End of Winter in the Garden
September 2, 2013
End of Winter in the Garden
Garden Share Collective – August 2013
It’s warming up – Yippeeeeeee! I have been getting out of bed each morning for the past two weeks and taking a peek out of the window to see if the sky is clear and the sun is shining. I love the breathe of Spring that teases as it approaches. It fills me with energy and anticipation of fresh produce that is to come in a few months time. I can’t wait to get out into the vegetable garden and get my glorious Summer crops growing, my favorite and most prolific crop of the year.
To contain my desire to rush out and start planting I have been busy working on my plans for the season. Last week I put together my plan for each area of the garden that I will use in the coming months. You can review our planting plans for Spring here.
I have been sorting and sourcing the seeds that I wish to plant. This has involved researching varieties as well as preparing the garden beds for planting.
The kids and I have continued planting more seeds into trays. They will go out into the garden beds when they are large enough. Full of anticipation (and the occasional set of crossed fingers) we have been heading to the garage each morning after breakfast to do a quick check of the plant “babies” to see if any new seedlings have raised their heads.
In other news:
Mr Fresh has conceded (happily) another area of the yard to plant vegetables in.
I am starting to day-dream about what that area might look like. It comes off the back of the house and leads down to a section that will be paved and used for entertaining. The picture below shows what it looks like now. As you can see, it is in serious need of attention.
Don’t expect the transformation to happen anytime soon. Mr Fresh already has a long To Do List!
Update last month’s To Do List from last month:
- The strawberries have been planted into the garden
- I planted a few more seed potatoes into pots
- The leeks have had a top up of soil and also straw
- The beds have all been fertilised
- New additions to the herb patch are on hold for now
Planting:
- Currant
- Seeds
- beetroot, bok choy, borlotti beans, capsicums, carrots, eggplants, lettuce, tomatoes, watermelon, zucchini,
- beetroot, bok choy, borlotti beans, capsicums, carrots, eggplants, lettuce, tomatoes, watermelon, zucchini,
- Table Grape
Growing beautifully:
The burgeoning artichoke plant has numerous new flowers – as it should! It has had a serious growth spurt and is now in possession of a large percentage of space in one of the garden beds. Mr Fresh is campaigning for it’s removal….I think it is beginning to earn it’s place.
The peas are continuing to thrive and have started to produce pods that the kids demolish before there is a chance to get them into the kitchen.
The little lime tree has loads of new growth and flowers. The leeks are getting larger and stronger each week.
Harvesting:
- LOTS of salad greens and broccoli. I have so much rocket at the moment I have been giving it away to my friends who helped look after my garden when we were away at the start of the year.
- A single fennel! It was the only one that survived from the seeds I planted. It was also fabulously delicious oven roasted with honey balsamic and used as a feature on home made pizza.
- Herbs, more lemons and chilli’s.
- A reader told me that he harvests and then ties his chilli with cotton and hangs them to dry. I have strung mine up based on his excellent idea -thanks Grant.
- A reader told me that he harvests and then ties his chilli with cotton and hangs them to dry. I have strung mine up based on his excellent idea -thanks Grant.
To Do This Month:
- I have ordered a Dwarf Macadamia tree that I am waiting to be delivered. It is going to be put into a large pot
- Plant another raspberry cane due to arrive with the Macadamia tree.
- Continue to monitor seeds and seedlings
- Work on a plan for the new garden area and start to transplant plants to another area of the garden.
This post is part of a monthly series by garden loving bloggers called The Garden Share Collective. The Collective is hosted by Strayed From the Table. Be sure to have a look at some of the other gorgeous gardens in the Collective.
Are you excited about the start of Spring? What will you be planting in Spring?
If you are not sure what to plant, grab a copy of my free Seasonal Planting Guide.
Inspiring families to grow at least one fresh food item at home to experience the benefits of fresh food.
Your garden is so productive! I especially like your chillies. They look great strung up like that.
Thanks Linda. Heading over to check out your garden now 🙂
what wonderful lush green pictures!
it’s annoying when you need other people to do stuff for you – especially when you want it done NOW.
i’ve never dried my chillis – i freeze them. but stringing them up like that looks so much prettier than a frosty bag in the freezer 😉
Hi e-dig I hadn’t thought of freezing the chillis. I like that idea too. I will give it a try also as I noticed this morning that there are more to come off.
