Well it’s harvest time – grapes that is and I’m down in Marlborough camera in hand in the ‘thick’ of it. Wonderful place to be, plucking sauvignon blanc grapes from the vines and munching away on the succulent berries as I dart amongst the greenery taking pics for Toi Toi. Perfect!
It’s time for another The Garden Share Collective update. A monthly community of like minded garden bloggers who put pen to paper to share their vege patches with all those interested – the trials and tribulations of growing your own! Thanks Lizzie.
I was at home this morning, motoring around watering gardens, talking to plants, hoisting out weeds, checking on seedlings that got poked in the soil yesterday – celery, basil (yes I know wrong time of year), lettuce and dill.
Our garden is still feeding us daily. Spring onions, herbs galore, lettuce leaves, chillies, spuds, kumara, walking and red onions, fruit and lots of it! Lovely stewed with a small amount of water, honey and now ripe juicy persimmons are thrown into the pot too. Ah heaven!
The fig harvest has been a monster this year. Wow! This lot went into the freezer this morning.
Another sneak peek into one of my cloches, the growth in one week is surprising.
Lucy, second x Dorpa, big on personality and size!
Dora, a Lavender Sussex waiting patiently for breakfast
My glorious garden with pest protection!
And just because I can .. snapped this phone in Marlborough. Quick ring someone.
Things to do
There is always loads to do.
Fertilise the garden especially the brassicas and peas which have just busted through the dirt
Prune the stone fruit trees, underway (good girl)
Olive harvest – hopefully end of April. Phew, this is going to be a LOT of work
Watch out for slugs and snails
Keep the water up to the gardens, autumn is often dry in Auckland
Shoo the turkeys away. Why, because they ‘really’ annoy me
That’s it … apologies for a hurried post. And as always
Happy gardening
You know, Julie, we still dream about the wonderful NZ wine! And it’s so hard to get around here. Nice to meet some of your animals. Do you have lots? Didn’t know you could freeze figs – we’re just eating last year’s jam. Enjoy your harvest 🙂
Not many animals Annette. 2 plump sheep and lots of chooks. First time I have freezed figs raw, fingers crossed. So enjoying being involved with harvest. Just climbed down from a harvester .. Wow! 🙂
Are they Adriatic figs? You can definitely freeze figs to use in jams and puds and things like that. Yum! Your pest protection is fabulous. I haven’t gone near brassicas this year because the pesky white butterflies always get inside the netting. Grrrrr. I might still try broccolini though and give my homemade net cages another go 🙂 ..Gorgeous garden as always.
Hey Sarah … gosh I have no idea if they are Adriatic figs. I poked a stick in the ground a few years ago and ‘hey presto’. Just adore figs with marscapone. Oh don’t give up on those brassicas, get yourself some frost cloth works a treat. Those homemade cages sound interesting. Would love to see a pic! Cheers Miss
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! I think I need to look into a cloche. It looks like yours is working perfectly. Lucky you heading over to Marlborough. We were there at Christmas. Such a beautiful place.
Hey Krystie thanks. You must get a cloche, they are amazing! Seedling saviours. Loving being in Marlborough. I need to stop eating grapes! 🙂
Some really great photos. I am totally jealous of your figs for the freezer, I can’t wait to have my own. We just bought a couple more to plant out, I just know that they take a bit of time.
Thanks Lizzie. I can’t get over our figs this year. And yes they take a wee while. But do worth it!
I love seeing your part of the world. Thank you for sharing!
Hey Roberta .. hope you are good. Always great knowing you have dropped by. 🙂
You have such a gorgeous garden!! Things look they are doing well under their little covers as well!
Hi thank you. Those covers are the best! Your garden is looking superb …
Gorgeous photos. Lots of colour in the garden and I love the sneak peak under the cloche! I am looking forward to trying out my own new mini greenhouses on my raised beds 🙂
Hi Angela. Thank you. Love lots of colour. Your mini greenhouses sound brilliant – would love to see a pic! 🙂
Here you go, they are the rectangle one in the bottom image. Very good materials, given how cheap it is:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/home-living/outdoor-garden-conservatory/greenhouses/auction-713473550.htm
Thanks heaps Angela, will check it out! 🙂
I picked a size that meant the whole frame sat inside my raised bed frames. Now, I just need cold weather 🙂
Lol
Love the photos and very envious of your fig harvest. We moved our fig last year – it was overshadowed by a large tree and was pretty unhappy so we’ve put it on a south facing wall and hope it will flourish. One day I may have enough figs that I have to freeze some, but it may be a long wait.
Hey Anne… I can’t believe the fig harvest that we have had. Amazing .. we are so lucky. Incredible when this tree has had no TLC at all. Ah, just goes to show! How is your garden?
More great pics of such a productive garden!! Wonderful figs ….. and …. I love Lucy!!
Hi Brenda … thank you! Yes the garden is still feeding us and those figs are just the best. Lucy – larger than life! LOL
Oh I love your garden! Add to that your gorgeous pics of your garden and all your wonderful produce. Mmm, those figs looks so good.
Must email and ask you about the Sussex chookies. I will do that 🙂
Have a fabulous time at your harvest!!
Hey lovely .. thank you! Those figs are just the best. Yes happy to help with the Sussex chooks. More pics on the way. LOL
Thanks so much for your reply Julie 🙂
All good Robyn .. hope I was of help! 🙂
Yes!!!! 😀
I love that spring is just starting here and you are harvesting, it gives me hope of what is to come! Hopefully that means we will have a good fig year here as well!
Hey Kate .. Fingers crossed for your figs? We are harvesting feijoas now and lots of them. Love your pics ..
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Very inspiring – and what a lovely sheep, she’s quite a looker! (And I’m not just saying that because she’s a Lucy, like me 🙂 ) Good reminder about protecting veg – I think the kids have adopted some of my cloche hoops for den building, I will have to reinvest!
Hi! She is a looker, even if she us a tad plump! Glad that you are a cloche fan, even if you need to reinvest! 🙂
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The white butterflys are driving me barmy, swarming all over my lovely new brassica seedlings, so it was perfect timing to read about cloches Julie! Gorgeous photos and a great read as usual – keep up the great (and inspiring) work !
Hey Sue, you have to try a cloche or plastic tunnel house. They work a treat .. Thanks so much for your comments Miss!