13 Aug 2012

Garden audit: getting ready

I bet you were beginning to think the 'homegrown' part of Dig In was a fib, a fantasy?

And that's me in the corner!

But yesterday, for the first time in weeks - months - we were blessed with a sunny, warm weekend. Well, Sunday morning - Saturday was damp and miserable. After frosty starts this week, it was a joy to wake up to sunshine and blue skies.

My parents were coming for a visit, too, so I was really happy: we could be out in the garden, and indeed, we ended up eating lunch outside. I can't remember the last time we did that!

The sunshine motivated me to venture into the vegie garden for some proper work, to get the space ready for spring sowing action. I built two teepee-style trellises for climbing beans (above), inspired by ones in Hobart's botanic gardens. Their frames, of course, were mega-structures, welded strong and reaching for the skies; mine are tea-tree sticks rescued from a screen I demolished a few months ago, barely six feet tall. And trussed together with old pantyhose. In front of them, I lay out guarding to mark where I'll sow mixed mesclun salad greens.

Elsewhere I put up hip-high climbing frames (made last year) to support non-climbing peas and beans; Dad pounded them in for me to ensure they were secure in the ground. I also marked out a line ready for Tuscan Cavolo Nero kale, which I've never grown before. I'm looking forward to these - pictures I have seen are very impressive with their tall, blackish, plume-like leaves.

I also planned where I'll grow tomatoes, once Dad has gotten them going in a month or so. Last year I grew small cherry tomatoes in pots, and while I was  happy with my first-ever attempt, it was hellish keeping the plants moist in the unseasonal heat. So I'm growing them directly in the ground this year. I'm hoping for Black Krims, please Dad - one of my favourites.

And here is an update of my savoy cabbages: my, how they've grown! I love their dark crinkled leaves; such a fascinating texture.

What's growing in your garden?

9 comments:

  1. Hello e, lovely to have a tour of your garden! There is nothing like some sunshine to get the gardening motivation happening! I am also raising some Tuscan Cavolo Nero kale seed. Your cabbages look very healthy :)

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    1. Yes, sunshine is a rare commodity in a Hoabrt winter! I was very happy with what I achieved. In a month or so the ground should be warming up for sawing. But I am ready for it!

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  2. Unlike your organised approach to gardening, i take a bit of a scattergun approach. I have lots growing, in a higgedly-piggedly kind of fashion, including leeks, garlic, Brussels sprouts, parsnips, scallions, 4-5 different types of lettuce, large clusters of celery, silverbeet, a clump of lemongrass, and several chilli plants. My little patch is going for gold, this winter!

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    1. I am so envious! I aodre parnsip, brussels spouts, leeks and galric and - oh! You have a wonderful variety. I must say, it is only in the last year I have learnt to be more regimented and organised, with rows and the like. I realised it really maximised my small space, as well as making picking easier). Thank you for dropping by Dig In!

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  3. My vegetable garden is hopeless at the moment - but I'm planning to change that this spring! I loved looking at your photos - your garden is very neat!

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    1. As I said above, being neat helps maximise a small space. But i think i'm just an uptight kinda person, too :-)

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    2. It's taken me a couple of years to work out that neat works best. But I have a long way to go, especially when i see my dad's garden. I always forget to plant something... Looking forward to the warmer weather, too, so I can really get cracking.

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  4. Very nice! I move in two weeks and I am really looking forward to starting my own vegetable garden and growing every herb possible! I will be living in the tropics and I am excited at the long list of stuff that grows well up there!

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    1. OOh, we get tropic envy when we watch the northern presenters on Gardening Australia. All the gorgeous things like mangoes and fabulous tropical flowers.

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