A few of our vegie beds earlier this arvo:

Beetroot, lettuce and carrots. Sowed 2 rows of mesclun mix and transplanted a heap near the beetroot. Still need to thin them out though.

http://s125.photobucket.com/albums/p70/beaver_album/?action=view¤t=beetrootlettuceandcarrots.jpg

Carrots and swedes. Again direct sowing, and some thinning done, but I think I am going to have to get ruthless and do some more.

http://s125.photobucket.com/albums/p70/beaver_album/?action=view¤t=carrotsandswedes.jpg

Climbing snow peas and dwarf sugar snap peas

http://s125.photobucket.com/albums/p70/beaver_album/?action=view¤t=climbingsnowpeasanddwarfsugarsnap.jpg

Fig grown from cuttings taken 2 years ago from a firend’s tree, planted out last year, Variety unkown

http://s125.photobucket.com/albums/p70/beaver_album/?action=view¤t=cliffsfig.jpg

Fig grown from cuttings taken 2 years ago from a tree on family farm. The original would be well over 50 years old, more like 60 or 70. The farm has been in our family for over 100 years, but looks like it will have to be sold. At least I will have something tangible to remember it by if this tree survives (actually have a few other cuttings from it as well which we will also plant

http://s125.photobucket.com/albums/p70/beaver_album/?action=view¤t=Glengargig.jpg

Tamarillo…starting to recover after being severely kncoked by frost and wind last year

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p70/beaver_album/th_tamarillo.jpg

Ooops! Forgot to trim the code

won’t be long before you’ve got yummy tamarillos. In my experience wind knocks them around a lot. large branches can split right off as they are very soft wooded, but they will crop prolifically if sheltered and well watered. Mine is still alive after our shocking summer but is severely defoliated and lost all of its fruit. In a previous year it I lost half of it due to wind so it is a sorry looking sight! Probably would have fared better if I supplementary watered it but trees in my back yard need to survive on rainfall on the whole – when we get it! Will get around to replacing it one day…

Watch out for aphids, they love living underneath those big leaves. I used to just spray them off with a hose (be prepared to get wet).

wow anne – that’s a big set of garden beds there.
look lovely and neat too.
great beetroot, carrots – and the little brassicas look well tucked into the straw
lovely – terrific – thanks.

pepe said:

wow anne – that’s a big set of garden beds there.
look lovely and neat too.
great beetroot, carrots – and the little brassicas look well tucked into the straw
lovely – terrific – thanks.

yep it does i reckon as well pepe, anne how many garden beds are like that 9-12?

AnneS said:

A few of our vegie beds earlier this arvo:

Now THAT’S what I call a vegie patch!! I’m jealous! You look like you could feed an army all year round!
Unbelievable set up!

veg gardener said:

pepe said:

wow anne – that’s a big set of garden beds there.
look lovely and neat too.
great beetroot, carrots – and the little brassicas look well tucked into the straw
lovely – terrific – thanks.

yep it does i reckon as well pepe, anne how many garden beds are like that 9-12?

I count 20. 4 rows of 5 beds.

veg gardener said:

pepe said:

wow anne – that’s a big set of garden beds there.
look lovely and neat too.
great beetroot, carrots – and the little brassicas look well tucked into the straw
lovely – terrific – thanks.

yep it does i reckon as well pepe, anne how many garden beds are like that 9-12?

we have 20 all told, but not all with vegies at moment. Going to green manure a few of them. We have very little in the way of an ornamental garden. Seeing as we are on tank water OH and son (who do most of the heavy work) only want a food garden.

We hope that one day we’ll be able to get the garden productive enough to be able to sell some of the vegies as well as keep us in all we need.

hortfurball said:

veg gardener said:

pepe said:

wow anne – that’s a big set of garden beds there.
look lovely and neat too.
great beetroot, carrots – and the little brassicas look well tucked into the straw
lovely – terrific – thanks.

yep it does i reckon as well pepe, anne how many garden beds are like that 9-12?

I count 20. 4 rows of 5 beds.

yep 20…2 lots 6 beds for rotation. one lot of 4 for perennials and another row of 4 the beginnings of another 2 lots of 6 beds for rotation

What a great vegie garden, Anne! I’m so jealous!! (Not really – there’s only 2 of us)

hortfurball said:

AnneS said:

A few of our vegie beds earlier this arvo:

Now THAT’S what I call a vegie patch!! I’m jealous! You look like you could feed an army all year round!
Unbelievable set up!

