..... my not so exciting ventures into gardening, self sufficiency, getting solar electricity & hot water & pretty much life in general in a small country town .....

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Time to plant your chokos

I asked David from Productive Gardens http://www.productivegardens.com.au/ the following about planting Chokos

"Should I get the seed out, dry it before planting or plant it straight away or put the entire choko in?"



He replied very quickly with



"Hi Nicole,
Chokos are a great thing to grow, quite pest and disease free and being perennial, will crop on for quite a few years.
Prepare the soil with well rotted animal manure or your best compost but the site must be well drained.
Now is the time to plant them, just put a whole one aside until the fruit sends out a root. This means the seed is mature and the whole fruit should be planted. Place the fruit at a depth of about 10cm and at an angle of 45 degrees with the shoot downwards. The stem end should be at ground level or slightly exposed."



So I purchased a few from the markets & left them alone in the fruit bowl last week.

As you can see they have started to sprout from the top.


I'll leave them grow for another few days & hopefully the weather will have calmed down so I can plant them out.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Going to Seed :(

With the warmer weather we've been having (27 degrees on Wednesday!), most of my winter vegies are going to seed.

Bye bye Sugarloaf cabbages....although I still may get a few.


Farewell Brussel Sprouts.....I still wouldn't have eaten them but they were for my lovely MIL.
At least the rabbit & guinea pig will appreciate them.

But at least the Broccoli are still going strong!


In the greenhouse, the seeds are starting to shoot for my Summer crops.







I'm even trying herbs from seed & no doubt I've planted far too many - at least I can give them away. Also planted marigolds & nasturtiums for a first time companion planting experiment.






















































































































Monday, September 7, 2009

Fresh Vegies for Tea - Yum!


Wandered out to the patch yesterday afternoon to find these lovely vegies just waiting to be picked for tea.
Fordhook Giant Silverbeet, Sugarloaf Cabbage & Mini Cauliflower.
Can't get any fresher than this!