Summer Planting

I finally got around to some summer planting today. My garden is going to be a little late this year with having been away. I haven't even had a chance to buy some seedlings to plant yet.

Other than a 50c parsley plant I purchased at the school festival. My parsley all died (hard to keep potted plants alive when you're away for 3 months).

While I was out in the garden, I transplanted a few strawberry plants and threw a few seeds in the ground, hoping for the best.

I planted:

* butternut pumpkins
* cucumbers
* zucchini
* beans

Plus I'm attempting to grow some tomato seeds in the window sill (not confident we'll get far).

I still plan to purchase some seedlings but figured it was worth making a start.

Now just keeping my fingers crossed some of them grow.

Last year I had that much trouble with slaters eating my seedlings. I'm hoping I don't have the same trouble this year but I guess we'll have to wait and see.

And the ground is surprisingly dry for how much rain we had. Not a good sign.

Strawberries Galore

Image via Wikipedia

Is there an abundance of strawberries around this year? Because everywhere we go we're finding Strawberries being sold cheaper and cheaper. Yesterday I saw 4 punnets for $2!!!! I've NEVER seen them that cheap!!!! We're almost at the point now where we can hardly keep up with eating them!!!!

I think this trip may well go down as the "strawberry trip". :)

Strawberry Farming

I've always wanted to visit a strawberry farm and pick my own strawberries. All those rows and rows of strawberries are enough to make your mouth water!!!! So, now that we're visiting the sunshine coast, we've had a chance to visit a strawberry farm and pick our own strawberries. I'm so jealous though! Wish I could grow strawberries like this:


We noticed that the farm was using some kind of wrapped soil to grow the strawberries in. It keeps the strawberries clean but I'm guessing it also helps to keep the soil moist? Perhaps we'll try that. I guess our extreme temperatures don't help either.

Mmmm.....there is nothing like strawberries still warm from the plant:

The Lightening Plant

I have seen this plant growing many places from the Whitsundays and above:



I have no idea what it's called but I've nicknamed it "The Lightening Plant" because it's PINK!!!!

How awesome would it be if I could grow this in my garden back home. I must ask someone what it is. Anyone know?

It's so pretty, isn't it? :)

Preparing the Garden For Rest

Last week I finally got around to pulling up the remnants of the summer garden and spreading a nice thick layer of pea straw mulch over my beds so that they can have a nice little little rest while we're away. Hopefully, the straw will compost down and leave me with a lovely bed that's ready to produce well for the next summer garden I plant.



In the meantime, my compost bin is overflowing. I suck at making compost but I chucked it all in there anyway (yeah, I suck because I don't do the whole "layering" thing quite right) in the hopes that it'll break down over time (it has to eventually, right????).

Kev's Patch

Bloggers around Australia are calling for the Prime Minister to start his own vegie garden. This has come about after much publicity about the Obama's planting a garden at the White House. Apparently the Queen has followed suit.

The things is, if he starts a vegie garden now, does he simply look like a "copy-cat". It would have been great if he'd started the big world "vegie patch" revolution. That ship has kind of sailed now though hasn't it?

Not that I think the idea of the PM starting a vegie patch is a bad one. Just that it shouldn't be for a political stunt. Not to mention the fact that he'd likely have to PAY to have it done.

Instead, why not put some of that cash he's been throwing around into a program that encourages home gardening? Perhaps a basic gardening course that gives all participants some free seeds/seedlings and other suppliesnto get started on their own garden?

There's no doubt that the home garden is making a comeback. I'm sure there are "political points" to be made in this area. I'm just not sure the PM growing his own garden will make that much difference.

Then again, I could be wrong.

What do you think?

* Image courtesy of Kev's Patch Blog

Final Pickings

I've picked the last of my tomatoes. They're starting to be a bit soft because of the cold but are still quite tasty. I am absolutely ASTOUNDED to be picking tomatoes in JUNE!!!! Awesome!!!! We've had about 6 months worth of pickings from 1 planting of tomatoes. I can't really plant any earlier due to late frosts and it would seem from this year's experience that there isn't a lot of point in planting any later plants.

I did plant 2 varieties this year (okay, technically last year when I planted them but you know what I mean) but I think the Mighty Red did a lot better than the other variety (the name of which escapes me right now) so I think I'll try them again next summer.

The single zucchini plant I planted late has produced well and finally come to a halt.

I'm still picking lettuce and will continue to do so until I get around to mulching the garden before we go away (which I'd better hurry up and do given we leave in 3 weeks).

I'm going to miss the little surprises my garden brings me while we're away. :)