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April Growth:Snow Peas, Kale, Beetroot and Broccoli Temperatures this month:Lowest Min 4.6CHighest Min 24.1CLowest Max 16.1CHighest Max 30.5C26.5 mm RainRain: Year To Date: 67.5mm (Average YTD: 88mm)Comparison with other years: April Average is 22mm:2013 26.5mm2012  3mm2011  3mm2010 18mm2009 31mm2008 24.5mm2007 30mmWeather Highlights?The second month of autumn has been much milder. Mornings are growing cooler with 14 minimum temps under 10C. Some welcome rain and winds that have been light. This Month:Another busy month that saw us away from home for half the time, a two day market, Microman's first birthday, a trip to Adelaide for some wood shopping and again to Adelaide to stay by the beach for some grandie-sitting (yippee!!) after which we joined them for a trip to the zoo.The autumn seedlings have put on steady growth and I have been busy tidying up the garden. Harvest Tally:Doesn't include Greens fed to the chooks on a daily...

The soil is damp from recent light rain...volunteer seedlings are popping up in the garden as are the inevitable weeds...with a flurry of planting out and seedling growth it feels more like spring. These volunteer Amaranth in the Old Chook Run Garden have provided some tasty additions to stir fries.Temperatures:Lowest Min 5.1CHighest Max 27.1C7.5mm Rain Propagation:Potting on:French TarragonPelargonium Ivy - several small cuttings from springPelargonium Scented OrangePineapple SageCuttings:JostaberryRaspberry Smooth StemmedPelargonium Ivy RedPelargonium Scented OrangeSoapwortDivision:ChivesPlanted out:Beetroot seedlings (purchased nameless)Broccoli Chinese Kailaan seedlingsOnions White seedlings (purchased nameless)Silverbeet White Silver seedlingsAlyssum Royal Carpet seedlings for colourThese have been planted into Bed 17Red Veined SorrelPlanted into Bed 14 The chill in the air at this time of year turns the leaves on the Lemon tree yellow just as the fruit begins to ripen.     At last I have tasted some of the Midyim Berries (Austromyrtus dulcis)...I had read that the taste of these resembled "Vicks...

The weather is cooling at last and quickly the leaves are changing colour before the cold of winter strips them from the trees and vines.Temperatures:Lowest Min 4.6CHighest Max 23.4C19mm Rain Propagation:Seeds:Kohl Rabi in Bed 2 top up of ones stolen by thieves!!! probably earwigsSpinach Tape in bed 9Potting on:Cabbage Red DutchCauliflower Macerata GreenCrystal LeafRed ChoiCuttings:Blueberry Evergreen "Nellie Kelly"Golden Daisy Bush Euryops pectinatusLoganberryRosemary PinkVariegated Elderberry Planted out:Cabbage Red Choi in bed 9Onions Red in Bed 2 Purchased seedlings Parsley Curled Parsley Italian into Bed 14 with the Loganberry  We are busily clearing areas and moving beds in between planting...as I chop back plants I take cuttings so I'll have more to plant around the garden later.The Blueberry cuttings came from a broken piece off a damaged plant from Bunnings. The man there marked the price down by half and said I could easily take some cuttings from the broken bit...(do you...

Lots of new seedlings ready for potting up this week as the weather stays warm. Still no sign of any rain though...Temperatures:Lowest Min 9.8CHighest Max 30.5CNo Recorded Rain Propagation:Potting on:Cabbage Red DutchCauliflower MiniLettuce Red and Green Salad mixAlyssum Royal CarpetKale Red BorKale Vates Blue Purchased Curled and Italian Parsley seedlings Planted out:Plarsley Curled Parsley ItalianCelery Tendercrisp Added to the Garlic in Bed 10Not a lot happened in the garden last week. We were busy making toys for Microman's First Birthday!!!! His party had a Milk and Cookies theme!Poppy Doc was busy in the workshop building a great Truck Baby Walker which happens to fit a certain set of twins in the front!! Microman himself didn't mind a ride!I made an Elephant Softie from a pattern by Sarah at Dolls and Daydreams Here  and a Monster Bib from Stubbornly Crafty Here.  I also made a couple of Monster Softies (from Here)...

