Garden Update - May 2014

What a difference a few weeks can make! Since we had the rain at the very end of March (about 100 mm) and then a top up of 30 mm in mid-April, suddenly everything is BRIGHT GREEN again and growing vigorously. Its not going to last long though, the nights are getting cool and the grass will die off as soon as we have the first frost, along with the frost-sensitive veges like tomatoes, potatoes and curcubits.

harvest basket in May 2014

In April I continued to harvest chillies, kale, tromboncino, various asian greens and herbs. And a few rosellas. I'm hoping I can harvest some more before they die off over winter. With the rain and cooler temperatures, lots of seedlings sprouted up around the garden, so I sprinkled out a few more seeds. I also planted carrots, turnips and radishes. The radishes should be ready to harvest soon.

A massive patch of parsley (which I have had to start thinning out!)
and behind that is self-seeded onions that I have been spreading out in this garden bed

I moved the herbs out of the shade and back into the middle of the garden
so they could get some sun

here's all the seedlings sprouting and the tromboncino taking over the garden

I planted some peas too, not sure how they will tolerate the frost though

There are lots of tiny chokos on the vine, here's a double choko!

Another rosella flower, they are so pretty!

And some rosellas nearly ready to pick

Last month I was asked a couple of questions:
What do I do with tromboncinos? They are like zuchinnis and I used them in everything when we are picking so many. I have recently read that they can also be allowed to mature and used a bit like pumpkin, so I am leaving some on the vine. I would like to save seed, but last year none of the seeds had developed enough. I wrote more about trombos here.

What are rosellas? The rosella plant (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is a species of Hibiscus native to the west Africa, I wrote more about rosella's here. The part of the plant most commonly used is the calyx (the bits around the flower), which I dry and use for tea, but can also be made into jam. The leaves are also edible. I'll write more about them in my herb series in a few months.

The eternal tug of war game...

This month I am going to see what happens with the weather. As it gets colder I need to move some of the pots of fruit trees seedlings up out of the frost (onto my seed-raising table under the car port), and pull out the garden plants that die off. I'll keep planting seeds and thinning out my seedlings. I have some more mulch out in the paddock, so I'll pick that up and spread it around a few bare patches. Winter is also a good time to pick up cow manure for the compost as the dung beetles are less active in the cold (and don't get to all the poo before I do!).

How is your garden growing? What are you planning for May?

From the Farm Blog Hop
Simple Saturdays Blog Hop
Clever Chicks Blog Hop
Homestead Barn Hop
Homeacre Hop

The new Eight Acres website is live!

Very soon this blogspot address will automatically redirect to the new Eight Acres site, but in the meantime, you can check it out here . You will find all my soaps, ebooks and beeswax/honey products there, as well as the blog (needs a tidy up, but its all there!). I will be gradually updating all my social media links and updating and sharing blog posts over the next few months. I'm very excited to share this new website with you!

Farm update - August 2017

Its been cold this month, and very nice to have the fire going every night. Here's a photo of my boy in his cape, great for late night woofing at things. Most of July we were either preparing for the butcher to come or putting meat away. Its always a big job, but its only once a year, and its all done now. My lovely neighbour came over to help, so it was fun to have the company and work together. Taz was a champion once again as she helped us to move cattle in the yards ready to load for the market. Gus is not at that level yet and had to stay home (he cries when he gets left behind, but he just gets in the way and scatters the cattle). We have had a few sprinkles of rain here and there, but also plenty of cold nights, so the grass is mostly dead and dry, waiting for the warmer weather to revive our summer-active pasture. Gus in his cape Taz after she helped to move cattle Food and cooking It was all about beef in July and we are v...

Neem oil for insect control

** Sign up for my weekly email updates here , you will find out more about soap and our farmlife, straight to your inbox, never miss a post! New soap website and shop opening soon.... I also make neem soap, neem insect repellent and neem salve, all available in my Etsy shop .** A few weeks ago now I was watering the garden just after dark, torch in one hand, hose in the other, when I was attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes (mozzies). I could feel them biting me, but there wasn’t much I could do with both hands in use and I really needed to finish watering. When I came inside I found that I had several bites on each leg between the top of my gumboots and the bottom of my shorts. These proceeded to itch, swell and annoy me for several days. At this time of year, when the mozzies start biting, as I do have such a terrible reaction to the bites, I usually reach for my bottle of conventional insect repellent, typically containing DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamid...

Eight Acres

Search This Blog