It is winter weather, cold winds and drizzling rain now and again. This is the perfect condition for seedlings to pop through the wet ground. And oh my, is there a medley of different seedlings sticking their little heads through the ground this season! Along with this, there are so many plants going to seed along with the tremendous growth from my herbs and vegetables.
Come along with me as I show the growth of these plants in my garden and as journey and meander through the various stages of growth of my experiments. I hope that you can learn something along the way!
| Gooseberry Leaves |
| Basil Seed Head |
After some violent wind storms a while ago, I needed to cut most of my gooseberries and basil plants down. Since then, most of the basil and gooseberries have taken over the flower pots again. However, the basil obviously did not return to its former glory, as most people who grow basil probably know the younger the plant the better the leaves. But the gooseberries grew even better than before! The new leaves are strikingly beautiful and I can already see some flowers that will turn into delicious fruits. (If the wind does not return...)
| Chickweed Seeds |
Between the various basil and gooseberry plants, the chickweed is beginning to seed. I have never tried to save the seeds, but this time around I will try and save some seeds. All the years that I grew chickweed, I always relied on the plants self sowing. But this time around, I will try and save some seeds to plant elsewhere.
| Cineraria maritime (???) |
A month or so ago, I wrote about a grey plant, which I think is a type of dusty miller or what I think is cineraria maritime, that merely grows wherever I stick it in the ground. I have no idea what plant it is, but it grows wild in most gardens in the area. I cannot determine if it is indigenous, excepts that it is sold on a website selling indigenous plants and a strange YouTube video that says it is South African. But as far as I know, this plant hails from Italy and the Mediterranean area.
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Moving on, I have an interesting situation on hand. One that if I had the opportunity could have yielded me a lot of money (or so I think). A local plant/shrub, the Honey Euryops virgineus, have dropped so many seeds throughout the years, have all sprouted in my lawn! I have transplanted so many of the little seedlings throughout the garden (see the above-middle photograph) and I hope they will take (stay alive). If I succeed in growing them, the plants will fill the empty spaces in the garden, but the shrubs will become really big. And if you cut it right, it can grow taller than 2-3 meters. The money opportunity comes from selling these seedlings. I bought the shrub for about $2-3, and if I can sell these seedlings for half that price... Alas, I do not have the means to do this now.
| Basil Seedlings |
Returning to the succulent-raised bed, the basil has sprouted beautifully. I hope that it will grow more in the spring, as the colder weather is not ideal for them (in my experience).
But the Swiss chard (below) is doing extremely well in the colder weather. I will be harvesting some of the seedlings (below-right) for salad this evening to thin them out a bit. I always plant more than I need! But I am also so happy with the transplanted Swiss chard (below-left) as some of the leaves are already 30-40 cm long!
| Swiss Chard Seedlings |
| Swiss Chard Transplants |
Also a bit slow out of the gates, but right on time is the salad rocket. They have grown in the last 30-40 (ish) days into a matt of green. The wild rocket is struggling a bit, but I will give them a chance. But I also think they prefer the warmer weather.
| Salad Rocket Leaf |
| Rocket Plants |
| Garlic Chives |
And lastly, the garlic chives (or what my fiance calls the "hairs") are growing just as well. I transplanted some and I sowed various seeds as well. And all of them are doing so well. I have harvested from the transplanted ones many times.
All in all, I am so happy with the growth in the garden. We have still to experience the winter rains, maybe it is coming this week, but the plants all seem to be very happy.
I know I am also happy with them, and the harvests that I have been making throughout the growing season.
For now, happy gardening and keep well!
All of the musings and meanderings are my own, albeit inspired by the growth of my plants. The photographs are my own, taken with Nikon D300.