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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Gardening good intentions

 
Vegetable garden bed 2
 Before the hectic time in the garden starts, I have devised a timetable that works for me. Well it is working so far at least but, once said hectic season starts in the spring,  it could very well be a different story. My vegetable garden is made up of 26 raised beds which I have numbered 1 to 26 naturally. My plan is to do maintenance on the bed corresponding to the day of the month. That coupled with other gardening to be done will hopefully help me to keep up with or hopefully be ahead of the weeds.

Of course things rarely go to plan. Today I worked in bed 1 and 2 to be ahead of the game because I am going to be away from home on those two days. I'm off to a scholarship presentation (for our son, Tom) which is a cocktail event. My life here may help me be prepared for a lot of things but a cocktail party is not one of them. Right about now I am wishing I knew what to wear and that it was in my wardrobe (the outfit that is, not the cocktail party). I'm sure it will be fun. My tendency to overthink things doesn't help one bit.

 
Today has been a bit all over the place weatherwise. Chilly start, balmy mid-morning, cloudy afternoon and I'm guessing it will be cold tonight. And right now I just can't help but snap pictures of my bees. Sorry. They are busy, busy and I just really do like them even if I am not overly fond of honey.
 

Although we eat something from the garden most days, even if it is just some herbs for flavouring, there was a difference out there today. I could have picked enough for a meal. Tonight I am having fish and vegetables. Everyone else is having steak and veg. Does sound a bit boring but the vegetables are going to be potato dauphinoise and a pearled barley salad with sweet potato and the vegies above (carrots, celery, tatsoi, radish, spring onion, parsley and mustard).

Do you have a garden? If you do, what are you picking now?

Tracy

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

have fun at the cocktail party and boy tea sounds nice tracy.xx

Fiona said...

your dinner sounds lovely... my little vege patch needs attention... I did get 4 lovely pumpkins from it... I think I will wait a few weeks and start afresh...
Hugz

Claire said...

Hi Tracey, we have a similar style farm in Tasmania and without counting I think I have 22 raised vegetable beds. I like your idea of numbering them and working through them.
I work 3 days a week and it is dark early so your system wouldn't work for me until it gets a bit lighter, but I might just be able to adapt it to work 4 days a week. I tend to always start in the same place and never get to the other end. I need a good system. Thanks for planting an idea. (in the other raised bed - my brain)

Unknown said...

I love this time of year for the vegie patch. I have English Spinach about to be picked and Silverbeet that we have started to eat. My snow peas have been the best this year than we have ever had. I have been giving some away and we still have more than enough for us (that is those that make it inside).

I normally only ever plant seedlings from the nursery. This year I am a bit more on top of it and have planted seeds in a little green house (just one of those from a cheapie shop). We are now eating beans and the english spinach that I have grown from seeds and I am finding it very satisfying.

We don't have as many beds as you but that sounds like a wonderful plan to be able to do a bed a day. I tend to get out in the vegie patch late afternoon and end up doing more than intended.

I am only new to growing my own vegies and have been reading a lot of books and magazines on growing veg but I do find your blog very informative.

Tania said...

Yes Tracy, I have 17 beds and I am picking broccoli, beetroot, silverbeet, carrots, spring onions, onions, kale, potatoes, capsicum, celery and rhubarb. Quite pleased with the garden at the moment, the rain has done wonders :)

x

Cathy Hetzel said...

Your dinner sounds very tasty......my garden is so neglected at the moment....hope you enjoy the cocktail party....

Staci@LifeAtCobbleHillFarm said...

Yummmmm..... we are currently in cucumber, bean & squash overload. :) Tomatoes are green so that overload will be coming soon. I savor it because before you know it, it's over.

Val said...

Lovely photos! And 26 beds must keep you hopping! My goodness, what a harvest!