The Vege Patch

Patchy Potatos

2012-01-30T21:49:00.001+13:00

Pulled out 10kg of potatoes from the patch. And that's mostly the white ones. Purple ones next time the weather is good.

New brocks

2011-12-25T15:12:00.001+13:00

A new set of broccoli seeds into a tray for winter. Premium green F1.

Also transplanted zucchini and pumpkin into the patch alongside onions and leeks. It may be too late for the alums... but worth a crack anyway.

Patching the Christmas dinner

2011-12-25T15:11:00.001+13:00

Veggies in today's dinner were brought to you be the letter v (for vege-patch). Photos below. The potatooze were apparently very good, but not all of us eat them. The carrots, turnips and broccoli (not shown) were excellent with the Havoc ham.

Radish Christmas

2011-11-23T05:53:00.001+13:00

Planted two half rows of radish by the peas. One row of German Giant, the other of French Breakfast. Between the half rows in went tow very short rows of the French Breakfast.

They should all be ready by Christmas.

Seeding is believing

2011-11-20T20:30:00.001+13:00

Time to get some more seeds in since the weather is so bad today:

4 pottles with:
Zucchini - ambasador f1

3 pottles with:
Pumpkin - spooki

A tray of:
Leek - winter giant

6 each of:
Cabbage - Copenhagen market
Spinach - winter giant
Kohlrabi -early purple Vienna

Pics

2011-11-19T21:29:00.001+13:00

Potatoes in the patch.

Brassica (broccoli and cauliflower) in the patch.

A small clump of garlic in the patch.

More Lettuces

2011-11-19T21:19:00.001+13:00

One of the lettuces in the patch died. The others are doing well. The Paris White Cos that had been growing in pots was transplanted into the patch. With some luck and good weather there'll be a supply of lettuce leaves soon.

Note the 3 rows of lettuces in the back and 2 rows of cos at the front (and looking rather sad). Behind the lettuces are leeks.

Weedy Carrots

2011-11-19T21:12:00.001+13:00

Gardening time has been spent removing every last weed from the carrot beds. In the gaps in the rows were planted more seeds of the appropriate kinds.

The rows now look like professional ones. All straight with good spaces between most carrots. The clumps and bare patches were probably due to the cats - who spent the evening watching the weeding!

Carrot beds after weeding but before reseeding.

Squashed Butternut

2011-11-06T21:47:00.001+13:00

From the green room to the garden... Done!

Blasted snow

2011-11-06T16:05:00.001+13:00

The cold blast and snow have confused the onions. Several started to flower. A. Ee tray of Italian long keeper has been down in an effort to recover the season.

BeetIt

2011-10-24T21:07:00.001+13:00

In went the sugarbeet along with white turnips. While I was at it also transplanted the green mignette lettuces of which 6 had survived. None of the cos germinated!

The butternut squash are lifting their heads. The tomato in the big pots still live but one cucumber of four has died.

Tomatumber

2011-10-17T22:03:00.001+13:00

Planted Roma tomatoes into their final resting place and while I was at it I also did the same with cucumbers. In total 4 of each.

Potatopside

2011-10-09T16:19:00.001+13:00

The red potatoes are sticking through in several places. Presumably the white ones will soon too.

22 Cauliflower

2011-10-06T16:20:00.001+13:00

There in the soil, down below, by the broccoli

See-you-cumber

2011-10-04T19:44:00.001+13:00

Cucumbers are showing signs of breaking out too.

Germinatomatoes

2011-10-04T19:41:00.001+13:00

Tomatoes have germinated. These are the Roma tomatoes.

Broccoli for Moc-or-me

2011-10-02T21:02:00.001+13:00

Planted out 4 rows of the broccoli green f1. Since it's now dark I'm not sure how many plants in total, but about 30. They are in the del, close to the hedge in the now extended patch down there.

Carrots are the new carrots

2011-09-26T19:34:00.001+13:00

Planted 2 rows each of, and in order of right to left with your back to the house, Paris Market, Purple Dragon, Lubyana, and Solar Yellow.

That is, one iteration in a long row then another iteration in short rows. The remainder of the short row is therm up with peas.

Sage advice

2011-09-25T20:43:00.001+13:00

The sage had started to germinate with one or two just showing their heads at the surface.

Let us germinate

2011-09-25T20:32:00.001+13:00

Turned and hosed down the compost heap. Watered the broccoli, and noticed that the lettuces had raised their heads - some of the minunrttes but none of the cos.