The weather is still warm during the day keeping the soil warm but the night temps are dropping...the Brassicas all need the warmth to put on growth before the winter frosts arrive. In Bed 16 the Nasturtium seeds have germinated...they are Companion Plants to the Brussels Sprouts but may not be as frost resistant!Temperatures:Lowest Min 5.8CHighest Max 29.6CNo Recorded Rain Propagation:Potting on:Broccoli Royal DomeBrussels Sprouts RubyKale LacinatoKale Vates BlueKale Red BorLettuce GloriaMizuna PurpleParsley Curled and ItalianSilverbeetElderberry cuttingsThese went off to a friends garden along with some Common Mint and Sorrel that I dug up from the garden as requested.Cuttings:Sweet Potato Beauregard (Orange)Sweet Potato  Hawaiian Sunshine (Purple)Sweet Potato WhiteThese are for overwintering in the greenhousePlanted out:Kale Lacinato Mizuna PurpleLettuce GloriaUpland CressSpring Onions RedPlanted into Bed 9Broccoli Royal DomeGreek BasilPlanted into Bed 7   The mixed greens in bed 9 have been planted amongst the remaining Carrots and Parsnips from the spring planting...parsnips taste best...

March Growth:Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Spinach and Radish, Garlic and Brussels Sprouts and LettuceTemperatures this month:Lowest Min 5.3CHighest Min 21.8CLowest Max 16.4CHighest Max 35.9C6 mm RainRain: Year To Date: 41mm (Average YTD: 66mm)Comparison with other years: March Average is 21mm:2013 6mm2012 32.5 mm2011 49.8mm2010 7mm2009 13mm2008 0mm2007 29.7mmWeather Highlights?It was a hotter than usual beginning to March with the temp hovering in the mid thirties until the middle of the month. Since then the mornings have been getting cooler, some even quite chilly so we know the first frosts are just around the corner!This Month:As with seed sowing and planting out, harvesting has been done around 3 market weekends this month. The fruit garden has been neglected this season and it shows in the harvests...the birds ate most of this years fruit. We have had several visits with the Grandtwins plus 1, including having them visit us at the last market...

The early plantings of Garlic and Brussels Sprouts have benefited from the warm conditions during March and put on good growth.Temperatures:Lowest Min 7.1CHighest Max 35.9C 6mm Rain Propagation:Seeds:Spinach Viking Spinacia oleracea Easy Sow Tape from Mr Fothergill'sOnion Early Californian Red Allium cepa Easy Sow Tape from Mr Fothergill'sRadish Oriental Raphanus sativus from DT BrownKohl Rabi Purple Vienna Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes from The Seed CollectionThese have been direct sown into Beds 2&3 Nasturtium Gleam Trailing  Tropaeolum majus from Goodman Seeds direct sown in Bed 16Alyssum Royal Carpet Lobularia maritima from The Seed CollectionCabbage Red Dutch Brassica oleracea var. capitata from The Seed CollectionCabbage Red Choi F1 Brassica rapa var. chinensis from Green HartvestCalendula Lemon Daisy Calendula officinalis from MrFothergill'sChinese Broccoli Kailaan Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra from The Seed CollectionCauliflower Macerata Green Brassica oleracea botrytis from The Seed CollectionCauliflower Mini Brassica oleracea from DiggersCorn Salad Valerianella locusta from Phoenix seedsIce Plant Crystal...

