Salad Days

Last couple of days we have experienced high temperatures 34C & 39C so I was up early in the morning making sure all in the "Plot" was well watered and mulched including the salad greens, some of which I've made covers out of shade cloth to protect them from the harsh sun.

                                                                            
I have been inspired by both VP and her wonderful 52 week Salad Challenge and LIZ over at suburban tomato so much so that I'm well in front at this time of the year with assorted veggies well established and producing than I have ever been.

First up we continue to enjoy salad greens picked nearly every second day, red /green oak leaf , Cos, Rocket and Mizuna.

                                                                               
Plenty of herbs, Mint, Parsley, Dill and Basil some of which I keep handy on the window sill.
Easy to tear off a mint leaf and add to a cool refreshing drink or chopped and added to potato salad.

                                                                               
While checking the garden I came across my very first pepper ! and in December !!! I'm so excited !!

 Also in the Plot     Roma and Ru de marmande tomatoes             Butter nut pumpkin
                               Eggplants                                                         Cucumber
                               Beans, Red snake, dwarf((brown beauty),butter beans, borlotti,
                                Climbing (blue lake) Italian Romano.
                               Seedlings of lettuce , freckles and more red and green oak leaf.
                                Zucchini Romanesco     (which preformed very well early this year) 
                               Cabbage. (unknown variety) but growing very well.  

Things were looking a little different a few weeks ago, some leaves on the tomatoes a bit yellow and plants altogether just not looking the best.....
I did a little reading and decided to water in some sulphate of potash and the difference is amazing.
Does anyone else find it useful?

If you have time over the Xmas break head over to VP   and be inspired by others joining the 52 week salad challenge.  

                                           Happy Xmas to All. !!!                            

Harvest Monday

My last Harvest Monday post for the year includes two Surprises, but firstly a big THANK-YOU to

DAPHNE for hosting her weekly Harvest Monday , although I have missed quite a few weeks I've enjoyed following and picking up gardening, preserving and cooking tips along the way.

The first surprise was my Green dragon broccoli ready to harvest after a very long 5 months.........

                                                                              
 
                                                                                

My second surprise this week was nearly a disaster as I was trimming back all my rosemary hedges using  electric hedge trimmers, when I came across a well hidden little wren nest ......

   
I have been checking each day to make sure all is ok and today the first of the chicks has hatched, little mouth wide open waiting for a feed.........................

                                                                              
         Meanwhile dad announces the new arrival..................

Happy Gardening !!!
Happy Christmas!!!

                                                                                                                                                     

Harvest Monday

Harvest Monday is hosted by inspiring gardener DAPHNE over at daphnesdandelions, its a day to share what you have been harvesting,cooking or preserving from your patch.

Over the weekend I pulled up the last of the garlic and yesterday cleaned and sorted it ready for storage.

The smaller bulbs went into a net bag and the others plaited ready for Xmas gifts.

It's been a bumper crop this year , kitchen, laundry and shed have garlic hanging every where and yes garlic's on the menu in some form most nights!!

My cherry harvest wasn't so successful as last years, I did get the net up in time but unfortunately a bird got in some how and had quite a party !!

 

 

  Considering the lack of rain over the last couple of months I'm pretty lucky to even get half a basket.

This lack of rain is a bit of a worry both our dams have dropped quite a bit, unfortunately I can't use this water for the garden as it may be needed for fire fighting later in the summer.
We do however have a bore so each week we are filling up a large tank on the trailer which we then park next to the veggie patch, it has a petrol pump and hose so I can water the patch twice a week.
Lots more mulch has been added to the beds and shade cloth covers made to place over some veggies during the hottest days of the week.    Beans seem to be loving  the heat , all seedlings growing well and reaching for the stars, keeping my fingers crossed no little bugs get them !!

Last of the weekly harvest has been herbs which are preforming really well with the extra care, we have been enjoying lots of basil, parsley, mint  and dill.

                                                           Happy Gardening!!

Harvest Monday...............

 

Oh so quick to pick .........

 

 

And so sweet to eat............

 

Also harvesting this week broad beans, red onions, lettuce and more garlic.

 

 

 

Old Black chook welcoming the new chicks on the block

 

 

Sharing the joys of growing and harvesting with Daphne  and many others from around the globe.