Sunday 31 August 2014

Last day of Winter Garden Share Collective

This past week with the longer days, and plenty of rain, all crops are blooming.
So too is the chickweed - shame we can't train the chickens to eat chickweed (what a funny name).


Here we have growing lettuce, broccoli and silverbeet in neat rows, growing taller than the weeds.



So many seedlings growing, from seed to become strong, ready to plant out into vegetable beds.


Snow peas and soy beans (edamame) growing with an upright support.


One big issue we faced is the amount of weeds
growing through the strawberry patch.
I forklifted up each strawberry plant,
removing the weeds and placed the strawberry
plants in foam boxes until their bed was totally
weeded, topped up with soil and ready to be replanted.



Charming silverbeet (spinach)

The aloe vera is very happy as it is flowering, a pretty orange sight. 



Produce we picked this week. two custard apples which will ripen now picked
a big bunch of bananas and the ever present luscious red tomato.

The nectarines are ripening early this year, probably because winter was so mild.

Broccoli side shoots
More lettuce


 I planted some pretty Heartsease in my herb garden to add colourful delight. 
These are so pretty, and also, edible.

I hope you have enjoyed my garden, as much as I enjoy gardening.
Please stroll around the other
members of the Garden Share Collective hosted by Liz
and be delighted by the spring gardens you can view.

Bon appetito, Enjoy Merryn


22 comments:

  1. Everyone who has posted so far has commented on battling weeds -- they're a huge hassle at the moment aren't they? I love the heartsease in your herb garden.

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    1. The rain was great but it definitely encouraged the weeds. Yes, the Heartsease is a sight for sore eyes.

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  2. Not sure where you are but I was wishing our season for growing cold start a little earlier :D

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    1. I am on the mid north coast of New South Wales, halfway between Coffs Harbour and Sydney. Gardening is so seasonal and I am happy for Spring's arrival today.

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  3. I wonder why they call it chickweed? It sort of makes sense if chickens eat it! Your garden is as always blooming and impressive :D

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    1. Thanks Lorraine we enjoy our garden, but the pesky weeds have become a bit prominent lately.

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  4. Such an amazing array of food you are eating out of your garden at the moment! We aren't seeing a lot of action here in chilly Tasmania. Hoping for some growing weather soon:)

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    1. You have great fruit trees and so much does grow well in Tasmania, but yes we are lucky Spring comes earlier here :D

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  5. That heartease is so pretty, like little smiley faces, now that is very aptly named!

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    1. Thanks I love the Heartsease, I will probably never eat them as they are so adorable :D

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  6. It's weed time again! some of our weed comes from outside and under the planter boxes, couch grass and kikuyu, which destroys everything. we have been forced to remove all our grass paths around the garden to try to eliminate this takeover pest. Lots of good seedlings at your place. Francesca

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    1. I agree Francesca the weeds are everywhere. The rain however has been great and at least the vegetables are flourishing and hopefully growing taller than the chickweed.

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  7. Hey Merryn ... gosh you have got so much growing. I can't imagine getting a nectarine at this time of the year - let alone some tomatoes. Your weather must be nice and mild. Heartease are just lovely - they always look great in my veg garden. :)

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    1. I have never grown the Heartsease before but they are a definite forever plant now. Yes we are lucky to have a mild winter and Spring has arrived beautifully :D

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  8. I feel your pain about the strawberries, we have ours in black plastic for that simple reason that it helps keep the weeds at bay. Just note, from your message on my blog, we are in Amberley, New Zealand (not QLD_). Consequently we are still getting frosts, and it could yet still snow. My daughter was born 19 September in 1 foot of snow!

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    1. I might try the black plastic idea, as the weeds are obnoxious. Thanks for clarification I will ahve to google Amberley NZ now. I can't imagine having 1 foot of snow, but your frosts will soon pass :D

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  9. My my, as always super jealous of your garden, so much food. Looks like you have plenty of planting out to do this month with all those seedlings. Look forward to checking back next month to see what spring delights you have to show off. I am hoping for mulberries at my place Happy Gardening

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  10. I will be pleased to see your mulberry trees fruiting. Thanks, for stopping by my garden :D

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  11. Your seedlings are looking fab Merryn and as always I have a tinge of envy, but mostly admiration for your wonderful tropical harvests. The weeds drive me nuts too but at least at the moment they are really easy to pull out as the soil is soft from the rains we have had.

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    1. Thanks Kyrstie, and I agree the weeds are annoying but once you start weeding - you just can't stop, so it must be a healthy addiction :D

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  12. i am envious that you have 'ever present luscious' tomatoes, merryn! you have so much going on in your garden. and the seedlings hold such promoise. just wonderful.

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  13. I would happily give you some tomatoes E. Seedlings are like little babies as we happily watch them grow to maturity.

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