Onion Seeds

After empyting all three seed trays they got a scrub and were submerged in hot water in an effort to kill the green slime that had grown on the edges. They were dried in direct sun light and left there for a while in the hope the sunlight would kill any remaining spores.

One tray was prepared with onions:

20 red onion
20 Borettana Onion

This time the seeds were placed on top of the potting mix and then given a dusting over with a tiny amount of mix. Last time they were burrried an not many germinated. This time the seed tray didn't get a soaking of water from above.

The Onions and Spinach Leek

Transplanted from the seed trays into the vege patch:

2 spinach (the first to germinate here ever!)
1 borettana onion (which within a few hours was mistaken for a week and half-pulled)
6 leek
3 egg plant

The whole patch got a good weeding (it needed it) then a row of root-parsley by the stratwberry spinach (the spinach plants are about the size of my thumb nail!).

Finally, by the turnips went in a row of coloured carrots (niche seeds) then a row of orange carrots (red barron from red barn a few years ago) and finally a row of white turnips (Kaiotes).

Beans
Borlotto fire beans around the bamboo tripod. Zucchini in the middle of the tripod. It looks like the beans are doing well.

Red Onions
These are last year's red onions re-planted. The stems are thick and strong and they are doing well. On the right are the cabbages also doing well




Rhubarb
Pleanty of rhubarb this season. All the plants appear to be doing well but some weller than other.

Carrots
Carrots have germinated, but are tiny.

Pumpk-in

After way too long in the sun room it was time to plant out the pumpkins that have germinated. One giant pumpkin and two shop pumpkin were ready to go. Imagine the surprise when a second seed showed signs of germination just when the tub was turned up-side-down to go into the patch.

So, into the brassica bed (because there was space there) went 1 giant pumpkin, 2 pumkkin, and 2 just germinated pumpkin.

Putting the Brassica to Bed

Time to transplant from the seed trays into the garden. 10 Brussel Sprout plants (3 rows) and 6 purple cauliflower (2 rows) went into the freshly dug over beds. The beds were not composted because after spending a day digging them over the energy to sift compost through a seive was missing. From that seed tray none (that' right, none) of the green cauliflower germinated, all the brussel sprouts germinated and all except one (or was it two) of the purple cauli germinated.

To my total surprise another pumpkin germinated. After however many weeks it has been they were about to get written off as a disaster. There are now 2 pumpkin and 1 giant pumpkin desperately awaiting transplanting into the vege patch.

Neta Rep at Mitre 10 Mega

The strawberries were looking a little sad in the summer heat and as they had not been watered in a few days it was time to extend the irrigation system to include them. As it happened, the strawberries are at the base of the blackcurrents which are on the path from the tap to the vege patch so the black tube already ran through the both! But what to get? They're on a bank with no form of support for up-risers.

Luckily the Neta rep was showing his stuff at Mitre 10 today. One of all the different forms of nozzles they have and telling everyone (well, me and one other person, there wasn't much interest really) how to use it all. A three plastic stakes and a some joiners was all that was needed and $5.41 later they're in the ground. The strawberries should be looking forward to a good drink tonight.

Strawberries

Anyone actually know the etymology of strawberry? There appear to be two theories, both claim Anglo-Saxon origins:

streawberige, meaning "spreading berry" (due to the runners)
streowberige, meaning "hay berry" (due to being ripe at the same time)

Anyone know the origins of my strawberry plants? Got six for a buck a piece at a local primary school fair. The are apparently white strawberries and like a relatively shadey spot. A quick Internet search suggests they are "alpine" strawberries (what ever that might mean), they are bird resistant (because they never go red) and that they flower and fruit all year round (yea, right). No runners so seed collection is a must (Strawberries should be on a 3 year plant replacement rotation).

The plants were planted out tonight on the bank under the blackcurrents as a ground cover.

Garden-Bound

Waiting to go into the garden was 2 white corn, 1 zucchini, and 1 pumpkin (seeds saved from a supermarket pumpkin). They now each have their own little part of the vege patch. With some luck the cold weather is over and they'll survive.

Spent some time trying to weed, but until the plants get large enough its hard to tell a carrot from grass. Still, did some, and will do more once it becomes obvious what's what. After the weeding came a feeding (of fertiliser).

Another pumpkin has germinated! Tons of brussel sprouts have germinated, as have a small number of cauliflower. More time is needed before they can go into the vege-patch but all looks good at the moment.

Art Gallery Talk

Lynda Hallinan's talk at the art gallery was as funny as last years. She started with a huge list of stuff she grows in her garden in Auckland (much of which (like organges) won't grow in Dunedin), and went on to give a list of eco-sins including her use of various chemicals. Perhaps the worst sin is driving one mile to work each day (thats the distance from the Unversity to the Octagon).

Just like last year she was giving away goodies. I managed to get a free copy of "Homegrown 3: Harvest Your Own Fresh Herbs". I think it is officially released on Monday. Its full of nice glossy pictures and recipies - but I've not had a chance to read it yet because I'm currently reading Homegrown 1, which arrived through the post a few days ago.

Anyhow, thumbs up for each of the Homegrown books, and if you ever get the chance to hear Hallinan holler, take it.