Autumn Vegetable Gardening
May 4, 2015
Autumn Vegetable Gardening
Garden Share Collective May 2015
The vegetable garden is vibrant this Autumn, much more colorful that I have ever experienced. I have increased the number of plants I have added purely for attracting bees. To my surprise, these pretty little flowers have become some of my favorite garden features. If you are a regular reader you know that I have little or no time for non edible plants. This past Summer I attribute the huge harvests we have had to the additional bees in the garden. I am no longer cutting herbs back, instead allowing them to go to flower and let the bees enjoy them. Part of the reason for this change has been that this year I have additional growing space.
This post is part of a regular monthly series called The Garden Share Collective. It was started by Lizzie from Strayed from the Table and includes garden lovers from around the world. If you want some vegetable garden inspiration you will most certainly find it via the Collective so be sure to view some of the other posts.
As Autumn well and truly sets in the lemons are ripening on the tree. The fennel plants are progressing well, the Cabbage White Butterflies are trying their hardest to lay eggs on the Brassica and the snails are starting to emerge again…. GRRRRRR
I love Summer so very much for it’s abundant harvests and lack of pests!!! While a change is always welcome I do mourn it’s passing each year.
While we are on the subject of pests – The birds have knocked off most of the feijoa. I failed to net the tree this year and those that come off the tree that could be collected came at a time when I had none! As a result that are a few kilos in the freezer. I made one batch of jam but obviously need to get onto the extra kilos sooner rather than later.
Planting:
This month I have added to the garden beds:
- broccoli
- kale
- lettuce
- oats
- peas
- pak choi
- rocket
I checked my garden post from this time last year and I have already planted my garlic bulbs so I guess they will need to get into the ground some time in the coming week. Last year I had less Summer produce still producing and the Winter plants were growing strongly. They are much smaller at the same time this year, or yet to go in.
I need to get some spinach growing asap also as the seeds have been slow to sprout and I am feeling short on greenery. I like to have spinach or kale available to add in a nutrient boost to family meals such as slow cooked meals, pasta and things like pasties, quiche – anything really….
The image below shows one of the raised vegetable garden beds with sprouting green manure. I have added oats. This garden bed has not had a rest since it was built so I plan to give it a break over Winter and get it ready for a productive Spring/Summer period.
Harvesting:
We are currently harvesting:
- capsicum
- chilli
- eggplant
- herbs – basil, sage, thyme, lemongrass, chives, rosemary
- kale
- lettuce
- rhubarb
- spring onion
- tomatoes
To Do in the Garden:
- Get the garlic into the ground ASAP
- Plant more green manure
- Keep an eye on the brassica and net if required to protect from the Cabbage White Butterflies. I have lost a few baby kale plants and a broccoli so far
- I tend to plant only a couple of the seedlings at a time into the garden. I keep extras to make up for any losses. If the original plants I add to the garden are destroyed I replace them and cover or protect them with old plastic containers acting as a cloche. It is a fine balance between raising seeds to be strong enough to be undisturbed by pests and to not have too many plants survive and overwhelm us with produce that we can not use.
- Plant out the carrot seedlings as we have been missing them from the garden for a little while now
- Purchase and plant some new spinach seeds. The batch that I have is not sprouting and I feel like I need to get some into the ground as soon as possible. I am missing it as it makes a great addition to many family meals
- Keep collecting the fallen Autumn leaves to bag and later add to the compost heap
- Remove all of the hanging baskets around the garden for the Winter. They will be replanted in Spring
How is your Autumn vegetable garden progressing? What new plant have you added this year??
Inspiring families to grow at least one fresh food item at home to experience the benefits of fresh food.
is that a smoke bush in the final picture? amazing! I would love the space for one of those… just stunning.
i love having bee-attracting flowers in strategic parts around my garden too. marigolds and blue flowers like larkspurs work well for me.
and i’m glad to hear someone else is slow in planting the garlic, kyrstie – I only put mine in today! I don’t feel so guilty now 🙂
Autumn leaves are so pretty, the only sad part about living in a subtropical region is not many leaves fall here for composting. Most of the trees around us are natives and they are all rainforest trees. Now I have to say I am super envious of your capsicums, I don’t think I have ever gotten mine that big – it is no doubt due to lack of water and me being stingy. As always I am truly amazed at your garden so much going on.
You have so much still going on. Oh for the tomatoes to still be cropping. They are a distant memory for me.
Love the smoke bush, such a beautiful plant.
Your garden is looking fabulous! Aren’t white butterflies just the worst? I put my brassicas in cloches which I will be doing this weekend. My garlic will get planted soon too. Loving those autumn colours. 🙂
I’m struggling with the white cabbage moths too. I never thought of netting the plants – might be too late now the caterpillars are attacking! Your capsicums look fantastic, is there any trick to getting them to a good size? I can grow plenty of tiny little ones but the biggest size I have managed is about 5cm long or so and then they just seem to stop.
Oh I am glad that you planted those flowers – how pretty your garden looks!