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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We have enjoyed a very pleasant summer this year, even last week brought warm temperatures and fine weather. The grass is still growing, and the summer crops still giving a harvest.
But the last two days have brought cooler temperatures, and strong equinoxial gales. This morning dawned fine and clear, but the temperature has dropped, 3.8 deg C as the sun rose. Our glasshouse is covered with a heavy dew, and a fine sunny day will follow! 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!
One of the enduring memories of my childhood in New Zealand is the magnificent summer displays of hydrangeas in older style gardens and parks. Gardeners can famously influence the colour of the flowers by altering the ph of the soil, although they do come in a number of colours. They flower vigorously all summer, and respond well to a severe winter pruning. We have quite a few very happy examples here in our garden....this is a lovely pale blue to white one!
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! A couple of miles away is Anderson Park - a stately manor in the Georgian style built in the early part of the last century, and bequeathed to the city about sixty years ago. I like this image of the flowers, foxgloves possibly, and if you look closely you may spot another bumble bee on the wing between courses of his meal. Analogue photo!
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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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