Autumn is here

Turns out my capsicum plant that went in last Oct is actually a chilli plant so right now I have more green chillis than I can manage, Apart from share them around can anyone suggest what I can do with a crate of green chilli? I believe they freeze well but is there something I can use them for now?

My asian greens are featuring very prominently in tonights stir fry. Along with organic sensational rump from sam the butcher! I am loving this garden.

Received my free seeds and bundles of garlic from diggers this week, so this weekend I will plant. Patrice Newell was an inspiration for me so I will try my own garlic crop this year. Shop bought garlic is plain disgusting at the moment.

Water tank fixed and season change

After a period of having to 'pay' for water we are now back to tending the little growers with the rain that gathers in our tank, the pump is fixed and I suspect the tank quite full through lack of use and generous rain lately. The Diggers catalogue came last week and I have already gone online to order my seeds, a fig black genoa tree and lots of garlic. Patrice Newell supplies ran out ages ago and I will now attempt my own.

Have made yet another salad from the garden today, had it with two fried eggs from our 'girls'. Small quantities of my asian style lettuce, rocket, radicchio, parsley, basil and mint all mixed up together and supplemented by spinach leaves. Beautiful to look at and bloody good to taste.

And another cucumber

Today I harvested my third cuc in about 4 weeks. Some beetroot seedlings went in and I removed all the lettuces that weren't at their best. There is a baby watermelon forming, ever so tiny. The chooks have been consistent, three eggs a day for months now, must be happy here! Autumn is here so time to think about what comes next.

Lush and happy

With the rain we have had and the abating heat the garden is very happy. I have taken two cucumbers, divine radichio lettuce and great herbs (parsley basil chives) from the patch of late and am ready to consider spring crops. These baby tomatoes were delicious.
The things that I wonder about, the baby watermelon vine as done nothing but flower and look good. I planted beetroot seedlings about 3 weeks ago and they don't seem to have grown at all, despite the perfect conditions.

February rains

After all that heat, the water tank pump breaking AGAIN, the infestation of hungry green caterpillars and lessons learned the hard way (if it's not in season DONT PLANT IT) I have to say the garden is looking great. The sound of the rain today has had me looking out to see if I can watch them grow, esp the cucumber and frilly lettuces. My Asian greens have survived the recent heat and I will be there for them from here on in. My zinnias and cosmos have been a pretty addition, but need controlling. I would love my very own field of cosmos for Christmas.

Time for more snail pellets I think and every day watching my green tomatoes gather on the bunch. One bubby one went red and fell off a few weeks ago and boy was she tasty. And the first crunchy divine cucumber, what a delight. You can tell I have never done this before can't you!

PLEASE HELP with Caterpillars

Green caterpillars are stripping my Asian greens. At first I could deal with a couple by checking daily and removing, now they are dealing with the rocket, and that is where I draw the line. Please help with a non toxic solution.

In comes the New Year

Today I got down and dirty spring cleaning the garden, like I did my pantry last week. All my lettuce (most of my lettuce) had gone to seed, LC thinks I didn't water enough, so I have been out there watering nightly since, thanks LC. Pulled the seedy lettuces, planted asian greens, new lettuce, added blood and bone into troughs about 5 cm away from new planting as per packet instructions. I am assuming adding it direct into the new planting soil is a bit full on?
Had great joy eating my first yellow bean today, it was so flavoursome. Raw and crunchy, just the way I like it..