When wet outside plant inside

2011-09-24T17:49:00.001+12:00

Planted 24 tomato seeds. 6 each of Roma (Yates, from Nichols), Tommy Toe, Beefsteak Select, and 6 seeds given to me by another member of the Dunedin Vegetable Growers Club. These are apparently some form of Russian tomato. For convenience I'll call these David's Russian Tomato.

Also in went 6 Lemon Cucumber, and 6 capsicum from a mixed variety called Colour Salad Selection from Yates.

Oh, and the lettuce has started to sprout.

Digging day

2011-09-17T19:49:00.001+12:00

Dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig.

Oh, and then dig some more.

Who ever it was that put a two inch layer of clay on top of the topsoil at the bottom of the del has a lot to answer for. Separating clay from soil us hard on the hands. Hopefully the remaining soil will highly fertile due to nutrient leaching out of the clay.

Let-2-se

2011-09-16T19:07:00.001+12:00

Just put some lettuce sees into a tray to germinate. 20 cos from Yates which apparently expired in August 2009. And 20 green mignonette from Mr. Fothergill's which also expired in August 2009. It seems unlikely that either won't germinate but if not then it'll be time to nip down to Taste Nature or Nichols for some new lettuce seed.

Near 100% germination

2011-09-10T10:23:00.001+12:00

Germination is complete. They new need time to grow. Shown here is the cauliflower, broccoli is similar.

No sign of anything happening with the sage.

Brassicade

2011-09-04T22:14:00.001+12:00

Into seed trays went orange cauliflower and green broccoli. The trays then went into the green room. Should only be a few days before they germinate.

Also put some sage into pots in the green room. They need to grow good and strong before going into the garden.

The Potato Underground

2011-09-03T20:30:00.002+12:00

Put the potato idea to bed. That is, into a bed. Both types The purple potatoes downhill from the white ones. Now the waiting starts.

Spudnic

2011-08-21T14:17:00.002+12:00

Absolutely no evidence that the seed potatoes have some anything other than get a week older! Perhaps the weather needs to turn good first!

Spudz

2011-08-13T19:29:00.002+12:00

Trying a new crop this year, potatos! Got a bag of Jersey Benes and a bag of Purple Heart from CRT. $10 a bag.

Currently have them layer out on the table in the green room to sprout stems. Then they go into throw garden - hopefully once the bad weather is over.

The manufacturer was Morton Smith-Dave.

A King's Ransom

2011-07-17T20:29:00.002+12:00

This year's order with King's Seeds is:

Cucumber, Lemon
Radish, French Breakfast
Sage, Common
Cress, Moss Curled
Sugar Beet
Carrot, Solar Yellow
Cauliflower, Giant of Naples
Cauliflower, Orange Bouquet F1
Squash, Butternut Chieftain
Onion, Red Amposta
Pumpkin, Spookie
Tomato, Tommy Toe
Tomato, Beefsteak Select
Zucchini, Ambassador F1

To the grand total of $47.00 including postage.

Plant on the Shortest Day

2011-07-17T18:16:00.000+12:00

A few weeks ago a new (sadly south facing)bed was dug. It was relatively easy to rip it the grass which came up as a large mat. The area was then dug over and left. The compost heap was sieved last week and the compost piled on the new bed ready to be dug in. Today it was dug in and two whole garlic bulbs were planted into it.

Garlic should be planted on the shortest day and harvested on the longest. A bit late on the shortest day, but only by a week or so.

Yes Peas

2011-04-24T16:24:00.001+12:00

There was a large section of the vege patch stripped empty because the last of the turnips came out. At the back of that section are some cabbages. Now what... what to plant over winter in the hope of anything, and it cannot be brassica?

Well, in went some peas. Soaked overnight and then planted out about 24 hours later.

The last loads of brassica were left in the green room too long and dried out. They'll make their way to the compost heap.

Germination and Onions

2011-02-03T19:47:00.001+13:00

The onions have germinated. The germination rate of the cabbage and cauliflower is very bad - perhaps they got too wet?

Germination and Onions

2011-01-25T16:15:00.005+13:00

The Copenhagen Market cabbage and All The Year Round cauliflower have started to germinate. The germination rates are low, the cauliflower rate is so low that the seeds are essentially non viable.

