Looks like I will be able to start to harvest these new Lettuce seedlings soon and with some thundery showers this week they should really take off! Just removing a few leaves as needed for a salad should mean I can keep using these ones until the summer greens take over. I have sown a second round of "Greens" seeds this week...some of the other plantings have been a bit slow to germinate.Weather highlights:
Lowest Min -1.4C
Highest Max 25.1C
5.5 mm Rain
Propagation:
Seeds:
Alfalfa Medicago sativa from Phoenix Seeds
Amaranth Mekong Red Amaranthus gangeticus from The Lost Seed
Basil Purple Ocimum basilicum cv purpurascens from Phoenix Seeds
Basil Sweet Genovese Ocimum basilicum From Mr Fothergill's (Seed Mats)
Borage Borago officinalis from Home Saved Seeds
Buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum from Home Saved Seed
Chamomile German (Annual) Matricaria chamomilla from New Gippsland Seeds
Coriander Cilantro Coriandrum sativum from Select Organic
Cosmos Pink Stripe Cosmos bipinnatus from Home Saved seeds
Cosmos Purity Cosmos bipinnatus from Mr Fothergill's
Cosmos Sensations Mixed Cosmos bipinnatus from DT Brown
Egyptian Spinach Corchorus olitorius from Cornucopia Seeds
Fennel Florence Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum from Phoenix seeds
Golden Purslane Portulaca oleracea from Cornucopia Seeds
Korean Mint Agastache rugosa from Eden Seeds
Lettuce Canasta Lactuca sativa from The Lost Seed
Lettuce Gloria Lactuca sativa from Select Organic
Malabar Spinach Red Basella rubra from Cornucopia Seeds
Marigold Crackerjack Tagetes erecta from DT Brown
Marigold Oranges and Lemons Tagetes patula from Growers Pride
Mexican Hyssop Agastache mexicana 'Sangria' from Southern Harvest Seeds
Mountain Spinach Yellow Atriplex hortensis from Cornucopia Seeds
Nasturtium Alaska Tropaeolum majus from Growers Pride
Nasturtium Jewel Mixed Tropaeolum majus from DT Brown
Nasturtium Milkmaid Tropaeolum majus from Diggers
Phacelia tanacetifolia from Phoenix seeds
Portulaca Portulaca grandiflora from local market stall
Queen Anne's Lace Ammi majus from Cornucopia Seeds
Red Clover Trifolium pratense var. sativum from Phoenix Seeds
Rocket Eruca sativa from Select Organic
Salvia Blaze Of Fire Salvia splendens from Mr Fothergill's
Silverbeet Erbette Beta vulgaris cicla from Select Organic
Summer Savory Satureja hortensis from New Gippsland Seeds
Vietnamese Balm Elsholtzia ciliata from Green Harvest
Zinnia Mixed colours Zinnia elegans from Eden Seeds
Cuttings:
Lavender English Lavendula angustifolia
Planting out:
Lebanese Watercress into bed 23 by the back door...these seedlings had self sown in one of the boxes in the shaded water garden.
Pansy seedlings
Strawberry runners these went into the beds by the front verandah.
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. For Salads, Juice and Stirfries I have been picking Lettuce, Watercress, Lebanese Watercress, Kale, Silverbeet, Gotu Kola, Parcel, Parsley, Shallot and Beetroot Leaves which are not always weighed.
Celery 125g
Eggs: Total for the week 36:
3 from the lone Barnevelder
14 from the 5 Farmyard Ferals
19 from the 4 Faverolles
The Snow Peas in Bed 7 have struggled through the winter with frosts and then an attack of powdery mildew. With the weather warming they have put on new growth and are flowering profusely. Pods are setting...I am glad I haven't had time to pull them out yet!
The Broad Beans in the tank Wicking bed (Bed10) needed to be tied up for support during the windy days. They are now flowering (with their delightful aroma). The bees are busy, and the pods are setting and growing fast!
Flowers are everywhere around the edge beds especially Calendulas, African Daisies and look! the Cherry Tree is flowering...can't wait for this year's harvest.
Hidden away in the warmth of the greenhouse the cucurbits have nearly all germinated...it won't be very long now until they can be planted outside...not just yet though we still have frosts on the forecasts.
As we had two markets down in Adelaide last weekend we decided to stay at a caravan park...trust Doc to find a friendly family of ducks to feed in the morning...it was a very peaceful setting to stay in.
To see how the various Garden areas fit on our half acre block check out the newest Planting Plan for Spring HERE This is updated as planting occurs.
