After a little work yesterday in the vege-patch, it is coming along quite well for this time of year. I did a bit of weeding, and there is still some grass seeds sprouting from the horse manure I used to condition the beds this winter, and a few oxalis poking through, but they are all very easy to remove when the soil is damp. This post will be a bit of a photo-fest, so enjoy the show.
Behind the trellis are the snow peas, purple podded peas, jalepeno chilli and eggplant, all still doing well. For regular readers, I had to rebuild the pea supports because of the windy day a month ago. These plants get morning sun until about 1pm, and get warmth from the fence in the afternoon.
A close-up of the jalepeno chilli
Now, around to the south side of the house to the rainwater tank. Here is the excellent work I did with the new valve when I stupidly drained the entire 2300 litre tank into the swimming pool!
Moving along the path to the north, the next bed contains nasturtiums, sweetpea (close to the trellis), bok choy and wom bok. To the left in the plastic pot are some loqut trees (Evergreen tree native to China and Japan, also known as the Japan medlar. The golden pear-shaped fruit has a delicate sweet-sour taste). I have grown them from seeds that I scrumped from a tree hanging of the fence at Ben’s primary school. Yum, but they will take a few years before they bare fruit.
The next bed has all of my broccoli, which the bugs were feasting on until recently. You can see the liberal dusting of derris dust I have given them a few days ago. I can say that the majority of the white cabbage moth caterpillars have now met their maker. Tonight we are having roast chicken, and will have lots of steamed broccoli as well.
The next bed along has beetroot, daikon radish, parsnips, french & round radish and 3 capsicum and a birdseye chilli bush.
Some close ups of the birdseye chilli bush,
and an artistic shot by Kim of the capsicum bushes! There are still about 15 capsicums on the 3 bushes.
Next bed is entirely planted out with Broad Beans. I didn’t plant enough last year and this year I sowed two packets of seed in early March. They are coming along great, with no insect damage so far.
The last bed has leeks, brown onions, spinach, and spring onions. All are doing well and all are from seed sown directly in the bed. All of the onions will take ages, but not to worry, because the pickled onions at the end of summer are well worth it.
Well that is about it for the garden tour. The simple thing I have learnt so far this season is that I now believe that slugs are multilingual, because not only do they eat European vegetables, but they have a go at the Asian vegies as well! Nothing like a bit of slug gourmet dinning. Slippery little buggers!
the garden is looking really great,i was wondering about the chook house,i see its about to come to fruition. dad
Gavin this is lovely – so much happening in your garden. On the weekend I finally pulled out all but 2 of my capsicums and sowed broad beans.I hope we get some more rain soon though.