The good thing about living on 5 acres.

orchid40 said:

What a great vegie garden, Anne! I’m so jealous!! (Not really – there’s only 2 of us)

Ta Orchid. I just hope that one day we’ll get enough produce of decent enough quality to be able sell.

AnneS said:

hortfurball said:

AnneS said:

A few of our vegie beds earlier this arvo:

Now THAT’S what I call a vegie patch!! I’m jealous! You look like you could feed an army all year round!
Unbelievable set up!

The good thing about living on 5 acres.

ahh, what dreams are made of…

bluegreen said:

AnneS said:

hortfurball said:

Now THAT’S what I call a vegie patch!! I’m jealous! You look like you could feed an army all year round!
Unbelievable set up!

The good thing about living on 5 acres.

ahh, what dreams are made of…

Only trouble is it’s really hard to keep on top of things. I’ve been able to do a bit more this last few months, but quite often I am completely out of action when my back is playing up, and OH is often tied up with Fire Brigade and Scouts so doesn’t get to paly in the garden as often as he would like to.

I have to say that this has been the most productive year we have had so far (since er moved here in 2002)….the beds are gradually getting more fertile, and I’ve been more diligent with watering…also finally managed to convince OH of the value of mulch on vegie beds, not just on tress and shrubs. The soil was absolute crap when we first started, but lots of compost, manure etc it’s getting there.

AnneS said:

bluegreen said:

AnneS said:

The good thing about living on 5 acres.

ahh, what dreams are made of…

Only trouble is it’s really hard to keep on top of things. I’ve been able to do a bit more this last few months, but quite often I am completely out of action when my back is playing up, and OH is often tied up with Fire Brigade and Scouts so doesn’t get to paly in the garden as often as he would like to.

I have to say that this has been the most productive year we have had so far (since er moved here in 2002)….the beds are gradually getting more fertile, and I’ve been more diligent with watering…also finally managed to convince OH of the value of mulch on vegie beds, not just on tress and shrubs. The soil was absolute crap when we first started, but lots of compost, manure etc it’s getting there.

Where are you Anne? Just roughly if you don’t want to be exact.

Where are you Anne? Just roughly if you don’t want to be exact.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Near Nowra NSW

AnneS said:

Where are you Anne? Just roughly if you don’t want to be exact.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Near Nowra NSW

Goes off to do a Google map search to find out where on earth that is.

hortfurball said:

AnneS said:

Where are you Anne? Just roughly if you don’t want to be exact.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Near Nowra NSW

Goes off to do a Google map search to find out where on earth that is.

South Coast about 2 1/2 hours outh of Sydney. I’m half way between Nowra and Ulladulla

nice area Anne..

Looks like your horse goat or cow likes fig leaves

Do you nknow what the figs look like?

are they blue purple or black? Are they green(white) or brown? do they hang like a saggy scrotum or are they more globular?

roughbarked said:

nice area Anne..

Looks like your horse goat or cow likes fig leaves

Do you nknow what the figs look like?

are they blue purple or black? Are they green(white) or brown? do they hang like a saggy scrotum or are they more globular?

Now you are testing me…I honestly can’t remember what they look like…maybe green? Will let you know when they fruit. I am quite happy with how they are progressing, seeing as they most of the time have to survive on rainfall alone (although OH has been watering them by bucket a few times over the last few weeks.

And yes between the cows and the rabbits it is a bit of a challenge. I have one acacia longifolia that the cows regularly “prune”. Luckily they’re not in that paddock all the time. The landlord owns the land on both sides of the road so he moves them around fairly regularly.

I have to say that this has been the most productive year we have had so far (since er moved here in 2002)….the beds are gradually getting more fertile, and I’ve been more diligent with watering…also finally managed to convince OH of the value of mulch on vegie beds, not just on tress and shrubs. The soil was absolute crap when we first started, but lots of compost, manure etc it’s getting there.
———————————————————————

that’s typical of how my garden goes as well. your first year is your worst year. every year you add fertiliser and mulch, and every year the results get better – theoretically.

i’m envious of your snap and snow peas – mine haven’t been planted yet and yours seem to be well advanced. when did you plant them?

Well it may take a couple of years before you get any fruit at all but having grown thousands of figs per year from cuttings for thirty odd years, I have seen them fruit in that first year in the nursery. It may take up to four or five years before you get a decent crop that ripens properly.
If it is from a fig tree which is a known good bearer in your area then it should fruit as well as the parent.
Figs are very hardy and have an enormous fin fibrous root system which will ensure that the tree gets all the water within its range. once established they need little water to stay alive but do need a reasonably even supply to grow well and produce fruit.

