Garden share collective, heading into March

 February was a very short month, and with the heat and humidity here, I have really only ventured out into the garden when absolutely necessary.  It is time to catch up with Lizzie at the Garden share collective, and see how everyone fared with huge amounts of rain - normally it is us that have huge amounts of rain!
 We normally dont have to water at all at this time of year, but I have been giving the garden a  good drink once or twice a week, if we havn't had any rain.  I want my plants to develop deep roots.  I keep spreading out compost as a mulch so that will keep the moisture in the soil as it breaks down.  The shade cloths also keep the garden soil cooler.
The main purpose during the wet season is to make sure that the soil is covered and the plants that grow now get the moisture they need.  This is also the season where there are lots of bugs, some I dont even see, but I certainly see the chewed holes in the leaves.
 My red papaya is showing signs of flowering.  It is supposed to be a bisexual plant, I have never had one before so am interested to see what happens. I think it will have both male and female flowers.  I have lots of the common yellow papaya coming up everywhere.  I wait until they flower to see if they are male or female.  You only need one male for a whole yard of female plants.

 Ginger is popping up everywhere, and I dont mind - Once the weather cools down I can harvest it and grow cherry tomatoes in that area, although I still keep a small bed of ginger growing year round.   Any extra carboard get placed over the ground.  Anything to stop the insiduous weeds taking over, and try to keep the moisture in the soil.

Eggplant and green beans are doing well right next to each other, although I still havent seen any beans, so not sure what is going on there.  I have been spraying with seaweed and a little sulphate of potash over the whole garden to see if this spurs on a bit of production. 

The back part of this bed, around the avocado tree was taken up by sweet potato, I have not grown sweet potato for a few years as it needs to be grown in a different area each time.   I am not sure when I will be able to start harvesting it - I vaguely remember the potatoes popping up out of the ground - is that how you know when to harvest?  I dont want to harvest them all at once.  We call it bandicooting when you scratch around and harvest as needed.  I asked a friend and she said sometimes it takes a year before you get sweet potatoes.   So out into the garden I went, and dug up half the bed, laid down a bit of chicken manure (also added a few bits of charcoal), then covered it with cardboard.    The grandkids want to grow corn,   Since corn needs sunshine and is wind fertilized this might be the best area for the corn.  We might make seed tape as they really enjoyed doing that, and it keeps the corn evenly spread out.  No I did not spend hundreds of dollars on a new food processor - I found one at the market - previously loved :)  

 When I was working on lowering the level on my paths I discovered the roots of the asparagus going right into the path, so I extended that bed out a bit, and widened the path on the opposite edge.  It really just neatened things up a bit.  The asparagus was cut back, a couple moved because of overcrowding, and some cardboard laid down.  This will be mulched with seaweed.

 The avocado is still not happy - it looks as though the leaves are wilting, but it has been getting water, maybe not enough?  Are they water hungry?

 The okra has gone crazy since I moved a worm bucket over there next to it!    So far I have only had one measly little okra.  I just took a quick peek at Lizzies post and her okra looks awesome!  It must be all the rain she has been having!

 A good spot for greens might be under the barbadoes cherry as that has grown a lot this last year, providing lots of shade, and I know lettuces do better in the shade.  I have enjoyed a few cherries, but they are few and far between.  Arent the blossoms pretty?  I might be getting a few more as every day I see more and more blossoms. 

I noticed a blurry spot on these photos - it was probably a drop of sweat!   

   

March is still technically the hot and humid wet season so I will plant some corn mid to the end of the month.  I will also try some bok choy and rocket under the cherry tree and see how it goes.

It is a big month for me - on the 19th I turn the big 60!  A friend said this is referred to as old age, so I guess I am moving out of middle age.  I just hope all the gardening keeps me younger than my years .