Also planted some Red Wing F1 and Italian Longkeeper onions in trays. According to the Tui NZ Vegetable Garden, you can plant onion seeds February - July.

And the Winner is... Vege Patch

2011-01-22T17:58:00.006+13:00

The Otago-Taieri A&P Society Show was today. Last week I phoned up and placed an entry in the "Any other Vegetable not Specified" category. Yesterday I went into the vege patch and chose the best 2 turnips, cleaned them up and took them to the showgrounds. Today I returned to discover a red ticket - first place! Vege Patch turnips are the best turnips on the region! For a whole year I can make the claim that I (officially) grow the best turnips around!

Germination

2011-01-22T17:51:00.001+13:00

The Kohlrabi have germinated (4 days) and the beetroot in the tunnel appear to be germinating (9 days).

Cauliflower Ears

2011-01-20T19:30:00.003+13:00

I've (nearly) got cauliflowers comeing out of my ears. All the Cheddar Cauliflower (except 1) have already been turned into dinners, one of the white cauli was eaten over the last two days and now this one and 4 more like it coming over the next few days.

It also looks as though the carrots under the poly-tunnel are beginning to poke through the surface - or it might just be weeds. Its hard to tell because carrot shoots look like grass shoots!

Leeks

2011-01-19T19:35:00.001+13:00

The leeks have started to germinate. Over the weekend I put the asparagus to bed outside in the vege patch. Left it too late, but now its done.

Brassica Fantatisica

2011-01-18T20:59:00.003+13:00

Spend the evening planting cauliflower (all the year round), cabbage (copenhagen market), and Kohlrabi (purple and green), into seed trays. In total 20 of each being 2 seed trays.

Unexpected Ginger

2011-01-18T19:25:00.003+13:00

Just when I was about to give up on the ginger... here it is. This is a day (or two) growth, its about an inch above the surface. Fresh ginger here we come!

Capsicum

2011-01-18T17:57:00.004+13:00

Capsicum are supposed to flower when they have 7-13 leaves (which these do). Apparently the first flower will fail (the bud's a dud) and the fruit will produce on subsequent flowers.

Fast Growing Sprouts

2011-01-18T17:53:00.004+13:00

Its just amazing how quickly brussel sprouts grow. One seed was planted per section, all of them germinated and they have grown to this size in just 6 days.

Plant in summer for harvest in winter

2011-01-13T18:24:00.003+13:00

Its time to start worrying about planting for winter. Apparently the best things to plant now are brassica and beet. So in went some.

In an effort to keep the cats off of the seedlings up went the polytunnel. Its only a small one but it now protects beet and carrot seeds. With some luck the added heat will also help germination and growth.

Yesterday in went some brussel sprout seeds into seed trays and into the green room. Also in went some winter leeks. Then there's the strawberry experiment with the tiny red strawberry seeds from my parent's place.

strawberries

2011-01-10T20:58:00.001+13:00

Mashed, Seived, Dried, Planted some strawberries from my father's garden.

Replacement Rhubarb

2010-12-26T19:28:00.002+13:00

Spend the evening digging the old green rhubarb out in the hope that the new red rhubarb will take over. The green rhubarb tastes good, but the red looks better.

Rhubarb Crumble

2010-12-26T19:22:00.002+13:00

2.8KG of rhubarb came out of the parch and into the kitchen. 800g went into rhubarb crumble (which was excellent) and 2KG was stewed and went into bottles. This is the first (non-jam) bottling endeavour for the patch and it seems to have worked well.

For Christmas dinner Kohlrabi, Cauliflower, and turnips. The cheddar yellow cauliflower is excellent both raw and cooked. The remains went into filo-parcels for dinner tonight. They, too, were good.

Tomatoes are starting to come, but the plants are yellowing. They need some tomato food.

Kohlrabi, An Unexpected Delight

2010-11-21T19:33:00.002+13:00

After a wet Saturday, Sunday was spent felling and mulching a tree that was casting a shadow over the new extended patch. The said tree was also located in prime vege-patch real estate.

Took some turnips for tonights dinner as well as some Kohlrabi. Roasted Kohlrabi is good! Peel the vegetable using first your hand, then a potato peeler. The skin is woody and easily removed. Then rub in oil (in this case Rice-Bran Oil), then into the oven for about 30 mins. They are excellent.

Raw they're also good. They taste a little like a nutty cucumber.

