Garden Share Collective - wrapping up March

Time to link up with other gardeners around the world for the end of March Garden Share Collective.  All the best Liz for a safe and healthy delivery, next month we will have an extra little host.....  thanks for continuing to host this for us avid gardeners.
Harvesting
I am mainly harvesting herbs right now, and seem to have been able to maintain a few herbs throughout the year which is really nice.  Garlic chives are in flower, and look so pretty.

 Parsley, which I use a lot of, struggles through the wet season, but I had a couple of little pots make it through, so will continue to keep some in pots, and maybe the ones in the besa bricks will last through as well.  The main thing is to have good drainage. My little herb pots that I planted for my stepsons are filling in - the parsley seed is taking its time though as usual. The pots were atually started peeling around the top edge, so I scraped that off and painted a lip around the top.

The lettuces that I sowed as a quick in between crop are almost ready to start harvesting - I snip the outside leaves as they continue to grow.  Baby lettuces.
Joy of joys I also have an eggplant!  This plant has struggled in the other wicking bed, and suddenly without any warning started to produce this lovely dark orb of goodness.  I hope this is just the start of good things to come.  I have started some more eggplant seeds - am pretty sure this wicking bed can support two plants.  I know I can definitely gobble down what two plants produce.

I have been growing sprouts in my new multi-tier sprouter, and have really enjoyed that. I grew snow peas  as microgreens in the top, and they do so much better inside than they did outside, but still not the lush growth that others seem to manage..... Here the snow peas are in the lower layer, but I will add the spicy mix to our salad tonight and then the snow peas will move to the top to shoot up unrestricted.  First I grew the smaller sprouts for sandwiches, and then I grew some mung beans and lentils which were awesome in a  frittata.  While my garden struggles through the bugs and humidity I can still grow some lovely organic greens.... I got my sprouter from MrFothergills
 The snow peas out in the garden are certainly happy. Yum.




Last month on my to do list was my big shopping trip

Hanging strawberry pots - I bought these small pots that fit flush against the fence, and they are self watering (have a little reservoir of water at the bottom).  Once I started re-potting I realised that from 2 plants I now have five.... the dichondra looks pretty hanging down from the pots, but I hope their roots dont interfere with the strawberries, so far they seem happy.  I grew those from seeds, I am always impressed when a tiny seed produces something.


Soaker hose - gosh have you ever tried to remove an old soaker hose?  It went under plants with huge root systems, and there are areas where I didn't want to disturb the plants, so just cut it off and left it there... Where it crosses the path I have just wound it with electrical tape so that I am not watering the paths.  No need to try it out yet though as it never stops raining.   I am glad the drought stricken areas to the West of us are getting rain, the farmers are happy once again.
I used up lots of mulch, and planted out two herb pots, and got my veggie seeds in.

This little garden helper is hanging onto my leftover from last years tomato plant - hopefully by next month my new tomato plants will have a few tomatoes on them....


To do for the next month

I hope this next month will contain lots of harvesting.  The best way to garden in the tropics is to grow intensively and harvest early, I just hope I haven't started my planting too early..

Comments

  1. Love your little garden helper!!
    Your garden is looking lovely as always. I having been wanting to try wicking beds - did you use a polystyrene box?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kim,
      He is cute isnt he? Yes I used thee polysterene boxes here is the link to how I did them. http://africanaussie.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/wicking-pots-and-worm-bed-system-for.html

      Delete
  2. what a beautiful chive flower. i am surprised it is not covereed in bees.
    so lovely to see your lush garden, and that you are starting afresh with some crops - like tomatoes! my tomatoes are winding down; it hasn't been a great season.
    and i keep forgetting to take my camera with me to show you the snake beans dad is raising from your seeds. they are quite surprising looking vines!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unfortunately we dont get that many bees - I have been interested in setting up a native bee hive. I am hoping this is going to be a good season, you never can tell ahead of time can you? I am glad the snake beans are doing well - just goes to show how versatile they are that they can grow in Tasmania.

      Delete
  3. All seems well in your garden thus far....I'm so happy for you that you're finally getting eggplants...enjoy.
    Viewing your photos has given me more inspiration to plant more microgreen salad seeds...thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Virginia,
      I dont know what made the difference - maybe more water with all the rain? I am loving growing them in the sprouter rather than outside with all the bugs :)

      Delete
  4. I'm really in awe of your productive garden! And it looks so beautiful too. How big is it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Catherine, I really wouldnt call it poductive! The veggie section including the herb spiral is probably 10ft by 25ft - I really should measure it out one day....

      Delete
  5. Wow you garden is very productive. I had garlic chives a few years back, they never germinated. I will have to look out for seeds for the future. I've never been able to grow aubergines, ever. So just focus on tomatoes and chillies in the greenhouse, maybe even cucumbers. As I am growing again, I am hoping this yeah we can compare notes :) Loving the little green garden helper, brings a smile to your face.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great Shaheen that you are gardening again, some years are better than others, but it is always worth a try. Garden chives are almost a weed in my garden - I suppose the seeds scatter everywhere with the winds. If you were here I could send you some seeds.

      Delete
    2. I went to a Farmers market this w/e and picked up some wild garlic chives, the herbs to eat but not to grow. If I lived near you, I would have asked for a clump for my garden :) Gonna have to look out for seed packets local now.

      Delete
  6. After looking through this post, I'm much inspired to start a garden with edible greens. I'm looking forward to planting my own vegetables, herbs and some fruits in my new garden.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stiletto I really enjoy growing lettuces of all kinds, especially close together and then picking the leaves when they are little.

      Delete
  7. Dearest Africanaussie;
    Oh, as always you are doing fabulously in your garden and pictures are wonderful, too♡♡♡
    Thank you SO much for stopping by♪

    Sending you Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yah for your eggplant! Hanging strawberrry pots are great, I love mine! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope it now continues to produce more fruit, and not just the one! I think I have found the perfect place for my strawberries.

      Delete
  9. Soaker hose is something I really need to invest in for my garden too. And how cute is your little helper. Good luck with you new plants and hope the harvests great next month.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have been very happy with my soaker hose, especially when I realized how long it lasted. Definitly looking forward to some fresh goodies this month.

      Delete
  10. You may want to pick your eggplant, he looks rather glossy and ripe. You are lucky to get one, they don't tend to like loads of water. They thrive on heat, sun and little water. As soon as the rain's have come my eggplant are in struggle town, the flower production has decreased mind you I have also had bugs in them too. Otherwise your veggie patch is looking pretty lush.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Liz, I saw some green stripes and thought it might not be ripe yet. lucky the bugs dont seem to like my eggplant.

      Delete
  11. I loved your garden helper What a cute idea

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

I love interacting with all my readers, thank you for your comments. Have a great day!

Popular posts from this blog

Up-cycling fabrics

Slow stitching and creative mending

Walking the Camino