Figs should proably also be on the noxious weeds list in some areas, namely near water because birds move the seeds around with ease and figs grow very easily from seed.

pepe said:

I have to say that this has been the most productive year we have had so far (since er moved here in 2002)….the beds are gradually getting more fertile, and I’ve been more diligent with watering…also finally managed to convince OH of the value of mulch on vegie beds, not just on tress and shrubs. The soil was absolute crap when we first started, but lots of compost, manure etc it’s getting there.
———————————————————————

that’s typical of how my garden goes as well. your first year is your worst year. every year you add fertiliser and mulch, and every year the results get better – theoretically.

i’m envious of your snap and snow peas – mine haven’t been planted yet and yours seem to be well advanced. when did you plant them?

many peas can be grown from late summer on in cooler areas.

pepe said:

I have to say that this has been the most productive year we have had so far (since er moved here in 2002)….the beds are gradually getting more fertile, and I’ve been more diligent with watering…also finally managed to convince OH of the value of mulch on vegie beds, not just on tress and shrubs. The soil was absolute crap when we first started, but lots of compost, manure etc it’s getting there.
———————————————————————

that’s typical of how my garden goes as well. your first year is your worst year. every year you add fertiliser and mulch, and every year the results get better – theoretically.

i’m envious of your snap and snow peas – mine haven’t been planted yet and yours seem to be well advanced. when did you plant them?

now you are testing me…slack person that I am I forgot to record it….but I think it was about 3 weeks ago…probably too early for her..but we’ll give it a go. We more often than not miss out on winter plantings cause we are so disorganised….but this year thanks to this forum we have started to get our act together earlier (also our son was home for a few days in late february and he prepared most of the beds for me

roughbarked said:

pepe said:

I have to say that this has been the most productive year we have had so far (since er moved here in 2002)….the beds are gradually getting more fertile, and I’ve been more diligent with watering…also finally managed to convince OH of the value of mulch on vegie beds, not just on tress and shrubs. The soil was absolute crap when we first started, but lots of compost, manure etc it’s getting there.
———————————————————————

that’s typical of how my garden goes as well. your first year is your worst year. every year you add fertiliser and mulch, and every year the results get better – theoretically.

i’m envious of your snap and snow peas – mine haven’t been planted yet and yours seem to be well advanced. when did you plant them?

many peas can be grown from late summer on in cooler areas.

but we are probably a bit too warm…fairly mild winters here. Last year we only had 2 frosts (although that is unusual).

AnneS said:

roughbarked said:

pepe said:

I have to say that this has been the most productive year we have had so far (since er moved here in 2002)….the beds are gradually getting more fertile, and I’ve been more diligent with watering…also finally managed to convince OH of the value of mulch on vegie beds, not just on tress and shrubs. The soil was absolute crap when we first started, but lots of compost, manure etc it’s getting there.
———————————————————————

that’s typical of how my garden goes as well. your first year is your worst year. every year you add fertiliser and mulch, and every year the results get better – theoretically.

i’m envious of your snap and snow peas – mine haven’t been planted yet and yours seem to be well advanced. when did you plant them?

many peas can be grown from late summer on in cooler areas.

but we are probably a bit too warm…fairly mild winters here. Last year we only had 2 frosts (although that is unusual).

Your peas should grow fine then you tend to generally be cooler than me.. but i probably get a lot worse frosts than you.
Here the average is 35 consecutive frosts that average at -3 being coldest.
Our extreme records are.. 75 consecutive frosts and -10 being coldest

now you are testing me…slack person that I am I forgot to record it….but I think it was about 3 weeks ago…probably too early for her..but we’ll give it a go. We more often than not miss out on winter plantings cause we are so disorganised….but this year thanks to this forum we have started to get our act together earlier (also our son was home for a few days in late february and he prepared most of the beds for me
—————————————-
good answer – i never bother to record the details of crops either.
if you have a good crop of peas it will be interesting to see what happens to them. will they all be eaten raw off the vine i wonder?
you probably have the space to plant a succession crop now – and test your future marketing process – snow and snap peas would sell.

roughbarked said:

AnneS said:

roughbarked said:

many peas can be grown from late summer on in cooler areas.

but we are probably a bit too warm…fairly mild winters here. Last year we only had 2 frosts (although that is unusual).

