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.

plotting and planning

The winter season is over. As soon as it stops raining, I have to remove all the spent growth and prepare for the next planting. There are a few broc and cabbages still to mature, but then it will be bye-bye cool crops hello warm crops.

My big decision this year - NO tomatoes. I can not win the battle against the birds and my neighbour excels at growing tomatoes.

I am going hard on the lettuce, carrots, capsicum and eggplant. These are my staples, along with parsley and garlic and chillies.

Will also soon be time to harvest my garlic... hope it turns out. There is a heap of it.

BTW, found the sneaky culprit who has attached  my purple podded peas.... king parrots, just as I suspected. Just as well they are so bloody beautiful!