Germinated Peppers

2010-11-20T19:21:00.002+13:00

Two of the capsicum have reared their heads above the surface. They need a change to grow stronger, but they're there.

Carrots

2010-11-17T19:41:00.001+13:00

Over the weeked managed to find time to weed and plant some carrot seeds.

Outside Pix

2010-11-17T19:38:00.005+13:00

Lettuces

Brocolli

Peas

Inside Pix

2010-11-17T19:34:00.003+13:00

Cucumbers

Zucchini

Germinated Brassicas

Its Chili

2010-11-07T20:07:00.003+13:00

Had a few minutes and so planted 6 each of Capsicum and Chili Pepper. Placed the lot of them into a tray in the green-room.

Also finally got some (shop) silverbeet out of the tub they came in and into the patch. They were looking pretty sad and had been there several months. Chances are they'll die.

Seed Seeds Seeds, on the grow

2010-11-06T20:55:00.005+13:00

All three seed-trays were empty, and its summer. This was a sad state of affairs that needed resolving. The seed-trays were washed in hot water, then rinsed in hot tap water, then filled with black-magic seed mix.

Into the three trays went 20 each of:
Spinach (winter giant)
Spinach (bloomsdale)
Cauliflower (all the year around)
Cauliflower (violet sicilian)
Cabbage (copenhagen market)
Brocoli (italian Precore)

That a load of Brassica and a lot of spinach.

As its early summers its also time to get the cucurbits in. They are a lot larget than the tiny brassics so they go into individual pots rather then seed trays. Into 4 pots each went:

Pumpkins (harvest gold)
Squash (sunbeam)
Zucchini (blackjack)
Zucchini (blackbeauty)

In previous years the pumpkins have suffered mold and not produced fruit - perhaps this year will reverse the trend.

Onions into the Patch

2010-10-14T19:11:00.002+13:00

The red and regular (brown?) onions were moved into the patch. The density there is now quite high as it includes onions from last year from earlier in the season and from now.

Last year's onions keep trying to flower, but they're getting nipped in the bud. With luck this will encourage them to grow onions rather than flowers.

Tiny Asparagus

2010-10-13T20:36:00.002+13:00

The Asparagus have hatched. They are varying in length from 1mm to 1cm. They are impossible to photograph, however, because they are so thin they can only just be seen. They are also nearly the colour of the soil!

Tomato and Cucumber

2010-10-10T19:52:00.005+13:00

Tomatoes. See... Tomato plants doing their thing. These are located in the corridore at the top of the stairs. There are similar plants in the green-room, and three similar pots in a summy coridore at work.

Cucumbers. Cucumber sandwiches in the making. So it might take a few more days before they're ready to harvest, but you've got to start somewhere.

Kaye's Great Grandmother's Strawberries

2010-10-10T19:46:00.004+13:00

Kaye very kidly donated 2 strawberry plants. The are from plants that she took from her great grandmother's garden. That would make them heirlooms, perhaps even from 100 years ago. They will apparently produce little red berries, they should go well with the little white ones already in the patch.

One went into the front patch. The other went into potting mix in the green room. With luck they'll do well and it'll be possible to multiply out the plants.

Carrots Seeds Are In.

2010-10-01T20:07:00.003+13:00

Finally got around to planting the carrot seeds into the patch. There were a few Manchester Table seeds left over from another project to which were mixed Paris Market, Lubyana, White Belgian, and Purple Dragon. These were then scattered quite densely over one corner of the patch. Within an hour it had started to rain.

The remaining nutri-read carrot seeds were not planted - they aren't that good and don't grow that well. This is not only my experience but the experience of another vege grower in Dunedin.

Cucumber

2010-09-29T20:15:00.002+13:00

First go with cucumbers this season. This year King's Marketmore Cucumbers. Six seeds went into a tray. With some luck we'll see at least one germinate. In previous years the cucumbers have gone in a little late.

Cat-Fennel

2010-09-27T19:32:00.003+13:00

Its not just us humans who love to spend the afternoon in the garden watching the vegies grow. In the background you see the Fennel from last year (it died back over winter but has clearly sprung back for spring).

Planting Out Onions and Turnips

2010-09-27T19:25:00.005+13:00

The first batch of Long-Keeper onions went into the patch. Some were left in over the winter, just to see what happened. They survived and continue to grow. You can see here a mix of old and young onions.
The last spaces in the patch are filling up. You see here the brassicas planted out over the weekend. In the front on the left was planted (today) with the white-turnips.

