Garden share collective June 2014

Once again another month has rolled by and it is time to link up with  Lizzie at   strayedtable for our monthly collective where we share what has happened in our gardens for the last month and what we hope to be working on for the next month.  Wrapping up May and heading into June.


Last month I wanted to work on:

Seed tape .... I did make seed tape, and did a tutorial on the processs - you can see it here.  It was fun, and worked well, expecially with kids. Mostly though I see a space and throw a few seeds in.  I can see myself doing it at the beginning of a planting season.
Worms ..... I have been adding a little of the worm castings every time I plant something, and as a side dressing when plants seem to need a bit of a boost.  It does seem to help.
Sitting .... plenty of that - I like the new (original) location of the swing where we have a long view of the garden. - veggie garden is just around that corner....

Eat veggies out of the garden .... so far we have not been flooded with veggies.  I think it is all the rain - and no sunshine.   This weekend the sun was shining and we took advantage and had a lovely walk on the beach - I know it is not a gardening photo, but it shows you a little more of the area where we live.  This was a sea fan that had washed up from the great barrier reef.

I have been eating salad greens, baby lettuce, amaranth, rocket, bok choy.  I also continue to make sprouts in my lovely sprouter from MrFothergills - this is the best way to make sprouts, you can make as many or as few trays as you like.  I now stagger them, so that I am not flooded with them all at one time.  I also add herbs to my salads, basil, parsley, oregano, thyme and mint are all doing well.

Moon planting... I am aware of moon planting, and loosely stick to the theory that as the moon is waxing we should plant above ground crops, so plant leafy lettuces, silverbeet, eggplant and tomatoes.  Supposedly the moon forces will bring them up from the ground with great vigor.  Now that the moon is waning I began to look at crops that grow underground.  I have trouble with radishes forming long leggy roots, and have been wondering if I should loosen the soil somewhat for my root crops.  I try to adhere to not disturbing the soil too much, but maybe the amount of rain we have compacts the soil..  I dug to the depth of the garden fork in a couple of places to see if that will make a difference.  There are lots of lovely worms, so the soil looks good.  I planted out beetroot and radishes, and if they grow up good and strong then I think that might be something I need to be doing.

 The squash that I planted into the upturned grass seem to be doing well, and the volunteer cherry tomato alongside looks as though it is on steroids.    Lots of little flowers and tiny fruit, so I think next month I will be reporting a much bigger harvest

 I moved some eggplant seedlings into the wicking bed, and hope they start growing a bit quicker as they seem to be rather slow growing.  Everything got a good drink of seaweed tea last weekend, so there are no excuses.

 I found this praying mantis in the garden, he is a good bug - he can stay, but the grasshoppers quickly get squashed between my crocs.

To do in the next month:
General maintenance, filling in empty areas, harvesting.
Entertaining in the garden now that the weather seems to be improving.
Get ready for my trip in July and August to see my new little grandson in America.  :)

 Look at these lovely little feet, I will be playing little piggies with those toes soon!