January 2015 Garden Share Collective

This month the garden is totally bursting with growth and produce.

While trees such as our peach trees have been incredibly successful,

we have also had our share of failures and mediocre crops.

There are only 5 mangoes on one tree, none on the other mango tree.

Only one avocado tree has set fruit, but this crop will be huge.

Delicious, sweet, luscious peaches.

The first snake beans have just been picked.

This bamboo tripod of snake beans will continue to flower and produce beans for about 3 months.

We are growing purple, yellow, white and Japanese eggplants.

Each variety had a distinct flavour and texture.

I prefer the sweet Japanese ones while a chef friend loves the yellow ones.

This is our third planting of lettuce plants since Spring started,

we need to sow the new ones every 6 weeks before they go to seed.

The first grapes are turning red but we have only half the amount of grapes set

than what we had last year.  The dry spring we experienced could have contributed to this factor.

It is disappointing but we will enjoy what we reap

(no wine will be made this year).

We are growing Sugar baby and a striped variety of watermelon.

The sugar babies are nearly full size but are yet to ripen.

We will eat these in February while the striped ones will take longer to grow.

Shallots, green and red compete with grass to grow tall and strong.

My soy bean plants have grown incredibly well and the lovely young pods are delicious when boiled.

There are Green beans, Italian beans, Lima beans, yellow beans and borlotti beans growing happily together.

Capsicums, an integral garden vegetable are always welcome.

Here is a mingled mess of spinach, marigolds, chillies and leeks.

Not every garden has to be tidy and neat.

Some recently picked tomatoes, this has been a great tomato growing summer!

Chilli bushes, every garden must have at least one.

Jalapenos, I have dried them, pickled them and chopped them to add to fresh salads and dishes.

These red shallots were left too long and they grew into delicious, small red onions.

Their flavour is amazing.

The olives on the trees are growing bigger :D

Pretty chive flowers, a delight to view and to eat in your salad.

There have been so many strawberries, blackberries and loganberries this season.

While it has been dry for the grapes, these berries have blossomed.

These are the highlights of my January garden, if you enjoyed viewing this please have a look at the other Garden Share Collective members gardens hosted by Liz at Strayed from the Table.

Enjoy, Merryn xx