Your peas should grow fine then you tend to generally be cooler than me.. but i probably get a lot worse frosts than you.
Here the average is 35 consecutive frosts that average at -3 being coldest.
Our extreme records are.. 75 consecutive frosts and -10 being coldest

We don’t go below zero very often. Most winter days have a max about 15C..or a bit less

pepe said:

now you are testing me…slack person that I am I forgot to record it….but I think it was about 3 weeks ago…probably too early for her..but we’ll give it a go. We more often than not miss out on winter plantings cause we are so disorganised….but this year thanks to this forum we have started to get our act together earlier (also our son was home for a few days in late february and he prepared most of the beds for me
—————————————-
good answer – i never bother to record the details of crops either.
if you have a good crop of peas it will be interesting to see what happens to them. will they all be eaten raw off the vine i wonder?
you probably have the space to plant a succession crop now – and test your future marketing process – snow and snap peas would sell.

That’s the plan pepe…our rotations have been a bit out of sinc of late, but we are now getting organised with that, and will have the succession planting in the adjoining group of 6 beds…I also have some greenfeast peas to sow

Would it be too early to sow Red Onion or should I wait until winter like the Diggers seed packet says? I already have Early Barletta and Hunter River Brown in and am about to sow Creamgold. If it’s not too early I’ll sow the red onion too. I’ve always direct sown onions, but maybe they would go ok if I sowed them Reds in ounnets first?

pepe said:

now you are testing me…slack person that I am I forgot to record it….but I think it was about 3 weeks ago…probably too early for her..but we’ll give it a go. We more often than not miss out on winter plantings cause we are so disorganised….but this year thanks to this forum we have started to get our act together earlier (also our son was home for a few days in late february and he prepared most of the beds for me
—————————————-
good answer – i never bother to record the details of crops either.
if you have a good crop of peas it will be interesting to see what happens to them. will they all be eaten raw off the vine i wonder?
you probably have the space to plant a succession crop now – and test your future marketing process – snow and snap peas would sell.

In the past that is exactly how we have eaten the peas. We did have some pea seeds given to me years ago by my mum….they were descended from seeds that had been brought out to Australia by my great-great grandfather and had been handed down through the generations..and in our family were known as “generation peas”….they were like a pale colour version of a snow pea, had a beautiful purple colour. They tasted beautiful. The last couple of years they lost a bit of vigour and last year we really didn’t get any decent ones to store. I only have a few left, but I will try to get them going again. Would be sad to see the variety die out considering its historical significance for my family

this is a vexed question – because the experts are hot on early and late planting times for onions.
i grew my red onions last summer and they were/ are good. i always plant them in seed trays first.

had a beautiful purple colour.
+++++++++++++++++++++
I meant purple flower

AnneS said:

In the past that is exactly how we have eaten the peas. We did have some pea seeds given to me years ago by my mum….they were descended from seeds that had been brought out to Australia by my great-great grandfather and had been handed down through the generations..and in our family were known as “generation peas”….they were like a pale colour version of a snow pea, had a beautiful purple colour. They tasted beautiful. The last couple of years they lost a bit of vigour and last year we really didn’t get any decent ones to store. I only have a few left, but I will try to get them going again. Would be sad to see the variety die out considering its historical significance for my family

it would be a shame if they were lost. this is exactly what “heirloom” seeds are all about.

bluegreen said:

AnneS said:

In the past that is exactly how we have eaten the peas. We did have some pea seeds given to me years ago by my mum….they were descended from seeds that had been brought out to Australia by my great-great grandfather and had been handed down through the generations..and in our family were known as “generation peas”….they were like a pale colour version of a snow pea, had a beautiful purple colour. They tasted beautiful. The last couple of years they lost a bit of vigour and last year we really didn’t get any decent ones to store. I only have a few left, but I will try to get them going again. Would be sad to see the variety die out considering its historical significance for my family

it would be a shame if they were lost. this is exactly what “heirloom” seeds are all about.

Yes that is true…I will try to resurrect them. They were from my Dad’s family and it was a couple of years after he died that Mum gave them to me….another reason to try to salvage then

roughbarked said:

Well it may take a couple of years before you get any fruit at all but having grown thousands of figs per year from cuttings for thirty odd years, I have seen them fruit in that first year in the nursery. It may take up to four or five years before you get a decent crop that ripens properly.
If it is from a fig tree which is a known good bearer in your area then it should fruit as well as the parent.
Figs are very hardy and have an enormous fin fibrous root system which will ensure that the tree gets all the water within its range. once established they need little water to stay alive but do need a reasonably even supply to grow well and produce fruit.

Actually the one grown from the cuttings from a friend’s tree did have some fruit, but I removed them after having read on the forum and elsewhere that it better for fruit trees not to fruit in the first year to improve their vigour.