Hi Kyrstie. Your garden looks very productive and I love that professional looking plan too! Your artichoke looks lovely. The Dwarf Macadamia sounds very interesting. Happy gardening 🙂
Thanks Jane, you too.
So excited for you getting more space to garden in! 🙂 I’m loving the warm weather too – so much. 🙂 It’s marvelous to get outside in sundresses instead of flannels and leggings. 🙂 Your artichokes are so beautiful! Alas, mine were eaten by goats TWICE. They’re growing again but I think it’s too late in the season for any globes. Ah well. Maybe next year. 🙂
Hi Krista, It is nice to throw off the layers. We had goats at our last house, I imagine they would clean out your veggie patch if they got into it!
Hi there Krystie. Very inspirational post and garden! My chillies dried on the bush because I didn’t water it last summer. Heehee… First time I’ve heard of a dwarf macadamia, must check it out. My chickens have started laying earnestly now so they survive another season. See ya around!
Hi Marlene, great to hear the chooks are behaving 🙂
I love an organised woman. Maybe I should do a chart of my patch, it would probably help. Your garden is thriving right now. Where are you getting your raspberry canes from and how much are they? I am looking for some as they grow really well here – I have wild ones growing but none true to form.
Hi Lizzie, the one I have at the moment I got at a farmers market. It hasn’t fruited yet but that may have something to do with Mr Fresh and the kids pulling it out of the ground about 4 x as they thought it was a dead stick!! The one I have ordered is from Daley’s Fruit (online) Will let you know what they are like when it arrives.
Kyrstie, some wonderful ideas and pictures that you have shared with us, I’m pleased you sorted out your chillies with the old needle and cotton….works a treat. The soil and air temperature is warming up and my beds are prepared so there will be some serious herb planting very soon
Thanks for the great idea Grant 🙂 I would love to see some pictures of your garden. Kyrstie
Good lordy, you are very organised! Will it be very long before you can harvest the artichoke?
Hi Melissa, there are 4 on the plant at the moment and one is only about a week of harvest I think, the others maybe 2-3 weeks.
I love your garden plans they are so nice and neat and its exciting to see how much space you have. I’m also interested to see how your berries go, I would love to plant some at our house but not sure whether to get smaller varieties to go in pots or wait until I can commandeer more space in the yard 🙂
Thanks Louie, I have high expectations of the berries! Let’s hope they live up to them 🙂 Mine are mostly in posts so will let you know in the coming months.
What a gorgeous garden! I love the idea of having a Dwarf Macadamia tree. I didn’t know they made a dwarf variety, I’ve always wanted one but assumed they’d grow into huge trees. A dwarf variety would be perfect!
I will keep you posted Lisa, from what I have read they are very slow growing also.
I forgot all about the GSC this month, Kyrstie! Your garden is looking fab, especially that crop of spring onions. I have been out in my garden the last couple of days, feeding and pruning and preparing for the warmer weather, I can’t wait!
I love the idea of stringing up your chillies too – I brought in a large bowl of them yesterday, I will have to give this a shot.
I popped over to your blog Erin and wondered! Your salad recipe looked amazing though 🙂
Kyrstie your artichokes are awesome. Your leeks healthy and lush, as are your peas. I am so impressed with your garden planting scheme – how clever and creative. We kind of wander along and make sure we plant different vegetables in each bed so they don’t overlap. It is so funny your partner has agreed to another vegetable garden, I have issues getting a flower garden, if it’s not edible, it’s not important (apparently). I have resolved to planting gardenias in between certain fruit trees (a bit cheeky, I know). Nice herbs too, your chillies look divine. Good luck with your macadamia tree, that will be a bonus for your garden 😀
Thanks Merryn, I just found some extras today so I am impressed/surprised by them too! Thanks for stopping by. I am hoping that the macadamia lives up to my dreams 🙂
I’m very jealous of your artichoke plant! Ours has been growing for nearly two years now, but alas, no artichokes. A beautiful plant nonetheless. Your harvested fruit and vegetables look incredible – well done! Look forward to reading your progress next month. Jess
Oh, it looks fabulous
Thanks so much Cybele