Plot update...

We had a lot of very heavy rain last night and thought that I would check on my plot down at the allotment this morning. There was nobody there so I had the luxury of having the place to myself. I find being in the garden an excellent time for contemplation and although I enjoy the company of others at the allotment - sometimes it is nice to be able to let your thoughts go where they ought.

Everything has grown so much and I was surprised at the amount of growth, as it hasn't been that long since I had been last.

My rhubarb is doing better and is growing well now.

Pea pods are developing well.

Broccoli heads are developing.

Cabbage heads are developing too.

Beetroot are getting there.

You can see the garlic greens now.

The carrots look like they will need thinning soon.

Broad beans are flowering too.

I mulched with shredded paper today.

The other side.

I am going to have to start thinking about what the succession of planting is going to be, as I will be harvesting some of this very soon and will need to fill the space.

Until next time happy gardening everyone and please feel free to leave a comment.

Quick visit to Hamilton Gardens

My daughter and I did a day trip to Hamilton and while there visited the Hamilton Gardens. I absolutely love the Hamilton Gardens and it has been a long while since I have been there.

It was at the Hamilton Gardens that I did Landscaping papers at what was Waikato Polytechnic and we walked around the gardens just about every day learning and identifying a huge range of plants and their uses. It has lots of good memories for me and is somewhere where I definitely feel at home. The peace and tranquility along with the inspiration, as well as the smells is what also makes it so special. The fact that it was Georgia that was with me this time was also poignant as I was expecting her when doing the last of my classes and exams.

While the gardens are definitely in their winter mode, it is a fantastic time to see the structure that each garden has, and how it holds the garden together especially without the prettiness and abundance of leaves and flowers.

Just a few of the photos that I took but these show the variety of inspiration that there is here. I love the way that the gardens are laid out and how they interconnect but have their own definite boundaries. You are constantly drawn through into the next area with peek-a-boo vistas that entice you on.

I will share more photos in the next couple of posts as there are too many for one, plus I want to talk about some of the photos in greater detail, especially the sustainable and kitchen gardens. We didn't get around all of the gardens, but I am planning to return soon and to continue my exploring and seeing what has changed at the gardens since my days there.

Until next time, happy gardening everyone. 

Ponderings...

I brought home some lettuce from the allotment  the other day and we had a lovely salad with our dinner. I love eating out the garden and that is what gardening is all about for me. Knowing where our food has come from and having more control over how it is grown and what has and hasn't been put on it.

Two conversations the other day have had me thinking and although both of them were very short, they did give me food for thought.

The first one was with Percy about the garlic he had sown and how much it had grown. He commented that his garlic at home hasn't grown as much as the garlic at the allotment. He went on to say that the garlic at the allotment gets more sun than the garlic growing at home. I have been thinking about that and how the growing conditions can change in different locations, even on the same property especially at different times of the year. Although sometimes we have to accept that with small sections that plants don't always get the sun they need for quick growth, we can also make this work for us and create small micro-climates for growing special things that need more protection than being out in the open. This is where being involved in something like Lets get Growing is excellent as we have options for growing things in different locations.

The second conversation was about mulching. If you can't tell by the photos I love mulch - I use whatever I have i.e. lawn-clippings, paper shredding, pea straw.  The kitchen beds at our Whangarei property are about 2 1/2 years old now and when I was working in them just over a week ago I couldn't help but notice the improvement in the soil and the amount of worms - clear results of mulching. There weren't too many weeds either, compared to what I thought there would be for the amount of time that the gardens haven't had any attention. I love the way it keeps moisture in and stops the soiling of the plants and that it before we get into the benefits of mulch on the make up of the soil and the nutrients to the plants.

These conversations then led me onto thinking about the type of gardener that I am and I was reflecting on my plot at the allotment and although there is some clear order with things planted in rows, I also do plant where there is space and like filling up space with plants. I work on the theory that if I don't, nature will with weeds. I have a small space and want to grow lots - so planting wherever there is room seems the natural thing to do for me. I can see that some gardeners struggle with this concept, not that anyone has said anything but you can tell if you are observant.

Until next time, happy gardening everyone.

August already...

I haven't been down to the allotment much due to trips to Whangarei and Quilt Symposium in Taupo. Had a fantastic time, but now it is catch up time.

Looking at the photos of the plot when I first planted it, makes me really appreciate what I saw today down there.

Today when I was there.

Percy put up a string to frighten the sparrows which have been eating my lettuce. Has bottle top seals hanging from it.

The cabbages and broccoli are hearting up.

Unfortunately I tidied today before taking the photos. In here were some Asian greens that were going to seed, I removed them to let the garlic get more light. You can just see the garlic if you look closely.

The parsley and coriander are doing well and that is my carrots under the cloche.

When I was in Whangarei last I took some photos of the gardens up there and I will share those in the next post, so please come back.

Remember that I love to read your comments, so please leave one.

Thanks

Donna-Maree

What I planted ...

I didn't mention what vegetable seedlings that I planted yesterday in my previous post, I was so excited about getting the plot and starting the garden that I knew I wouldn't have the patience to wait for seedlings to grow so I called into the supermarket and purchased some seedlings.

The seedlings I prefer to purchase are from Awapuni Nurseries which I have purchased at New World and Pak N Save supermarkets, although I know that you can purchase them direct from the nursery as well.  Check them out HERE.

The seedlings that I planted yesterday are

* Mixed vegetables 6 which includes lettuce, silver beet and broccoli
* Mixed vegetables 5 which includes cabbages - golden acre, savoy and red
* Beetroot
* Peas - green feast x2
* Lettuce - mesclun mix
* Mixed Herbs E - which includes parsley curled and flat, and coriander

The seedlings come bundled in newspaper which is recyclable plus the bundles excluding the herbs have stated on them 'contains 9 plants' - most of the time there are a lot more plants in the bundles than what is specified on the label which always gives me a feeling of purchasing a bargain. I have had very good success from these seedlings through the years and have always felt that I get value for money.

I do sometimes purchase seedlings from garden centres but prefer to purchase them in my normal everyday activities instead of having to make an extra trip somewhere. We often purchase seedlings at the growers or farmers markets too.

Check back soon.
Donna-Maree

"Farmerlot"

Hi there,

We have recently moved to Tauranga from Whangarei. I enjoy having a kitchen garden and are missing my garden beds. So I decided that while I am waiting for some new garden beds to be up and running at the new house that I would join the Lets get growing Community Garden here in Otumoetai/Matua, Tauranga.

Check them out Here.

This means that I can start growing produce straight away and also start to meet more people too. I met some lovely people today who offered advice and some help to get me up and running.

Here is my plot before I started planting this morning.

Photo showing one end of my plot.

Photo showing this end of plot.

Although the garden is in town it is very peaceful and I couldn't think of a better way to spend the morning than planting in the sunshine.

Come back soon to check my progress. I love getting comments, so don't hestate to leave one.

Donna-Maree