Garden maintenance is essential at this or any time of the year. Weeds to be pulled. Vegetables to be fertilized. Weeds to be pulled! Yes I said weeding twice. There was so much of it.
Well of course this weekend was no exception. I had been neglecting the front yard until I discovered that we have a cabbage thief in the area. It gave me the wake up call that I needed.
I spent the weekend weeding the front yard, cleaning out the chook house, top-dressing garlic and leeks, and watering. I have even started to prep one of the veg trugs in the greenhouse for planting some tomatoes during the week.
As I was the only one out in the garden, there are no actual pictures of me working, but I did take some of my handy work.
Front Garden Bed
It took me about an hour or so, but I weeded around the outside of the entire veggie bed area. Golden oxalis had taken hold however it is easy to remove quickly by hand.
There are also quite a few potatoes in this bed that have been killed off by the recent frost. I am leaving them there until we need them. With the stems and the few remaining leaves intact, the tubers won’t sprout for ages.
Rear Garden Bed
It’s all looking pretty nice. I harvested all the remaining volunteer potatoes from this bed yesterday which I wrote about in the post titled Spuds. Why Not! Free spuds, my friends. Who could not love gardening when you don’t have to do anything except dig up your food?
I was also very surprised that the leeks have grown as well as they have. I buried them very deep by drilling the holes down about 30 cm (1 ft). There is a fair bit of white stem under the ground, so all you can see is the leaves above.
Leek
They have a while to run yet, so we should be able to cook up some of Kim’s delicious Anglesey Eggs in about another month. I better get cracking and make some Caerphilly cheese to go in it!
Garlic
The garlic is looking magnificent. All growing strong with not a black aphid in site. I took a leaf out of a Gardening Australia episode I watched the other day and top dressed the garlic and the leeks with a mixture of cow and sheep manure mixed into a slurry, then place around each plant. I then watered it in well.
Garlic Close up
Stinky work, but if it means extra-large bulbs, then I don’t mind the smell.
As for the colourful kale, I gave them a spray of chilli and garlic spray to deter any caterpillars. Kim harvested some yesterday and made more kale chips with liberal sprinkling of chilli powder. Spicy or what!
Colourful Kale
That brings me to the sprouting broccoli. It has now officially gone to seed, which I am hoping to collect for next season.
There are still side shoots growing, so I will keep picking until it no longer sprouts. Delicious as a snack as you weed the garden.
Sprouting Broccoli
Finally, the cabbages. You will notice the very obvious hole in the front right. It used to be the biggest cabbage. Alas, it did a runner. The others should be ready to pick in a couple of weeks. I mixed up some weed tea to feed them. About 1 litre of weed tea to 9 litres of water in a watering can then water liberally.
Sugar Loaf Cabbage
The heads are getting tighter, which is a very good sign that they are nearly ready.
Red Cabbage
The red cabbage is a bit slower, which is usual. Once you have had enough of the green, the red is ready to eat in coleslaw.
Well dear reader, besides cleaning out the chook house, which I am sure you didn’t want to see (or did you?), there was not much more to do. I ran out of steam at about 3 pm this afternoon so relaxed for the rest of the day.
By the way, all the weeds went into the chicken run. Even though the girls are not particularly fussed about golden oxalis, they do take a fancy to all the other weeds mixed in. When I checked on them as the sun was setting, only the oxalis was left. Without the bulbs, it turns into pretty good compost once the girls have scratched it to death.
So there you have it. With a little bit of maintenance at the right time, your veggie patch will not only look good, but will thrive with all the special love and attention. I think my veggies also liked the music I was playing whilst I was weeding. Look very closely, because I think that purple cabbage in the photo is smiling at me! Bohemian Rhapsody anyone?
Veggie patch maintenance doesn’t have to be boring now, does it?
I’ve been a little busy as well in my patch but not anywhere as busy as you by the look of it. I think I’d beter pull my finger out 😀 .
I wonder how many overseas readers would understand that expression Michael?
I hear from my friend Jabir that you have a permablitz on this weekend. Hope it all goes well mate!
You’ve inspired me. Might be time for me to get out and harvest my cabbages before the fat cabbage moths (that I pick off frequently) steal them! Time to make sauerkraut! 🙂
Nice one Jessie. Don’t forget to share your recipe!
Will do Gav. 🙂
A cabbage thief! This is my biggest concern right now (well it will be soon we only have seeds in) We’ve just pulled up the entire front yard. No more lawn!!!! I wouldn’t mind sharing if someone stopped to ask, I’d probably even offer if we had it to spare, but stealing…..ggrrrr.
BTW – Loving the blog, it inspires and helps me believe I CAN do it!
Well done on removing the lawn Marcia. Although I was slightly miffed about the loss of said cabbage, I am not too fussed. There are plenty more.
I am sure you will have nothing but success in your own endeavours. x
Thanks Gavin 🙂
You should leave a little sign in your garden offering to help whoever passes to grow there own veggies. I admit it would be tempting to pass by your front yard on occassion and not consider it living treasure. One can only hope that the person who stole it, enjoyed the difference in taste from a supermarket one and perhaps really needed it to prop but their larder.
Good point Lynda. I just hope it wasn’t some random kid up to mischief.