I haven't written a garden journal in ages - I think because when I'm home and not at work I just don't feel like being on the computer, and my elbow hurts so I'm trying to rest it as much as possible. And I'm so present in the garden I often don't have my phone to take photos. This morning I knew I was working so did a whiz around to be prepared to do a post whilst at work, bored, so here we go!
First of all, I'm already running out of space, particularly to grow vegetables. The lower half of the garden doesn't get enough sun, and I'm yet to convince Jamie to add more beds and pots, though I'll do it in the end. It's a little frustrating and I'm also trying to figure out what the possum will do and keeping bloody white cabbage moths off my swedes, radishes and brassicas. I'm picking tens every day and throwing them to the chooks. Looking at this aerial view you can see the garlic both in the raised beds and in the ground (not enough unfortunately), broad beans, swedes, peas, fennel, red onion and leeks, and radishes.
In the raised beds, I'm using the wilder method where you just tuck everything in and not really in rows to confuse insects. It's working, and I tend to pull out what's spent and tuck other things in there, including flowers like nastursium and marigolds.
The mandarin and curry plant in the pots are doing well, and in the background, sage, borage, comfrey and dill are all finding their feed. That soil is pretty sandy so I've been replenishing it with seaweed, compost and coffee grounds.
Although we've had a spate of warm weather, the nashi knows winter is coming and is at last shedding leaves, though the apples beyond are yet to give up the goods.
Most citrus are doing fine, the washington navel and tahitian lime, which is good. I'm yet to plant a nectarine, a grape and one more apple, but that's all I will have room for I think. THe cherry lost it's leaves early and I'm not convinced it isn't dead. I'm not even sure I want it in that space so don't really mind. They can be straggly things though you can't beat a cherry blossom!
Sorry about the wierd order of these images and plants, but work can't deal with uploads so I have to upload them all on my phone first and it's too hard to rearrange them and there's only so much time I'm prepared to spend on a post no one will read!
I bought a fan aloe the other day - I really like them as larger cactus but they take ages to grow. For now they are in these cute little pots on the deck. I do love the architectural shape of them and they don't need to be watered so much.
The lavender is still small but I got a smaller variety since I have a small space! They're such good water wise plants and great for bees.
I've staggered the beetroot and have them coming up in various stages. I do eat the leaves as well as the root, and love them roast. These are golden beets which will also be cute pickled.
Broccoli is coming up. I have also picked so many cabbage white caterpillars on them. A pity they're inedible! I thought I'd planted purple sprouting as I appreciate the cut and come again. Never mind.
Kohlrabi is doing well. I love the stuff and need to plant more. Grated, in salad, roast - yum. I might try it pickled this year too. There's coriander coming up everywhere, self seeding lettuce, kale.
I am frustrated at my meyer lemon. I have no idea what's going on. Is it the soil? Lack of sun? I thought it'd do great there so it's disappointing, especially when other citrus are doing well. Note the borage coming up, great for the compost and bees and the blue flowers in salads.
I only plant broad beens for the soil - Jamie doesn't eat them, and there's only so many I can eat. I don't think I'll both with the crimson flowered ones again - they have a purple seed too - they are quite small varieties and not very vigourous. Still, they'll fix some nitrogen in that part of the garden.
With Love,
 | Hi, my name is  and I help facilitate the Hive Gardeners group here on the Hive blockchain. You can find us here. I live in a warm temperate climate near the coast in Australia. I really love growing our own food and medicinal herbs, native plants, and creating good soil for resilient plants. |
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