Edibles
And the tomatoes are in
25 November 2007 18:37 Filed in: Planting
More mad activity today!
The last of the tomatoes went in first thing this morning, and were visited by the chooks almost straight away due to a small fencing issue. The boysenberries (Mapua and McNichol's Choice) and blackberries (Black Satin) were next, followed by the final gooseberry (Pax) which is next to the two transplanted Invictas from last year.
Later, after an interlude with some hedge trimming, brownie baking (more cocoa than flour is the secret!) and visitors I planted the sweetcorn (Honeysweet) and put a higher roost in the chook house.
I'm looking forward to next weekend! :)
The last of the tomatoes went in first thing this morning, and were visited by the chooks almost straight away due to a small fencing issue. The boysenberries (Mapua and McNichol's Choice) and blackberries (Black Satin) were next, followed by the final gooseberry (Pax) which is next to the two transplanted Invictas from last year.
Later, after an interlude with some hedge trimming, brownie baking (more cocoa than flour is the secret!) and visitors I planted the sweetcorn (Honeysweet) and put a higher roost in the chook house.
I'm looking forward to next weekend! :)
|
Late Autumn
07 May 2007 00:08 Filed in: Pictures
I think that we’ve reached the end of the tomatoes —
the sungold cherry tomatoes were definitely the
outstanding performers and are on next year’s must
have list. The paste tomatoes aren’t too bad either,
but the rest hated the slow start to summer and
didn’t make it to red.
The sweet peas are also winding down, with seed pods galore and only wind battered flowers left. The mulberry has already lost its leaves, perhaps because it’s exposed to the northerly and we’ve had a few over the last few weeks. I’m hoping that planting Raubritter up wind from it next year might give it some protection, but it’s been pretty happy and has lots of glossy buds waiting for spring.
The grape and persimmon are also losing their leaves — I can’t wait until the persimmon gets a little bigger, the leaves are truly gorgeous as they change and it works well next to the grape.
The herb and flower bed along the front of the house is still going strong, the pineapple sage is stunning (possibly because it was also delayed by the summer), and the alliums, salvia and oregano are also in full bloom, I’m enjoying the salvia more than I thought I would, the strangely curled flower stalks make a strong display and the bumble bees love it.
Anyhow, lots of late autumn tasks to do, the roses need to be tied up once I disentangle them from the sweet peas, then I should weed and mulch that bed. Although I really need to get some seeds in pots today and the daylilies need temporary homes for the next few weeks.
The sweet peas are also winding down, with seed pods galore and only wind battered flowers left. The mulberry has already lost its leaves, perhaps because it’s exposed to the northerly and we’ve had a few over the last few weeks. I’m hoping that planting Raubritter up wind from it next year might give it some protection, but it’s been pretty happy and has lots of glossy buds waiting for spring.
The grape and persimmon are also losing their leaves — I can’t wait until the persimmon gets a little bigger, the leaves are truly gorgeous as they change and it works well next to the grape.
The herb and flower bed along the front of the house is still going strong, the pineapple sage is stunning (possibly because it was also delayed by the summer), and the alliums, salvia and oregano are also in full bloom, I’m enjoying the salvia more than I thought I would, the strangely curled flower stalks make a strong display and the bumble bees love it.
Anyhow, lots of late autumn tasks to do, the roses need to be tied up once I disentangle them from the sweet peas, then I should weed and mulch that bed. Although I really need to get some seeds in pots today and the daylilies need temporary homes for the next few weeks.
Selecting Seeds
25 April 2007 21:15 Filed in: Planting
I think the autumn seed orders are done. I just sent
off orders to Kings Seeds and Select Seeds; so I
should be able to spend the weekend planting inside.
This has all been based on my having (finally) sorted out a plan for the vege beds. The challenge has, as is so often the case, been one of restraint. While I want to fill them up straight away I’m going to plan one with a green manure crop for the winter (lupin), then hopefully do the same for the other next winter.
In other news it turns out that the guys took out one of the plums, so I’ve ordered a replacement. J and I have found a couple of possibly acceptable waterfall options. I’ve also made some decisions about where some of the berry bushes go and what I want to plant inside the chookery.
Even more importantly I can now get into the basement!!
This has all been based on my having (finally) sorted out a plan for the vege beds. The challenge has, as is so often the case, been one of restraint. While I want to fill them up straight away I’m going to plan one with a green manure crop for the winter (lupin), then hopefully do the same for the other next winter.
In other news it turns out that the guys took out one of the plums, so I’ve ordered a replacement. J and I have found a couple of possibly acceptable waterfall options. I’ve also made some decisions about where some of the berry bushes go and what I want to plant inside the chookery.
Even more importantly I can now get into the basement!!
Deciding on Plants
17 April 2007 20:56 Filed in: Planning
Waimea Nurseries emailed today to finalise the order,
they want to send it sooner rather than later so that
it doesn’t get tied up when they start despatching
their winter orders to garden centres. They’ve made a
couple of stock changes; including substituting a
earlier season blueberry, and I just added two
boysenberries now they’ve got the variety details.
There are a couple of fruit spots left in the garden; the windy spot at the front, the gap near the lemon, the other maybe lemon, and whether I can fit a second tree in the chookery.
There are a couple of fruit spots left in the garden; the windy spot at the front, the gap near the lemon, the other maybe lemon, and whether I can fit a second tree in the chookery.
Books and Berries
13 April 2007 13:50 Filed in: Planning
There are two problems with reading gardening books;
firstly they inspire covetousness — they’re full of
such exciting and beautiful plants. By 7am this
morning I had decided that monkshood would be perfect
along the bank outside the front door.
Secondly, and even less helpfully, they contradict each other. When I’m planning a 3m hedge of raspberries it would be useful to be sure whether they should be planted 60cm or 1-1.5m apart. I’m currently going with the majority (60cm) and think the other was probably inspired by blackberries or the width between the rows.
Which brings me to my realisation about berries; by spring my garden will contain:
And the first five are already out there growing away.
Secondly, and even less helpfully, they contradict each other. When I’m planning a 3m hedge of raspberries it would be useful to be sure whether they should be planted 60cm or 1-1.5m apart. I’m currently going with the majority (60cm) and think the other was probably inspired by blackberries or the width between the rows.
Which brings me to my realisation about berries; by spring my garden will contain:
- Black currants
- Gooseberries
- Alpine strawberries
- Elderberries
- Grapes
- Raspberries
- Boysenberries
- Blueberries
- Orangeberries
And the first five are already out there growing away.