Veg:BeetrootCarrots MixedCeleryPumpkinsTomatoesZucchini Early, GoldenFruit:FigsPlumsStrawberriesSalad/Stirfry Greens:Beet GreensGarlic ChivesGotu KolaKale (baby)Lebanese CressLettuce MixedOnion ChivesParsleySea CelerySilverbeetSpring Onion GreensSweet Potato LeavesWatercressHerbs: AlfalfaBayCatnipFennelLemon BalmLemongrassLemon ThymeLemon VerbenaMintsOreganoRosemarySageThymeWinter SavoryFrom Storage:SultanasDried ApricotsBottled ApricotsBottled CherriesApricot JamLoganberry JamPlum JamPlum SauceFreezer:AsparagusBroad BeansCapsicumGreen BeansSnow PeasTomatoesZucchiniApricotsGrapesPeachesEggsOriginal link...

I thought with a 7 day forecast like this, that we were about to have some more rain. So I dashed around and gathered drying seeds, cleared a few beds, stripped the corn and stored away the drying cobs for the chooks to eat during winter.Well, we didn't get a drop of rain. Instead we entered one of the hottest beginnings to March (Autumn) on record...argh!!Temperatures:Lowest Min 8.9CHighest Max 32.2CNo Recorded Rainfall Propagation:Seeds:Sorrel Red Veined Rumex sanguineus  Green HarvestSalad Burnet Sanguisorba minor The Seed CollectionHyssop Hyssopus officinalis The Seed CollectionGypsophila Repens Rose Gypsophila repens The Seed CollectionPansy Mini Comedy Mixed F2 Viola wittrockiana Mr Fothergill'sDichondra repens Mr Fothergill'sGrass Blue Fescue Festuca glauca Mr Fothergill'sGrass Snowy Woodrush Luzula nivea Mr Fothergill'sGrass Bunny Tails Langurus ovatus Mr Fothergill'sGrass Green Fountain Pennistetum alopecuroides Mr Fothergill's Note: Some of these grasses can be weeds in some areas - if growing them don't let them...

We were lucky enough to have the Grandies visit twice in one weekend. The weather was hot so they delighted in some water play out under the front verandah and then more fun inside to dry out before they continued their trip.Temperatures this month:Lowest Min 6.7CHighest Min 20.1CLowest Max 20.2CHighest Max37.3 C35 mm RainRain comparison with other years: February average is 22.6mm:2012 56mm2011 151mm2010 7mm2009 0mm2008 1.6mm2007 10.4mmHarvest Tally:Doesn't include Greens fed to the chooks on a daily basis or herbs picked for use in the kitchen for cooking or tea making. For Salads, Juice and Stirfries I have been picking Lettuces, Amaranth & Beetroot Leaves, Parsley and Garlic Chives which are not always weighed.Capsicum 52gCarrots 200gCelery 117gTomato Tommy Toe 559g plus many that are picked and eating while passing!!Tomato Ida Gold 150g plus again those that are eaten in the gardenTomato Roma 1094gSweetcorn 10 cobs not weighed because they...

Recent rain and more to come has meant the end to production for the Zucchinis...these four plants have been very productive this year! The powdery mildew has hit but they are ready to go as they have had a long season this year.Temperatures:Lowest Min 11.8CHighest Max 35.6C36mm Rain We had two rain events in one week! One thunderstorm that dropped 18mm overnight and a day of steady drizzle that resulted in another 18mm. This will be much appreciated in the coming weeks as beds are cleared in readiness for Autumn seedling planting.Propagation:Potting on:Lettuce Gloria seedlings Divided & Potted up:Sorrel French Rumex scutatus from a pot purchased locallySorrel Garden Rumex acetosa from a clump in the garden Strawberry runners from Bed 23Planted out:Brussels Sprouts Ruby seedlingsLettuce Gloria seedlingsBoth of these were planted into Bed 12 in the Old Chook Run GardenOriginal link...