Putting the brassicas to bed

2010-09-26T19:51:00.002+13:00

The brassica that were reaised in seed-trays did generally very well with the exception of the cauliflower. The got too big for the seed trays and so were transplanted to the vege-patch.

As a reminder, they were: Broccoli (Premium Green F1), Cabbage (Copenhagen Market), Cauliflower (All Year Round), Pak Choy (White Stem).

Also transplanted peas (from way back) from trays to the patch. They do well inside, and outside they are a centimeter or so in length.

Finally, found the orange chedar cauliflower at Bunnings in Dunedin. One tray of 6 went in beside the other brassica. Overall a good weekend for the vege-patch.

Patch Pix

2010-09-24T20:11:00.008+12:00

Early days yet but there's life in them there patches. Front and Middle is Cauliflower and Broccoli planted in autumn. They survive the winter and have started to take off. With luck they'll go to flower (which is the part we eat). In the background is Spinach.

Those shoots between the brassica is the garlic. The first shoots sprung up a week or two ago - and there should be more to come. They're grown from left-over sprigs from last year's crop planted close to the shortest day. In the background (above) you'll notice a few little white markers... they're marking out the radish that didn't yet sprout.

Pot-Tomatoes

2010-09-23T20:55:00.003+12:00

The Tomatoes have grown to over an inch an so moved out of seed trays and into larger pots at their final destination. Above is a picture of the seedlings, these need potting and will probably get grown in the house.

Kohlrabi, Asparagus, Onions, and Lettuce

2010-09-13T09:36:00.000+12:00

Sounds like quite a salad, but was quite a weekend. The Kohlrabi migrated from the seed-trays into the vege patch. Into the seed trays went 5 kinds of lettuce. Of couse, red lettuce is brassica not lettuce; and miners lettuce seeds don't look at all like lettuce seeds and so probably aren't lettuce either.

Red onion and green onion seeds went into trays as did asparagus seeds.

The rhubarb has started to show its head over the soil. As there is an abundance three plants were dug up and given to collegues. These were replaced with a different variety (Victoria) that were grown from seed last year (and kept in pots over the winter).

The tomatoes that were planted about 3 weeks ago (and I neglected to record) have germinated. They have grown to the size of a pin.

The brassicas planted a month ago need about another week before going into the patch.

Green-Peas

2010-08-18T18:56:00.000+12:00

Put 40 of the remaining soaked peas into a seed-raising tray in the green room

Ground Peas

2010-08-17T19:01:00.002+12:00

Put the peas into the ground. Two types, snow peas and regular peas. They were drained this morning then washed this evening before going into the vege patch. Basicly just mixed the compost into the soil with my hands and then pushed the peas into the mix to the depth of about 1cm. Lets hope we don't get any more frosts this spring.

Oh Peas!

2010-08-16T19:47:00.002+12:00

Last night took the Snow Peas and some regular Peas and soaked them overnight. Tonight drained the water and rinsed. Also took 2 barrowloads of compost from the compost heap and spread it over the vege patch where the peas will go (hopefully) tomorrow.

As there is already leaks and onions in that section of the vege patch, compost was spread around them. Note... Onions survive the winter just fine. With luck they'll split some time in spring.

Brassica Germination

2010-08-15T19:33:00.003+12:00

Planted 4 kinds of brassicas into one of the seed trays: Broccoli (Premium Green F1), Cabbage (Copenhagen Market), Cauliflower (All Year Round), Pak Choy (White Stem). The "plan" is to compare the seeds with the seedlings.

The Kohlrabu have germinated with nearly all peeking up out of the soil. Both the emerald and purple varieties have gerninated well.

The onions are showing signs of germination, but some are rotting. They get a white mold on them. I suspect that the seeds germinate then some mold sets in and they turn into little mold balls. None-the-less, it looks like enough will be successful to result in a first-round ready for planting in a week or two.

Kohlrabi

2010-08-09T19:14:00.004+12:00

It took no more then 15 mins, but I found the time! Planted 20 each of the Purple and Emerald Kohlrabi in one of the seed trays. With some luck the green room will get warm enough during the day for these Brassica to do their germinating thing.

The King's Package

2010-08-07T14:16:00.002+12:00

The seeds from Kings have arrived. Kings are very efficient. This year they got the oder exactly right too. Looking forward to pleanty of carrots later in the season.

