Hard to believe that the first month of 2015 is behind us now. I'm guessing that could be because it is summertime and time does seem to pass by quicker than it does in the colder months.
The garden is enjoying the milder, wetter summer that we have had this season and so am I. It's so much easier to work when it isn't too hot. Our top temperature here on our farm in the New England was 36.9 degC which is pleasant for summer. The minimum was 11.3deg C which is quite good too. January's rain total was 130.5mm and I would love for this trend to continue because everything grows so much better with rainfall.
The zucchini plants are growing quite well. Not too many are getting away from me and becoming giants. I planted this yellow one later so it's just coming on now and I'm glad. The colour alone is enough of a reason to grow it.
Cucumbers are slightly out of control. This one plant of Large White has at least 10 cucumbers needing to be picked today. I made some pickled cucumbers this morning but I still think the chickens may have to assist with disposing of the excess. That's ok, I have to feed them anyway, it might as well be organic vegetables that cost me not much more than my own effort.
The
Mexican Sour Gherkin cucumbers / cucamelons aren't helping with the cucumber glut any. These little gems however are a perfect snack while working in the vegie patch. Crisp, crunchy and just slightly sour.
Eggplants are performing well this summer. I did sow a number of other varieties but all of my colourful aubergines didn't germinate this time around. The purple/ black ones are delicious enough but I'm going to try extra hard next spring to grow some of the white and green varieties.
The milder temperatures and conditions means we have peas and beans at the same time. Usually I grow my peas over the winter but there are many self-sown peas in the garden not only growing but thriving and producing a small but welcome crop.
Snake beans are the bean of the moment.
Planting
I don't think I planted much in the vegetable garden in January. If I did, I can't remember. I did plant a number of native shrubs along the driveway to satisfy the planting bug.
In February I'll be sowing:
- beetroot
- carrots
- radish
- lettuces
- swedes and turnips
- chard
- Asian greens
- broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- cauliflower
- leeks and onions
- cabbage
Harvesting
- tomatoes
- herbs
- corn
- zucchini
- capsicum
- chillies
- beans
- peas
- eggplant
- cucumber
- honey
To-do in February
- weeding
- seed sowing
- mowing
- compost turning
- preserving the summer harvest
The
Garden Share Collective is a group of bloggers who share their vegetable patches, container gardens and the herbs they grow on their window sills. Creating a monthly community to navigate through any garden troubles and to rival in the success of a good harvest we will nurture any beginner gardener to flourish. Each month we set ourselves a few tasks to complete by the next month, this gives us a little push to getting closer to picking and harvesting. The long-term goal of the Garden Share Collective is to get more and more people gardening and growing clean food organically and sustainably.
The
Garden Share Collective runs on the first Monday of each Month
Thanks for the inspiration to share my garden
Lizzie.www.strayedtable.com
tracy