Busy busy busy! Our Markets are back on now after a break over January plus a week spent in Adelaide on family matters... The Strawberry runners I potted up have developed strong roots and are ready for separation from the mother plants!Temperatures:Lowest Min 6.7C Highest Max 37.3C1mm RainStorm clouds keep promising rain but not much arrives. The temperatures have been high but fortunately no heatwaves. With only about 1mm of rain since mid December the soil is very dry, we could use a decent downpour as we prepare beds for Autumn planting.Propagation:Seeds:Beetroot Beta vulgaris Bulls Blood New Gippsland Seeds & BulbsGolden Detroit 4Seasons SeedsCylindra Diggers SeedsThese went into seed trays after soaking overnight in rainwaterCoriander Coriandrum sativum Cilantro Select OrganicCoriander Coriandrum sativum Cilantro Mr Fothergill's Organic rangeMiner's Lettuce Montia perfoliata Phoenix SeedsRocket  Eruca sativa Select OrganicThese were scattered in pots that live under the back pergolaPeas Pisum sativumClimbing Snow Peas...

Scarecrow's Garden Journal Notes: January 2013: At last some Sweetcorn yum!Temperatures this month:Lowest Min 5.2CHighest Min 20.4CLowest Max 23.1CHighest Max 42.6CNo Recorded RainfallRain comparison with other years: January average is 22.6mm:2013 0mm2012 20.5mm2011 12.5mm2010 15.5mm2009 0.4mm2008 0mm2007 92.6mmWeather Highlights?After 13 days of over 35C temperatures this month the heat finally stopped in the last week when the highest max was only 28C.No rain fell for the whole month. Harvest Tally:For Salads, Juice and Stirfries I have been picking Amaranth, Lettuce, Parsley and Beetroot Leaves which are not always weighed.Beans 68gCarrots 264gCucumber 149gPotatoes 780gSweetcorn 210gTomato Black Russian 79gTomato Ida Gold 488gTomato Oregon Spring 6507gTomato Red Colossus 833gTomato Roma 1907gTomato Tommy Toe 1185gZucchini Early 7288gZucchini Golden 2461gTotal Veg Harvest for January  22KgsApples Cox's Orange Pippin 1998gApricots 6484gTotal Fruit Harvest for January 8.5Kg Total Eggs for January:  58 eggs. 25 From the 5 Farmyard Ferals (who have finally just stopped being broody!!)18 From the...

Update: Last week of January   The Echinacea survived the heat and has decided to flower for the first time in my garden.Temperatures:Lowest Min 5.3CHighest Max 37.1C after this the temperature didn't go above 28CNo Recorded RainfallPropagation:Potting on:AlfalfaRuby Brussels Sprouts as they germinateKale Vates Blue CurledBroccoli Royal Dome Greek BasilBasil GenoveseCelery Pomegranate from a cuttingDivided and Potted up:SteviaLebanese CressPlanted out:Basil GenoveseSilverbeet seedlingUpland Cress seedlingsLebanese Cress piecesCuttings/Layered:ElderberryStrawberry RunnersWith the cooler weather I have at last been able to sort through the propagation tables. Some seedlings have finally made it into the garden while the autumn seeds are germinating quickly and being potted up as this happens.I thought I'd lost the Stevia plant during the heatwave...it's quite temperamental really. Several times I have watched it's leaves frizzle back to nothing or be eaten to the ground by some little pest and then it suddenly sprouts new growth from the base. This...

Update: Mid January 2013  Due to a combination of a drier than average year (only 258mm last year) and the intense heat we have been experiencing this summer the grapevine out the back has been stressed. There is a lot of fruit on it but the grapes are small, ripening prematurely and they contain SEEDS!!! These are seedless sultana grapes but every few years the vine gets stressed enough to through a crop of seeded grapes. The birds are already attacking the fruit so I have bagged a few bunches that we shall use in juice.Temperatures:Lowest Min 8.5CHighest Max 41.3CNo Recorded RainfallIt's the middle of January and I have had enough of summer already! We are only half way through what seems to have been the hottest (and one of the driest) summers I've known. While some of the beds have just had their water turned off others are slowly being...