The tree that the chewed leaf one was taken from, (the very old tree on the family farm) was very gnarled and neglected. No-one has been living on the farm for a few years now and it was pretty much only in survival mode when I took the cuttings in April 07

AnneS said:

bluegreen said:

AnneS said:

In the past that is exactly how we have eaten the peas. We did have some pea seeds given to me years ago by my mum….they were descended from seeds that had been brought out to Australia by my great-great grandfather and had been handed down through the generations..and in our family were known as “generation peas”….they were like a pale colour version of a snow pea, had a beautiful purple colour. They tasted beautiful. The last couple of years they lost a bit of vigour and last year we really didn’t get any decent ones to store. I only have a few left, but I will try to get them going again. Would be sad to see the variety die out considering its historical significance for my family

it would be a shame if they were lost. this is exactly what “heirloom” seeds are all about.

Yes that is true…I will try to resurrect them. They were from my Dad’s family and it was a couple of years after he died that Mum gave them to me….another reason to try to salvage then

if you are not confident about keeping them going you could see if Diggers Club would be interested.

if you are not confident about keeping them going you could see if Diggers Club would be interested.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
That’s a thought. Or even Seed Savers…there used to be a local branch in Ulladulla

I only need 4 seeds if you want me to try and do something with them. More if you have them.

My garden is totally open pollinated and I usually grow everything at different times in different places.

roughbarked said:

I only need 4 seeds if you want me to try and do something with them. More if you have them.

My garden is totally open pollinated and I usually grow everything at different times in different places.

Thanks rb…I might be ok…will get back to you

AnneS said:

if you are not confident about keeping them going you could see if Diggers Club would be interested.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
That’s a thought. Or even Seed Savers…there used to be a local branch in Ulladulla

yep seed savers locally would be good.

in 30 years of growing i remember losing
- giant single bulb russian garlic – a gift from a friend
- my moms 7 year beans – sometimes called new guinea beans

i can’t get them back but there are so many heritage seeds that i could probably get close.

Some beetroot picked this morning. This particular crop has the best sized beets we’ve ever grown. The big one on its own measured 11cm in diameter. It’s cooking now. Yum!

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p70/beaver_album/th_P1010385.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p70/beaver_album/th_P1010389.jpg

Oops stuffed up again!

See if I got it right this time. I always seem to have travel trouble when I try to use the thumbnails!

Obviously not.

http://s125.photobucket.com/albums/p70/beaver_album/?action=view¤t=P1010385.jpg

http://s125.photobucket.com/albums/p70/beaver_album/?action=view¤t=P1010389.jpg

If this doesn’t work too bad the little one will have to do! :(

they look good Anne :)

bluegreen said:

they look good Anne :)

Thanks BG. If they taste as good as the last lot I’ll be one happy traveller!

AnneS said:

Some beetroot picked this morning. This particular crop has the best sized beets we’ve ever grown. The big one on its own measured 11cm in diameter. It’s cooking now. Yum! http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p70/beaver_album/th_P1010385.jpg http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p70/beaver_album/th_P1010389.jpg

they look the perfect size and age for eating. well grown.

tried raw grated beetroot?

has to be one of the best foods under the sun.. can be eaten in salads and used lightly cooked in many dishes. yummy stuff.

roughbarked said:

tried raw grated beetroot?

has to be one of the best foods under the sun.. can be eaten in salads and used lightly cooked in many dishes. yummy stuff.

No I haven’t, but I have baked it

roughbarked said:

tried raw grated beetroot?

I like to add it to coleslaw

bluegreen said:

roughbarked said:

tried raw grated beetroot?

I like to add it to coleslaw

Jamie Oliver has a delicious coleslaw recipe using beetroot. The sauce is particularly tasty (from memory I think it’s mostly yoghurt)

AnneS said:

roughbarked said:

tried raw grated beetroot?

has to be one of the best foods under the sun.. can be eaten in salads and used lightly cooked in many dishes. yummy stuff.

No I haven’t, but I have baked it

I grate mine to pickle them, for a change. Just looks nice on the salad plates.

bluegreen said:

roughbarked said:

tried raw grated beetroot?

I like to add it to coleslaw

I make a great salad with grated raw beetroot, grated raw carrot, grated granny smith apple, some lemon juice, a splash of olive oil and chopped coriander leaves…Yummo!

hortfurball said:

bluegreen said:

roughbarked said:

tried raw grated beetroot?

I like to add it to coleslaw

I make a great salad with grated raw beetroot, grated raw carrot, grated granny smith apple, some lemon juice, a splash of olive oil and chopped coriander leaves…Yummo!

That’s sounds yummo alright…haven’y got any apples nor coriander at the mo so that one will have to wait :(