Scarecrow's Garden Journal Notes: October 2011

The Loganberries are loaded
as are the Strawberries in the Berry Wicking Bed
Read more about Growing Berries in a Wicking Bed on my Outback Edge Harvest blog where I have also added a new Plant List Page to list the Beneficial Insect Attracting Plants in and around the garden.
Temperatures this month:
Lowest Min 0.4C
Highest Min 19.2C
Lowest Max 14.7C
Highest Max 33.5C
26.5mm Rain
Rain comparison with other years average is 29mm:
2011 26.5mm
2010 57.5mm
2009 58mm
2008 3mm
2007 15.5mm
Propagation: see more for month here and here
Seeds:
Amaranth Leaf Amaranthus gangeticus - Eden Seeds
Basil Purple Ocimum basilicum cv purpurascens - Phoenix Seeds
Basil Large Sweet Italian Ocimum basilicum - The Lost Seed
Black Cumin Nigella sativa - The Lost Seed
Borage Borago officinalis - Home Saved Seeds
Californian Poppy Eschscholzia californica - DT Brown
Celery Tendercrisp Apium graveolens - The Lost Seed
Coriander Coriandrum sativum - Mr Fothergill's Organic Seeds
Korean Mint Agastache rugosa - Eden Seeds
Lettuce Black Seeded Simpson Lactuca sativa - The Lost Seed
Lettuce Gloria Lactuca sativa - Select Organic
Lettuce Goldrush Lactuca sativa - Home Saved Seeds
Phacelia Phacelia tanacetifolia - Phoenix Seeds
Sorrel Garden Rumex acetosa - Eden Seeds
Direct sown into the Wicking Bed in the Old Chook Run Garden:
Pumpkin Australian Butter - seeds from Gringo in Victoria
Pumpkin Wrinkled Butternut - seeds from Seedsaver J in NSW
Pumpkin Blue Ballet - seeds from Seedsaver J in NSW
Pumpkin JAP - seeds from Seedsaver J in NSW
Squash Golden - seeds from Gringo in Victoria
Direct sown into the ground in the Old Chook Run Garden:
Possibly Styrian Hulless Seed Pumpkin - seeds from Seedsaver J in NSW
Potting up/on:
Mushroom Plant Rungia klossii cuttings taken 22/09/11
Seedlings planted out:
Melon Tigger x 6 Seedlings from seeds sown 4/08/11 into Bed 6 (in the cage) MVG
Melon Early Hanover x 4 Seedlings from seeds sown 4/08/11 into bed 10 MVG
Beans Tongues of Fire Seedlings from seeds sown 29/09/11 into bed 1 and 7 MVG
Beans Gourmet Delight Seedlings from seeds sown 29/09/11 into bed 10 MVG
Capsicum California Wonder x 6 Seedlings from seeds sown 10/07/11
Capsicum Hungarian Yellow Wax x 4 Seedlings from seeds sown 10/07/11
Cossack Pineapple x 2 Seedlings from seeds sown 10/07/11
Eggplant Casper x 1 Seedling from seeds sown 10/07/11
Eggplant Long Purple x 1 Seedling from seeds sown 10/07/11
The last 5 went into a Wicking Bed in the Kitchen Garden
Harvest Tally:
Doesn't include Greens fed to the chooks on a daily basis or herbs picked for use in the kitchen for cooking or tea making.
Asparagus 145g
Broad Beans Scarlet Cambridge 80g
Cauliflower Violet Sicilian 860g
Celery American Stringless 1560g
Kale Red Bor 80g
Lettuces - Goldrush, Drunken Woman, Red Coral 560g
Radish French Breakfast 210g
Strawberries the first few for tasting
Eggs:
116 From the 5 Farmyard Ferals
38 From the 2 Barnevelders
89 From the 4 Faverolles one died mysteriously
At The Community Garden:
All but 4 of my surplus Tomato seedlings were sold at the local hospital fete to raise money for the Community Garden. Others have been shared with the "Plotters" up there.
During the school holidays I ran Kids Planting sessions.
Week 1 we planted Sunflower and Nasturtium seeds around the base of the Kids Beds. It didn't take long for them to come up!!
Week 2 it was Seedlings and Herbs in the beds.
Tomatoes "Black Russian", "Big Rainbow" and "Ida Gold"
Lettuces "Black Seeded Simpson" and "Red Coral"
Cucumber "Bushy"
Zucchini "Rondo De Nice"
Squash "Yellow Button Scalloped" and "Acorn Table Queen"
Curly Parsley
Lemon Balm
Chives
Coriander
Thyme
Marigolds "Oranges and Lemons"
Meanwhile the Kids Strawberry Bed has taken off. With the bird netting in place it's first in, first for the Strawberries when the Kids arrive at the garden! Those Lettuces will provide a yummy salad for a family too!
There was an interesting post on Emma Cooper's Blog recently about growing plants with kids.
October of Previous Years:
2010
2009
2008
2007
To see how the various Garden areas fit on our half acre block check out the newest Map of our place (soon to be updated) HERE