November was long and hot, with strong winds and very little rain. Some areas around us had a decent storm, with 50-100 mm, but we missed out, so had to keep the garden going with grey water and a little tank water. The extra shade cloth has made a huge difference, as has my sunken herb garden. I also downsized early and only water the two middle garden beds, everything else is struggling, but its better to keep two good beds than four average ones. For a few plants around the outside I used upturned beer bottles filled with water every few days. Its not classy, but it keeps the soil moist.
For that reason, the harvest has not changed much. Mostly kale, silver beet and herbs. I finally picked the three lemons on my potted lemon tree and they were delicious. We had a few beans and cherry tomatoes, but not much yet. I can see the first button squash forming and a promising watermelon, so we just have to keep up the water and we might have more to harvest next month.
I'm not planting anything else until it rains, so this month its just about watering, keeping up mulch, and using worm wee tee to boost the veges.
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| Watermelon is promising (also note beer bottle watering system) |
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| those giant chilli bushes have regrown! |
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| beans and silver beet, with tomatoes in the back |
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| sunken herb garden is doing well |
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| first squash forming |
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comfrey flowers (its in a pot in a dish of water,
the stuff in the garden has not resprouted yet) |
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| strawberries producing the occasional sweet treat |
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| pickling cucumber looking good for more pickles this year |
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| tape for watering from our tanks |
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| yarrow flowers |
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| new herb - gotu kola |
How's your garden growing? Are you dealing with heat and no rain too? What are your plans for December?
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Lizzie at Strayed from the Table.
I was so sorry to read you did not receive any rain from the recent storms. My garden is going ok, but would pick up and thrive with some regular rain. You have got a lot of plants on the go there in your garden. I hope you get some rain soon.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get some rain this month. Your garden areas are looking great despite the lack of rain. What do you do with gotu kola? What sort of food do you use it with? Have a great month in the garden
ReplyDeleteYour garden is looking fabulous. Love the yarrow, something which I haven't grown before. The beer bottle watering system sounds great .. Love all your mulch too, one of my favourite things to add to the garden. :)
ReplyDeleteReally you didn't get any of that rain. Bummer. We were lucky to get a bit of rain so I am happy however it didn't penetrate the earth very well. Too sudden. Liz I am impressed by your garden and what you are still growing with the minimal water you do have. Last year I relied on rain alone for our garden, this year I am still using our new tank water sparingly on the veggies. Fingers crossed for you to get some real rain soon. Maybe three or four days of the good stuff.
ReplyDeleteWe did get a few little sprinkles, I am sure yours is on its way. Interesting that you have gotu kola, we have a very similar weed called pennywort, well that is what everyone says. Maybe in your herb series you can tell me the difference. I always thought I did have gotu kola and it looks exactly the same as yours....
ReplyDeleteSorry about the lack of rain, we've had a terrible drought here in California as well.
ReplyDeleteHow do you use gotu kola? I have not heard of that herb.