Kings Seeds

2010-08-03T20:25:00.003+12:00

Just placed this year's order with King's Seeds (and got the 2 free packets for exceeding $40, by 70c). Tons of carrots this year as there's none left in my stocks. Trying a new kind of tomato and kohlrabi for the first time. An asparagus bed in going in this year too. So here's what I got:

Asparagus Mary Washington
Bean Blue Lake Runner
Broccoli Premium Green F1
Carrot Paris Market
Carrot Lubyana
Carrot White Belgian
Carrot Purple Dragon
Cucumber Marketmore
Kohlrabi Emerald F1
Kohlrabi Early Purple Vienna
Pumpkin Harvest Gold F1
Snow Pea Goliath
Squash Sunbeam
Tomato Lady Bug F1

Un-young

2010-08-02T15:39:00.000+12:00

Onion, that should have been.

Planted 3 trays of onion seeds, one of sweet red, one of italian long keeper, and the final of bollatana.

All the seeds were at least one year old and so the germination rate night be lower than expected.

There isn't a whole lot more that can be planted at this time of winter other than the brasicas.

Radish and Spinach

2010-06-02T20:18:00.002+12:00

To the vege patch was added perpetual spinach from Red Barn. Also planted some radish seeds - with the hope of slow growth over winter. In order of left-to-right (from front of patch) the radish types were Cherry Belle, Black Round, and German Giant.

That bed now has cauli and broccoli at the front (interplanted with Garlic) then spinach, then radish.

Start of new Season

2010-05-30T19:58:00.002+12:00

After a week of non-stop rain it finally cleared up yesterday. In went 6 cauli, 6 brocolli, and nearly 20 garlic. The garlic is saved from last year, but the others are from the shop - not from seed.

Bean there done that.

2009-10-18T18:53:00.005+13:00

Peas and beens from the last post were planted in the sprouting chambers the next day. 30 of the 40 peas have gerninated. The beans are beginning to germinate too. It appears to happen more slowly with beans than with peas.

Also (last weekend) planted leek seeds and strawberries seeds (seeds saved from last year's crop of alpine strawberried). Both were planted in pots in the green-room and both have started to germinate.

Plonked some old parsnip seeds into the patch along with turnip seeds (white and green).

Went to Nichols to get a small tunnel. After placing it over a small patch of the patch it was clearlt warmer inside than out (when you stick your arm in. To test it properly one of the punnets of 2 squash were transplanted from a pot into the patch under the tunnel. With some luck it'll thrive (the zucchini put into the patch died).

Weekend Pottyness

2009-10-04T19:38:00.003+13:00

Five of each of the two tomato varieties (Purple Calabash and Riesentraube) went out of the sprouting chamber and into pots. As did the Thyme, but they are tiny so three plants went into each of three posts. Strawberry Spinach also went into pots, one plant pot.

Soaking large seeds overnight for planting tomorrow:

Peas
Beans (Albenga and Borlotto)
Punpkin (Australian Seed Oil and Jack be Little)

Also planted remaining strawbetty spinach in the patch. The Zucchini in the patch is doing badly. It didn't help that is sonowed today!

Experiments

2009-09-30T20:08:00.003+13:00

Ginger! A celebrity chef on TV claimed that if you buy some ginger at the supermarket and plant it deep in a pot it'll grow (in the UK). Got some, planted it. Lets see if it'll work.

Also planted Orangeberry plant (Rubus Pentalobus) in the back by the blackcurrents. The hope is that they'll take over the bank and strengthen it. Strawberries om the same bank that were planted last year are doing well. Sunset Strawberries were going at the price of 6 for $12 at the warehouse. There are now 3 of those plants on the same bank. What happens if white and red strawberries cross over? Dunno yet.

Happenings

2009-09-30T20:04:00.002+13:00

Stuff has been happening but no time to blog.

Onions have gone into the vege patch a week ago as did a zucchini - which appears to be suffering already. Found some Cheddar Cauliflowers at the warehouse and got then into the patch too.

Into pots in the green room went miniwhite cauliflowers, zucchini, and riesentrabe tomato. All appear to be doing well.

Germination

2009-09-13T19:35:00.002+12:00

The seeds in the germination chamber have done so, and the squash in tops have germinated too. That is...

Squash
Tomato (both types)
Strawberry Spinach
Thyme

but the Coriander has not!

Three zucchini were potted into a large pot in the sun room.

