It was the most gorgeous day yesterday but I was desperate to get this post done .. so I was indoors busily typing. It’s time for another Garden Share Collective update, where a group of global garden bloggers put pen paper to share their veg patches with all those interested. If you get a chance, pop on over to Lizzie’s blog from Strayed from the Table … she is the girl behind this beaut initiative! Thanks Lizzie …
So what’s happening at Frog Pond Farm. Lots!
Our gardens are coming along nicely .. there is plenty of growth in those salad beds. Nice plump lettuces, sorrel heading for the sky, I have even started taking the laterals off the tomatoes. The zucchinis are now sporting long green shafts and big happy yellow flowers, the potato plants are spilling out of their garden, the beetroot is sporting plenty of greenery – here’s hoping there is action in the dirt too!
I thought that some 4 legged critters had eaten all the bean seeds that my brother had planted in situ a few weeks back. Seems I was wrong .. the seeds have germinated and some of them have already grabbed the trellis and are hauling themselves upwards. Fabulous!
It goes without saying that the Egyptian walking onions are doing famously as are the red onions sharing that same bed. And yes, I hauled out most of the self seeded stuff from this space.
Moving down to the orchard .. sadly the majority of our peaches aren’t doing terribly well, six trees in particular. I’m not sure what the problem is, but the trees are not looking happy and have lost a lot of fruit. The pears also aren’t sporting much fruit this year, although they are looking very healthy. Our gorgeous quince tree has lots of furry fruit attached and the Damson plum is loaded. The Luisa plum has lost lots of fruit which is a shame – something to do with the spring winds no doubt. And even more disappointing are our olive trees. I’ll be very surprised if we have much of a haul next year, and to be honest, I have no idea why. Certainly not from lack of TLC – they get loads of that. I haven’t checked the apples, persimmon or the figs, but the feijoas … oh my we are going to be eating them in everything. A bumper crop!
Damson plums – Whoops this pic is of Luisa plums sorry 🙂
Bon Chretien pears
Quince
The sheep are looking very glamorous and cool in their new outfits …. Our chooks while missing their buddy Collin, have settled down and the pecking order has resumed. Surprise, surprise we have another clucky hen, which means performing the usual meal time ritual, lifting her from the nest while she squawks indignantly. Gladys is doing a terrific job with her 6 chicks. It is looking like we have 2 roosters and 3 hens. Not bad! I have also been letting them out for a run around the backyard which they relish … look out flower garden!
Too much fun being a chick
Harvest
The salad garden is providing us with lettuces. We have rocket growing in a pot by the back door and this is particularly yummy stuffed with some salmon in a sandwich and don’t forget the hummus. Spring onions and herbs always make the plate and as I’ve been cooking a lot of Asian food lately, our lemon grass has a starring role. I have a wonderful array of herbs growing, all the old favourites of course and others like horse radish, chervil, marjoram (growing in the chilli garden), garlic chives and Vietnamese mint.
The garlic will be hoisted from the dirt in the next month. While it is showing rust (something to do with the volumes of rain we have been having) and is slow to send up the flower stalks, I have checked a few of the bulbs below the soil and they are coming along nicely. Yay!
Garlic flowers …
Of course, we are still eating last year’s garlic – just, and there is also a few Egyptian walking onions sitting in store. I have been missing out on the odd strawberry as something else appears to have been helping itself.
To Do … here is the list!
- Fertilise the veg garden
- Weed
- Tie up the tomatoes and remove the laterals
- Throw about more mulch in the raised beds the birds have been having a ball chucking it about
- Rip out more of the wandering jew which is eagerly attempting entry into our forest
- Do the same with the bind weed, which does a brilliant job of wrestling our canna lilies to the ground
- Keep an eye on the cucumbers so they don’t clamber over other plants in the raised beds (fat chance I have over planted)
- Trim the chooks wings to stop them flying over the gate and into my veg garden
- Spray my roses with seaweed fertiliser and swear that I will never grow roses ever again in Auckland, the blackspot is out of control already
- Watch out for turkeys making themselves comfy in the orchard
- Crank up the weeding
- Start thinking about Christmas
- Stop spending time in my garden just staring at the flowers
- Grab more green shield beetles from their hiding places and feed to the chicks (they love ‘em)
- Find a really good recipe for muffins (hint hint)
- Tidy up the bananas and give them lots of TLC and fertiliser
- Make sure that the yacons don’t overcrowd my pumpkin as they are sharing the same bed
- Stand back and watch the worm wood grow it appears to be on steroids!
- Find those slugs that are munching on my heirloom beans …
There is lots to do … and I wouldn’t want it any other way! I’m a sucker for punishment.
My brother left yesterday. I shall miss him. He is such a special person and a great bloke into the bargain.
I hope there is lots happening at your place, and that you enjoyed your visit to mine!
Happy gardening!