space. And surprisingly they grew well together, except that the carrots never fruit, but the foliage was so good. Hmm. Maybe too much nitrogen like what Diana said?

I'm not very sure why these plants like each other and how these plants help each other but you can refer here for companion planting list- See that? Carrots, daikons and lettuces are in one group- how good if i have luck in lottery too haha.

The raised bed

Carrots and daikons

Lettuces, daikons and marigolds at the other side of the bed

Marigolds

I have read many pages on the internet saying that marigolds are famous for companion planting as they exude chemicals from their roots or aerial parts that suppress or repel pests and protect neighbouring plants. I follow to grow them everywhere in the garden for the sayings and to add a touch of colour in the vegetable garden. But so far i'm not aware of any real research were this practice has been proven to be effective?

Do you have anything good or bad to say about your personal experience with marigolds? Are they really a good companion plant? Come let's share with us.

Linking with Kebun Malay-Kadazan girls for Companion Week.

Companion planting: corn & french bean

I only thought of planting french beans when the corns were almost time for harvest- because i was lack of stakes to make a trellis for the beans. French beans wound themselves very quickly around and used the cornstalks (i.e. the natural trellis) as support.

Later when the cornstalks bent under weight of the beans and became crisp, i added in some stakes and a 4-ring support to hold the weight of the beans. This is how the whole thing looks like now.

I read that the combination of corns and beans work well as the beans pull nitrogen into the soil while the corns use the nitrogen. I'm doing this combination again in another raised bed but this time i added pumpkins in to make a Three Sisters planting. This not only can have a real impact on the health and yield of the plants (as per the articles), but will also save me so much space!

Linking with Kebun Malay-Kadazan girls for Companion Week.

Evening Sun sunflowers

My Evening Sun sunflowers (no flowers yet though) are from seedlings that i sowed on 9/12/2010. All the seedlings germinated and i put them in 3 different pots under 3 different light and soil conditions.Pot no.1: Getting only afternoon/evening sun, 3 in a pot - short and skinny.

Pot no.2: Getting full sun, 3 in a pot - slightly taller and fatter.

Pot no. 3: Getting full sun, 1 in a pot - tallest and fattest among all.

Comparing Pot no.2 and no.3.

So the conclusion is, sunflowers need full sun and plenty of space to grow. Each sunflower needs a lot of nutrients from the soil, planting several together will just mean each plant will get less nutrients. I didn't follow the rules when planting them because i want them all in white pots and i haven't got time to paint the empty pots white yet - yeeee, is my white obsession getting serious?

Thank you Diana for the seeds!

Have a great week!! I am linking to Debbie's Newbie Linky Party! Head on over to her lovely blog to join in on all the fun!

BEFORE & AFTER birdcage2

Linking with Savvy Southern Style for BTB Party #12.

Seed Week

I used to spend a fortune on buying plants. But since i joined the blogging world, i've learned a lot from other blogging friends (especially Diana from Kebun Malay-Kadazan girls) to save money by propagating plants from cuttings and saving seeds.

I create most backups of my garden from cuttings before plants turn old or should they die. I must say, cuttings are fun and easy, they are thrifty and they make me proud :)

Plants propagated from cuttings

Portulacas

一点红

Kangkung

Rosemary

Mulberries

Seed saving is an advanced level to me so i started up with some simple flower plants..
My personal seed banks

Flower seed bank

Veggie seed bank

Obviously i stilll have a lot to learn...

Linking with Kebun Malay-Kadazan girls for Seed Week.
Thanks Diana!

BEFORE & AFTER birdcage

Aunty Shirley sent me these beautiful birdcages all the way from Johore (it is about 570 KM/ 6 hours drive to my place Ipoh). I like the natural colours on them but i couldn't resist white! Here is the mini project i did on one of the birdcages the next day - Told ya, i have a very serious addiction to white paint! lol.

I just love how the shadows fall on the wall :)

Thank you Kim for hosting BTB#10 Party. Head on over to Savy Southern Style to join in on all the fun!

Shirley's Collections - Part 1

My aunt is simply the best. She always has plenty of collections to show. Today i'll be bringing you to her home for some amazing antique collections.

Enjoy!

Printed on this Lock "Chubb Detector.

Makers to his Majesty. 28 Queen Victoria St. London. S151.

Tea pot?

Shirley's great grandfather's stuff. One for smoking opium and the other one is for spitting.

Unknown object. For storing opium?

Bronze ornaments.

Charcoal iron.

Weighing scale.

Shirley's great grandparent's traditional set of marriage lamp.

The right one looks like the Aladdin lamp :D

Pewter canisters with chinese wordings.

Antique China frames.

Abacus - calculators in old days.

Have an beautiful Sunday.

Linking to Tete's 2nd Hand Collections at Beyond The Garden Gate.

Come join in the fun!