Garden at the start of October

 

*Yawwwwwn*

Time to come out of hibernation. I have been slack for the past three months - not only has it been winter - we have been waiting eight months for a start on our extension next to the veggie garden.

Which has finally happened.

One of the holdups was that it was just too wet to get any equipment onto the site, but last week it finally happened. Concrete sawn, concrete removed (above), and now a new slab has been laid.

By next month's report, we should have a serious garden shed (and extended living). And a bit more shade on the veggie garden - can't have everything.

So, here we go.  It is that time of month again, when gardeners across the country, and across the world, report on their activities, as part of the Garden Share Collective. This is kindly hosted by Liz at Strayed from the Table.

One of the really good things about these reports is that I can now look back at the one for the same time last year - and I am definitely ahead with my plantings. Which may be because my Beloved has looked at climate records for the last few years, and promised me that there were no frosts recorded here in September. I even found there were very frosts at all this year - one on April 25th, and several in August, but that was it. Bit of a worry.

Here in my Gippsland (southern Victoria) garden, this is the last time I will be able to take the same shot from the back step.

You can tell I don't dress my garden up for the photos, can't you? :)

The two front beds had various manures (sheep, horse) dug in at the start of winter, and have sat there under folded shade cloth for three months. Digging them over, the worms are stunning.

This is my major experiment for this year - two cheap Bunnings arches (one I already had) and some very fine black bird mesh (hopefully little wind resistance) and we have a bird-proof tomato house. Will be interesting to see how it goes. About a month ago, Grosse Lisse, Roma and a single cherry tomato went in there. Still needs a few more stakes on the Romas though. The net is getting hard to find - Bunnings have discontinued it.
Already in - seedlings of Grosse Lisse and Roma tomatoes, one cherry tomato.

Planted last month
2 x capsicums(orange, and a pimento - more to come), pus the tomatoes.
Beetroot seed (up and thinned)
Apple cucumbers (3)

Planted today (start of daylight saving - more garden time)
Radish seeds
Mizuna seedlings
Pumpkins (four combo seedlings) potted on, Greek pumpkin seeds planted. Haven't tried them before.
Spring onion seedlings
Transplanted wild rocket
Broadcast lettuce seed (do a bit every few weeks now)

To be planted tomorrow
French bean seedlings
Carrot seed
Climbing bean seed
Carrot seed (Chantenay red-cored)
Parsnip seed

A win!
Celery- months ago, before winter, I put the base of a bunch of celery in a bowl with a little water, until it developed small roots. It went out into the garden, where it just sat.
Suddenly, it is moving and starting to look like real celery.

 

So, celery being a gross feeder, I have tried some Sulphate of Ammonia, and I will see what happens.

Harvesting
Lemons and Limes
Broad Beans - I have the usual problem with them being too tall - they may not be in there much longer, as they are shading the garlic.

 Plus various onions, carrots, lettuce, perennial spinach (removed a few plants - you do not need many when there is only one eating it.)

I'm off to lurk to see what others have been doing as they post.