multi coloured carrots

Carrots have not always been only orange. They come in a variety of colours, but orange become the popular choice in Europe, particularly Holland, in commemoration of the Royal House of Orange (the Dutch Royal family). Now, you can grow them in all kinds of colours - as I do - and brighten up all your vege stews!

I have had no problem growing the Purple King variety or the mixed colour variety. I grow from seed and and don't even thin them out as they grow. I pull them up when they are still  young as I don't really like the thick vibrator-looking  numbers you buy in the shops. I also like the feathery tops of carrots - they add a textural dimension to the garden.

(ref: recipegirl.com)

Oh, they also grow all year round here. I have had success through the wet summer season and the dry winter season... they will become a staple crop in the patch

jasmine secrets

From the dark corners of by bookshelf, I pulled an old Readers Digest book about plants. I now refer to the books as the 'bible'. It has all the answers, man!

We have the most amazing star jasmine bush creeeping all over the washing line. It is now in full bud and bloom and you get high every time you walk out the back. I love the smell of jasmine but when I cut a sprig for the house, it loses its fragrance. Then I consulted the bible!

Solution: immediatley place cut sprigs of jasmine into 2-3 cms of boiling water for 1 min. This stops the bleeding process. Then stand in cold water for an hour before arranging.

I did this last weekend and the house is still full of fragrance - all from 3 sprigs.

Hey Apple! What about inventing scratch and sniff monitors?

star jasmine

peach pash

At the moment, the peach tree is still sleeping, although a close inspection this morning reveals swelling buds. I planted this tree 2 years ago and at that time, it was as tall as me. Now, she towers over the patch and provides good shade in the middle of summer. Last season I saw some small fruit on a couple of  limbs, I wonder what I will get this season? Fortunately I have to prune it too, so I will get some great sprigs for the house.

winter peach

spring peach

spring sprung?

The first sign of the wisteria. A stunning climber capable of ripping your house of its foundations! Beware of anything that is beautiful. It come sin mauve and white. The one outside the window and covering the tank at our place is mauve... and she works it, baby!

Want to know more? Good old Gradening Australia has all the answers

winter update

The last couple of weeks have seen typical August weather - cold and windy! The nights have been close to freezing and I suspect the odd frost has sneaked in unexpectedly. Last week, a ferocious wind whipped through the patch and bent back my peas! They are purple-podded peas and they had just go to the top of the frame and started to flower - a very pretty flower too. Now I have my fingers crossed that they will survive the beating. That's life in the patch!

(ref: purplepoddedpeas.blogspot.com)

The comfrey is hibernating, the brocs and cabbages are powering along - not a white moth insight, so they are blemish free. The garlic and leeks are plodding along - they need to be harvested befor the wet season starts. There is new greowh on the chillies. I took a risk and pruned the bushes back hard at the end of last summer, now they seem to have survived the winter and are getting a new lease of life.

I am loathe to do any kind of spring planting until there is no longer the chance of a frost.

potatoes

I harvested my first crop of potatoes today and man, was I pleasantly suprised. I am always amazed at root crops - you just don't see any action and then... pow!

(ref: chiotsrun.com)

I bought some certified organic sebago and planted them in an old coffee sack. I used potting mix and organic pellitsed fertiliser. I allowed the green stalks to appear once and covered them over to maximise the crop. Fortnightly watering of seaweed and 'Bob's your uncle'! I was suprised to see that the potatoes were not attached to anything, they were just sitting there in the dirt. I was also amused to see that the term used for digging around looking for potatoes is.... bandicooting..... aaarrgghhh.....

Tonight's menu included... oven roasted potatoes with rosemary and sea salt.