Also planted some carrots, but using old seeds from two and three years ago. Instead of measuring the gaps between them and so on, there were just sprinkled over the surface of the vege patch and covered with a light dusting of soil. As it has been dry the vege patch also got a good watering.

Seed This Done That

2009-08-30T19:31:00.004+12:00

Finally manages to get some more seeds into the green-room. This time:

Squash
Tomato (both types)
Strawberry Spinach
Thyme
Coriander

The Zucchini have gerninated as have some of the cucumbers.

2009-08-30T19:31:00.001+12:00

DigDug

2009-08-23T19:48:00.003+12:00

Dug the second of the three beds. That's two of the three done, the third has cauliflower plants in it (one less as one of the green cauliflowers was had for dinner). Once the cauliflowers are all eaten the third bed will get a good work over as it wasn't dug through last year.

Went to nichols to get some compost. Purchased 10 bags of "Organic Compost". One bag per square meter was put onto the bed that was just dug over. Also used 100g per square meter of lime and 50g per meter of Nitrophospha Blue.

The three bed sizes are: 4.5sqm, 3.6sqm, and 4.7sqm.

Also planted some herbs, Coriander, LemonGrass, and Thyme.

Some Seeds Sewn

2009-08-08T19:57:00.005+12:00

Spent the evening getting the seeds of the plants for the sun room this:

Tomato
  Purple Calabash
  Riesentraube
Cucumber
  Mini White
  Marketmore
Watermelon
  Baby Doll

As well as some plants that need to be strong before being planted out:

Eggpant
  Black Beauty
Zucchini
  Black Beauty
Rhubarb
  Glaskings Perpetual
Onion
  Italian Long Keeper

Lets hope germination happens

State of the Onions

2009-08-08T19:54:00.002+12:00

The tree onions appear to be doing well. The chives died down and have re-emerged from the soil. The garlic is showing no signes of anything!

Kings Seeds Order Placed

2009-07-12T21:24:00.003+12:00

This year's order to Kings Seeds has been placed. Several seeds are left over from last year (such as cauliflowers) and so the order this year complements last years order. Its also time to expand into herbs (for the front garden). This year's "free seeds" are some flowers for pots by the front door

VEGIES:
Onion Italian Long Keeper
Cucumber Mini White
Turnip Tokyo White Cross
Radish German Giant
Tomato Riesentraube
Tomato Purple Calabash
Bean Albenga
Rhubarb Glaskins Perpetual
Carrot Nutri Red
Squash Lunar Selection
Pumpkin Jack be Little

HERBS:
Thyme English Winter
Lemon Balm
Coriander Spicy Asian

FLOWERS:
Dahlia Unwins Ideal Bedding Mix
Viola Pansy Jolly Joker

Tree Onions

2009-07-01T11:45:00.002+12:00

I was thrilled to see Red Barn selling Tree Onions. These neat plants grow their bulbs in the air where they grow until they get to big and the plant collapses causign them to bend over and touch the ground where they root!

In went the tree onions, as did some garlic, and some chives that have been sitting in the green room for a few months. I also bunged some sage in the same patch (not the usual vege-patch, this is a new herb-patch).

Onions

2009-06-14T22:10:00.000+12:00

An experiment with onions. While on holiday I read about onions needing long daylight hours before the bulbs form, and also that you can get them ready for planting early. So I planted a few punnets of seeds (bolotano and long keeper) to see if it works.

Garlic

2009-06-13T19:44:00.002+12:00

Nichols has garlic cloves for $10 a bag, or $2 a clove. There's a free patch in the front garden and as garlic is arguably a herb it can be planted outside of the patch. One clove will go in the empty patch along side some sage (that also came from Nichols).

Fresh Garden Vegies (and a cucumber too)

2009-04-14T15:26:00.005+12:00

Parsnips, Carrots, and Turnips for dinner. This is the first parsnip from the garden this season, they take months for grow. Turnips and carrots as usual.

Cucumbers grow well inside in Dunedin. This is the first from the vine, but there is at least one other that will do well, and a total of about 10 in early stages.

Onions

2009-03-28T19:39:00.003+13:00

Although not all harvested today, here's this year's onion selection. Red onion on the left and green on the right. The harvest was not as good as it might have been because the cabbages swamped the onions.

