I think it is almost time to plant some of these out!
I like to grow from seed as much as possible, and about a month ago I sowed Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Lettuce and Tat Soi in a seed tray which I left in the glasshouse.
I think it is almost time to plant some of these out!
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Here in the deep south the Summer growing season is relatively short. For the past few years I have sown climbing beans in October, and most summers I have had my first crops at the very end of January, with the last being in the first or second week of April.
The summer before last was unusually cool, so the beans were not very successful, providing only three or four meals. Last summer we were awash with fresh beans, from mid January until mid April. This year I made a second sowing in the same rows as the first sowing, in early January. Those plants are still growing vigorously, and I think we may be eating delicious fresh beans for a little longer! That is to say I will be eating beans. My wife decided after last year we had had too much of a good thing! Film picture from the Contax. Fuji c200 film. After a very late start this summer, the vege garden is starting to look great. We are enjoying fresh beans every day, there is lettuce, herbs, the last of the potatoes. and very soon in the glasshouse there will be an abundance of tomatoes.
Carrots, Salsify, Peas, Beetroot, Celery, Broccoli, Cauliflower and Cabbage are all on the way for late Autumn or Winter harvest. The herb garden is a never ending source of pleasure. And for Winter, the next task is to plant out the Leeks. I sowed seed in punnets around Christmas time, and about a month ago transferred them into the garden en mass to give them a good start. This afternoon I got a couple of hours in the garden, and weeded the spot where the leeks will go sometime this weekend. The bonus was some left over potatoes for dinner the next three or four evenings! Life is good! My goodness, things are still growing fast! We are now one week into autumn, these lettuces are beginning to go to seed, and my late peas, beetroot and salsify are all doing really well. So too are the weeds, if I get any spare time before tomorrow's forecast rain I know what I will be doing!
It has been a lovely summer's day here, and I got to spend some of the afternoon in the garden! Now the wind has turned south west, bringing much cooler rain! Love the smell of rain on the soi!
Summer is still going strong, with lovely warm days and plenty of sunshine. But Autumn is just around the corner - the days are starting to get a little shorter, and sometimes we wake up to a heavy dew. These elderberries are ready for harvest - I wonder what I will do with them? The photo was taken with my analogue Contax 139 and Fuji film. Love the way the Carl Zeiss lens renders colour, and the soft out of focus areas!
It is Waitangi Day, and I have spent some of it in the garden. Everything is late this year, including the heritage potatoes I planted in October or November. I have been growing the "La Ratte" variety for about six years now. It is an heirloom French potato, an early cropper that I have been in the habit of planting in August, to be ready around Christmas. I expect to get delicious waxy potatoes, long, thin and quite small. Similar to the Pink Fir, or the Kipfler which is popular now in Australia.
This year I planted seven or eight tubers, and as we are having friends around for a Waitangi Day barbeque, I thought I would see what was there. Giant La Ratte, easily four times bigger than I have ever seen. Note to self, that bed which is on the south of the house and never sees any winter sun, is a great place to grow potatoes! Today marks the Winter Solstice - the longest night, or the shortest day of the year! It is cool and grey outside, and the coldest weather is probably still ahead of us, but from tomorrow the days will gradually start to lengthen, and the local birds will start to think about where to build their nests!
Such an occasion should not go unmarked, so last evening we had close friends join us for a celebratory dinner... About the time I was running a test roll of film through the Contax camera, we had guests coming for dinner. Apples off the tree for an Apple Crumble desert - it turns out they are a VERY good cooking apple, and there were plenty of tomatoes still in the glasshouse! I like the way the basket is sharply focussed, with the background fading to soft focus. The colour rendition from the Kodak Gold 200 film is really pleasing as well! Analogue living in a digital world! It has been quite a while since I posted, and much has happened! We have planted some heritage apple trees that we grafted just before we moved, and they are adapting to their new home. I have fixed the broken panes in the glasshouse, and last week made many jars of tomato chutney! And the one apple tree that was here when we came has had a bumper crop this summer. There are elderberries in the freezer, and a crabapple and elderberry jelly is planned! The rhythm of life in town is slightly different, the space for gardening is smaller, but all of it is deeply satisfying. |
AuthorSteve Mitchell has had a varied and busy career including stints as a carpenter and builder, police constable, air traffic controller, commercial pilot and businessman, almost always more than one thing at the same time. Seeking a simpler life, he came to Bluff, the southernmost town in New Zealand, and for the first five years lived simply and happily in a 115 year old historic home, with half an acre of developing garden and orchard. Now very happily married to the most amazing lady, Steve lives in nearby Invercargill, gardening, photographing and playing music. He still works in the Aerospace Industry, and he is very grateful to his Creator! Categories
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December 2021
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