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.

resurection

After a summer of almost continual rainfall, my vege patch succummed to weeds and soil compaction - again. This has been drought breaking weather and it will be a challenge to manage the new weather pattern. Already, I am thinking summer will be a fallow time in my patch - a time to plant green manure and let the weather have its wicked way.

I removed many bags of weeds and creeper vine that had invaded the patch. Suprisingly, it didn't take long to get back to the bones and a handful of well rotted chicken manure and dolomite lime was all that was needed to get the soil back into action. The carrots I sowed before leaving on my 5 week holiday managed to survive the rain, and the rebel tomato gang sprouted again. The eggplants and bell cucumber survived and although a little sad looking, hopefully they will perk up on the 'drugs' I gave them.

Conscious of crop rotation, I have planted for early autumn - lettuce, spring onions, parsely, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. I have also planted blue cornflowers, gerberas and stocks in an effort to get some winter colour in the patch.

blue cornflower

digging in the rain

Ok, so it is raining and apparentrly will continue to rain until the next millenium. So what? Well, I can't plant in the heavy rain for these reasons:

• rain increases the chances of soil compaction

dpi.nsw.gov.au

• when the soil dries, a crust forms over the top preventing some seeds from germinating



ipm.iastate.edu

• heavy rain can change the soil structure - especially in a heavy soil like Tamborine volcanic soil



fao.org

• the soil sticks to everything when it is wet - I will end up with more on me than in the patch!

So! I wait and wait and wait and hope I can get some food into the ground before too much longer.

prepared earlier!