The Sweetcorn is loving the heatTemperatures:Lowest Min 10.9CHighest Max42.6CNo Recorded Rainfall  There has been no propagation at all this week it's been way too hot!!!There seems to be some respite from the heat approaching during this week but the heat will return by the weekend.For those in the path of these heatwaves that seem never ending this link is to the ABC's Plan for Emergency:Heatwave page with some things to remember.Just about all plant life is covered with shade cloth I think the main thing for gardens is to keep watering, mulch the soil (make sure the water is getting through any mulch layer) and shade...I have grabbed any piece of shadecloth I could find. Extra shade (90%) attached for cooling in the chookrun!The chooks need plenty of clean water during the heat, lots of shade and damp soil for dust baths. Instead of hosing them down during...

I'm busy picking Apricots and drying them.We are starting the New Year with a heatwave  :(Tues 37CWed 37CThurs 41CFri 43C (109.4F)Sat 38CSun 42CMon 42CI hope some of the garden will survive while we try to stay cool!I do hope it is cooler where you are!Original link...

Over 8 Kilos of Brown Onions were harvested, allowed to dry in the sun for a few days and are now stored in the shed for future use.Temperature Range for December:Lowest Min 5.5CHighest Min 21.2CLowest Max  20.5CHighest Max 40.5C24.5mm RainRain comparison with other years: December average is 25.7 mm:2012 24.5mm2011 68.5mm2010 43.5mm2009   4mm2008 44.9mm2007 26mm2006 19mmHarvest Tally for December:Doesn't include Greens fed to the chooks on a daily basis or herbs picked for use in the kitchen for cooking or tea making. For Salads, Juice and Stirfries  I have been picking Silverbeet, Gotu Kola, Lettuces, Beetroot Leaves which are not always weighed.Beans Green 103gBeetroot 1129gCucumber Bushy 423gGarlic Russian 152gOnions 8352gSquash Button 319gTomato Oregon Spring 276gTomato Roma 63g (first ones picked today!)Zucchini Early 2569gZucchini Golden 643gTotal Veg Harvest for December 14KgsApricots 11961gFigs 346gLoganberries 542gStrawberries 335gTotal Fruit Harvest for December 13Kg Total Eggs for December : 15177  from the 5 Farmyard Ferals...

I'm really looking forward to a decent crop of corn this year...haven't had much success in the last few years but we can just about hear this crop growing and it's reaching for the sky! It is really enjoying the soil in the Old Chook Run Garden.Temperatures:Lowest Min 9CHighest Max 40.5CNo Recorded Rainfall Propagation:Seeds:Mizuna Purple Brassica rapa Japonica GroupCabbage Red Express Brassica oleracea Capitata GroupBroccoli Romaesco Brassica oleracea Botrytis GroupBrussels Sprouts Ruby Brassica oleracea Gemmifera GroupPotting up/on:Bugle Ajuga reptans from cuttingsPlanting Out:Lettuce Butternut replacements in Bed 23 (The Faveroles decided to rid this bed of earwigs...taking the new seedlings as a reward...Argh!!)Sweet Potato cuttings - Hawaiian Sunshine and Beauregard into a new Wicking Bed in The Old Chook Run.To see how the various Garden areas fit on our half acre block check out the newest Map of our place HERE This is updated as planting/changes occur.Original link...

I have bought a new Thomas Zimmer Chart so I sat down and drew up some possible dates for sowing seeds in 2013...as I've already started on this I thought I'd post this and update the Sowing Date Page too.Note:This is a planting schedule for a garden in South Australia where frequent winter frosts occur.These dates are for my garden in my climate...they may not be right for your garden please use a planting guide like this or this or go by the seed packet information!Some of these are trial dates for experimental plantings!Dates may change with seasonal (or unseasonal) conditions and other seeds may be added later as often happens.Notes from 2012:More frequent, smaller sowings of Lettuce, Spinach and other annual greensIn the Almond Area Trial Potato cages with tyres around for warmth for early start (July) see if 30 litre water containers fit inside tyres. Plastic over top...