The first Asparagus spears appeared this fortnight although they were not weighed because they were munched straight from the garden...a sweet, raw delight!Weather Highlights:
Lowest Min -1C
Highest Min 8.3C
Lowest Max 14.3C
Highest Max 28.5C
4.5mm Rain
The last half of September was as windy as it often is. The Equinox on the 23rd always tends to bring the wind with it. This year though we have had gale force winds repeatedly. So now we head into summer which feels like it will be a long, hot and dry one. Everything is drying out very fast and rain seems scarce already...mulching has become a high priority.
Propagation:
Seeds:
Direct sown:
Cucumber Crystal Apple Cucumis sativus from Mr Fothergill's into bed 16 in Old Chook Run Garden
Trombone Gramma Cucurbita moschata from Eden seeds into the compost tank bed in Old Chook Run Garden
Squash Spaghetti Cucurbita pepo from Eden Seeds into Wicking Fridge Bed 11 in the Kitchen Garden
Sorghum Alpha from Select Organic into the Compost Bed in the Almond Area Garden
The following seeds were sown into cut down Milk/Juice Containers (See pix below) in the greenhouse
Pumpkin:
Lakota Cucurbita maxima from 4Season Seeds
Sampson Cucurbita maxima from a friend they were very old seeds so I sowed all that were left
Triamble Cucurbita maxima from The Lost Seed
Trombone Gramma Cucurbita moschata from Eden seeds
Walthem Butternut Cucurbita moschata from 4Season Seeds
Squash Spaghetti Cucurbita pepo from Eden Seeds
Zucchini Cucurbita pepo
Black Beauty from Diggers
Cocozelle from The Lost Seed
Golden from The Lost Seed
Lebanese Early from Inspirations Seeds
Potting On/Up:
Basil Lettuce Leaf and Large Italian SweetCapsicum Sweet Paprika, Sweet Chocolate and California Wonder
Chilli Shake
Tomatoes - Kotlas, Money Maker,
Sweet Potato Slips - white, orange and purple
Grapes Black Sultana and Ruby Red
Planting out:
Basil Purple and Lettuce Leaf
Tomato Red Colossus
Into bed 3
White Currant Ribes rubrum Syn. R sativum, R silvestre, R spicatum
Gooseberry Captivator Ribes grossularia planted into the wicking bed with the Raspberries in the Almond Area Garden
Mint Orange Mentha citrata
Mint Basil Mentha basilicum
Mint common Mentha sp
Planted in amongst the fruit trees in the Almond Area Garden where I don't mind if they take off
Sweet Potato slips White and Orange a couple more into Bed 17
The warmer than normal start to spring has meant I can sow seeds directly into the soil...something I rarely am able to do.
Early sown Sweetcorn has germinated well...now to keep the snails from munching it. Late night scrunching sessions are yielding many small snails!!
These pots are what I start larger seeds off in. When they are ready for planting out the container slides off with minimal disturbance to the roots or can slide up to remain as protection for the newly planted seedling.More on this link (Growing On Pots)
I can't go without showing off these Strawberries...yummy!!!
