Friday, March 2, 2012

summer update





Rain with occasional burst of intense sunshine, but never enough to absorb the volume of water lying on the ground. Some early retirements to report: corn, cucumber, lettuce, beans, coloured spinach. Some survivors to commend: eggplant, capsicum, volunteer cherry tomatoes, berries, spring onions, globe artichokes. In an effort to repair some of the leaching damage done by the rain, I have planted a green manure crop of mung beans and millet. These crops like rain - sigh, I wonder if they LOVE rain? - and should do some good for the soil.

Still, no point in complaining (although I will, make no mistake!). I am planting the autumn/winter crop this weekend, but only in seed trays so they can get a good start without battling all this rain. Thanks Green harvest, you always give me plenty of new ideas: Massey Gem shelling pea, Raab Broccoli, Cabeza Red Cabbage, Purple carrots (a personal fav), violet cauliflower, Deep purple spring onions.