Welcome to our summer garden … controlled mayhem or something like that.
The garden has gone berserk in the last month – loads of growth, lots to harvest and pests to share it with.
I don’t think I have ever known a year with so many flies .. horrible! And while there may be a dearth of paper wasps, there are loads of bumble bees. Sadly there are also loads of those sneaky green shield beetles, which are loving my tomatoes and beans!
Harvest
There really is nothing like home grown vege and fruit. Something very special about growing and eating your own … funny it always seem to taste better too. Now why is that? I do know that given the amount of seaweed and comfrey tea that I splash about – our produce is certainly nutrient dense. Nice feeling ..
We have been munching on spring, red and Egyptian Walking onions, garlic, squash, zucchini, herbs, cucumber, beans galore, tomatoes, beetroot and lettuce.
Nothing like making a salad using stuff hauled straight from the garden and washed of course.
Speaking of tomatoes, my plants are really disappointing this year, they have early blight for starters, have been hammered by summer winds and are now playing host to green shield beetles. I have decided I’m not growing them next year … yes I have thrown my toys out of the cot.
Our garden isn’t the only thing that has been providing us with super tasty treats. There has been buckets of peaches which are so sweet and juicy .. lovely to eat raw, or stewed served with muesli or baked with a crumble topping. Superb!
Of course we aren’t the only ones that think the fruit is terrific. I’m still battling with the wild turkeys who I’m sure think our orchard is their local supermarket!
There is fruit ripening … Damsons, persimmon, quince, crabapple, apples, Black Boy peach, guavas, figs, feijoas, olives and an assortment of pears. Time to think about preserving, freezing and making some more delicious Damson vodka.
To Do
So what is there to do in the garden? Lots! Always weeding, feeding and watering. I’m also standing by and watching things grow. I even broadcast some phacelia today which is a wonderful plant to use as a cover crop and also provides tucker for those lovely furry bees. Time to poke a few more salad plants in the ground and I might even haul out the dwarf beans and replant.
Well this is my first post for The Garden Share Collective for 2014, I just love being part of this group of gardeners who like me … love their gardens.
Have fun in yours!