Purple Cauli

2009-03-28T18:48:00.005+13:00

Dunner during week. Purple Cauliflowers loose their colour when you cook them. Didn't expect to see cauliflowers forming at this time of year - they are more frequently seen in the vege patch in November. There are 2 white cauli on their way and a green one too. This year there's no rabbit to eat them all.

State of the Patch

2009-03-01T19:58:00.004+13:00

Strawberries

Cabbage

Beans

Cauliflower

Tonight's Dinner

2009-03-01T19:55:00.003+13:00

Tonight's (roast) dinner included the usual bank of roast vegies, tonight from the garden. We have two types of carrots and two types of turnips.

Lynda Hallinan's Cauliflowers...

2009-02-22T19:40:00.003+13:00

This week's "get growing" email form Lynda Hallinan has the usual ten things to do this weekend. Number seven is to plant cauliflower. Nothing to write home about, except that Lynda has got her hands on some Cheddar Cauliflower. I saw a seedling of this a few years and have searched Dunedin (and the Internet) many times since, but never seen another seedling. Lynda's came from the "Zealandia" range but, as to be expected, a search of the Internet gets me no closer to finding one. Perhaps the solution is to write to Lynda and ask where she got it from.

Rhubarb Rharvest

2009-02-01T21:55:00.006+13:00

Rhubarb from the patch harvested today. 3.5lbs in total, and it hardly made a dent on the plants. 2lbs went into the freezer and 1.5lbs will go into a crumble tomorrow.

Good Bad Ugly

2009-01-28T19:18:00.003+13:00

After removing all the green turnips and a ton of weeds the bed on the left was somewhat empty. Of the parsnips planted, only 3 (or was it 4) germinated, all from Niche (none from Yates). Not many carrots had germinated either - perhaps all because the irrigation system had somehow been turned off.

What to do with an empty bed in January - plant with winter crops. A new row of parsnips went in and the spaced between the plants filled with new seeds. The same with the mixed coloured carrots, and a new row of Red Barron orange carrots (thats a row of mixed colours a, a row of orange, and filling the gaps with mixed colours).

The row of white turnips was filled too.

Finally, a few days ago 4 brussel sprout plants were planted out into the brassica bed. It looks like the brassica bed is doing well, lets hope for success over winter and into summer (thankfully the rabbit hasn't been seen all summer).

As for the ugly - the cos lettuce have started to bolt. One more was harvested today. Thats 3 for the season. Seeds in the green room have germinated so more soon (hopefully).

TurnipTime

2009-01-28T19:12:00.003+13:00

Four kinds of turnips have been growing in the patch this year, the Red, Green, White, and Purple. Of these the best are the red and white, followed by the purple. None of us like the green much. Here's a pic of the pick.

Onions and Radishes

2009-01-07T21:43:00.002+13:00

After getting a fresh bag of Yates Black Magic seed raising mix it was time to see if the cause of the onion germination problems was the potting mix. Other onions this year have been germinated in Yates Thrive. In went one seed tray worth of the borettana onions, 40 seeds in total.

Out of the seed tray of thrive went one borettana and one red onion into the patch. As all the radishes have been eaten, so too did three rows of radishes, two of the watermellon radish and one of the black radish.

On the topic of watermellon, some have germinated as have cucumber. Probably too late for this season but they'll be kept inside in the hope of someting good happening.

Pick of the day

2009-01-06T20:10:00.004+13:00

Brasicca Beds
Planted and ready for the winter. With some luck they'll take root and be hardy enough by the time the snow comes.

Rhubarb
Perhaps time to start harbesting?

Borlotto Beans
Flowering is nearly over and the pods are beginning to form.

Zucchini
Finally the first Zucchini is in flower. Lets hope a bee finds a way to do the necessary.

General Comments

2009-01-02T16:43:00.003+13:00

Spend the day today (and yesterday) weeking and taking stock of the vege-patch. Here's the run-down:

Nearly everything in with the rhubarb was smothered by the rhubarb. The exceptions being the artichokes which are quite some way from the rhubarb.

We ate the red turnips before going and planted new ones which have germinated.

Carrots are growing slowly.

The strawberry spinach has grown to about the size of a fingernail.

The parsley did nothing and hasn't even germinated.

Finally, planted cauliflower in seed trays before leaving and planted 17 green cauli and 15 snowball cauli into the patch yesterday.

Three of four zucchini germinated and were planted out today.

The black raddish didn't germinate, the othes went to seed, but are good none the less.

Harvested a lettuce today - tates good.