Mid-Month Update

We are harvesting loads of greens from the new Wicking Tank Bed in the (extended) Kitchen Garden. The Lettuces are delicious, the Mizuna has flowered (can eat the flowers too), the Coriander and Celery is abundant and the Kale, Cabbages and Cauliflowers are growing well!

Weather highlights:
The month began with light rain fallingand light breezes. It progressed to a delightful Spring weekend. The lowest minimum temperature was 0.4C which luckily didn't bring any frost to the newly planted seedlings!

On Friday temporary covers were added to the beds
when we were on a Severe Thunderstorm Warning
with expected Hail...
...fortunately it was only small hail
but I wasn't taking any chances!

Propagation:
Seeds:
Onions Spring Allium fistulosum from DT Brown
Nasturtiums Tropaeolum majus Tall Mixed from DT Brown

Potting on/up:
Tomato Big Rainbow, Pineapple seedlings from seeds sown 10/07/11
Zucchini Rondo De Nice seedlings from seeds sown 29/08/11
Leeks Bulgarian Giant seedlings from seeds sown 2/07/11

Free from the garden:
Alyssum seedlings
Calendula and Borage seeds

Planting out:

The Carrots Radishes and new Spring Onions
are thriving in the BathTub Bed
safe from those pesky earwigs!

So around the base of the Bathtub Bed I planted - all from cuttings taken during the year.
Alpine Strawberries Fragaria vesca 'Alexandria'
Violet Blue Viola odorata
Violet Pink Viola odorata rosea
Seaside/Mexican Daisy Erigeron karvinskianus
Society Garlic Tulbaghia violacea
Pennyroyal Mentha pulegium
Russian Thyme Thymus nitidis
Rosemary Prostrate Rosmarinus officinalis
Lemon Balm Melissa officinalis
Lime Balm Melissa officinalis 'Lime'

In the Main Vegetable Garden:

Tomato seedlings have been planted
and the wire mesh moved to the top of the arch frame
to allow them to climb on to it.
The advanced Zucchini seedlings were covered
with white 50% shadecloth while they settled in.

Leeks Bulgarian Giant seedlings from seeds sown 2/07/11 into Bed 6
Zucchini Rondo De Nice seedlings from seeds sown 29/08/11 into Bed 5
Tomato Big Rainbow seedlings from seeds sown 10/07/11 into Bed 3
Tomato Pineapple seedlings from seeds sown 10/07/11 into bed 3
Beans Runner Sunset Runner from seeds sown 10/07/11 into Tank Bed 9

Into Tank Bed f:

Strawberries Pink Flowered purchased plant (from Bunnings)
Arnica seedlings from seeds sown 4/08/11
Korean Mint seedlings from seeds sown 4/08/11
Mexican Hyssop seedlings from seeds sown 4/08/11
Lovage from the propagation table
Echinacae from the hot house

Chinese Artichokes in Wicking Pots

We answered a call for help on the weekend from our son up north. He needed to put a new fence up after a storm blew the old one down. Of course we wouldn't miss a visit to see the GrandTwins (now 15 months old) so off we went - loaded up with a variety of garden tools!

To Do List:
Check Watering Systems for start of irrigation season - See Links Here and Here
Continue clearing beds and planting seedlings.
Pot up excess seedlings and cuttings to sell at Hospital Fete next weekend to raise funds for Community Garden.
Rebuild Wicking Bed 4 and build one more Wicking Tank Bed...