June in Greece was cool and wet this year.
Several storms and heavy rain crossed the village here.
Perfect weather for me to work in the garden, last year it was extreme hot in these times. The storm has damaged some of my sunflowers, but the most of them are strong and tall. They are higher than my house this year!!
This is a good and cooler start of the growing season.
Over the years I invest a lot of time and effort in the soil. There are some little secrets I will share with you, how I have enriched the soil.
I think this is the most important side of the garden, here is where the plants take the nutrients from, and in this way it can better hold water.
The first year I had many rocks and sand in the soil, which needed water every day. My plants didn't look so green as they do now.
This year I saved a lot on watering,
I catch the rain water from the roof,
TIP: put a piece of charcoal in it, In this way insects (like mosquito) don't lay there egg in it.
I plant my garden full, so full, that weeds don't have space to grow and suck the water and nutrients away.
The paths I made from wood chips and on top I put the weeds which had access to grow between my plants.
I walk a lot on the wood chips paths, so underneath it will become nice soil.
In the fall and winter I will empty the wood chips paths/soil to mix this in the raised beds of the plants.
Together with other compost, natural materials it gives a fantastic structure. Later this year more about that! I will share more detailed info about enriching the soil later this year.
Daily I harvest zucchini, cucumbers, beans, salad, arugula, beetroot, raspberries, onions, garlic and many more foods.
Soon I will harvest my first tomatoes, the first one is getting red. Later more pictures from all the different kinds.
Also the pumpkins are getting big! This year I will harvest them early.
Talking about the pumpkins, they are thriving in my garden, this is the best success over the last years. They stay well all winter (I still have 1 pumpkin left to be eaten from last year). I let them grow in my trees and in my neighbors trees. In this way all people around me benefit from my jungle and it doesn’t take all the garden space.
Also my pepper and spicy pepper plants are showing their first fruits, so soon I can harvest them.
And the cucumbers love the rain, so I harvest many
Not everything grows in the way that I would love it, one of my zucchini plants gives me these crazy zucchinis and I didn’t find out yet what the problem is. To short or too much water? Or maybe something bad in my soil? I don’t know. The zucchini plant beside it grows very well.
Still waiting for the first water and honey melons to grow on the plants.
I finished with the strawberries, cherries, peas and the winter veggies like broad beans, broccoli, cauliflower, kale etc. I will plant seeds end of July so I have the coming winter again winter veggies.
I found caterpillars on my fennel plants, it must be a great plant for them, because I don’t see them on other plants, so the fennel must be very tasty for them.
I really love the colorful flowers I have on the borders of my garden, so many joys I have from it. The first year I had barely anything. Step by step I started to get them from the locals and plant them from seeds. This year I didn't have to plant any seed, the birds last year did their job fantastic. They are growing everywhere and it looks very colorful. Besides that, the bumblebees love it and is such a fantastic sound. Bbzzzzz I can almost meditate on their lovely sound. There are so many right now that I give many away in order to have space for my veggies to grow.
A collage of the flowers in the garden.
Also the (stray) cats, my 2 beautiful ladies Sunny and Bella love the garden as much as I do. Everywhere, hidden under the plants I find them, it is a real paradise for them.
Don't hesitate to ask advise for your own garden, it is a pleasure for me to help others. Also if you see flowers, plants or others thing that you would love to grow yourself, ask for seeds, I can send them to you.
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Kisses from us @BabetterPlace
All pictures are made and edit by me @babetter
There are some great tips here, thank you for sharing. South Australia is very desert like in summer too, so I'll have to keep an eye out for more tips. Does the charcoal in the water really stop mosquitoes from laying there? I'll need to try that out.
You are welcome @minismallholding . I have a tree that is from Australia! The red toothbrush tree, there is is much more difficult to grow plants in the heat I guess? do you have a vegetable garden as well? Yes it stops the mosquito from laying eggs, but the more green in the garden, the more mosquitoes there come as well. Today I try to balm myself with tea tree oil, to see if they bite me lesser! It looks like i am there breakfast, lunch and dinner! they like my blood a lot 😢😭
I hope the tea tree oil works. Let me know. We could crusting use something to Roelands them, especially my husband. When he's around I barely worry abut being bitten because they prefer him! 😆
It is very difficult to grow in the height of summer here and I struggle to water often enough. My soil also needs improvement, but I'm slowly getting there.
Yes I can understand that in the 'dessert' it is difficult to grow, but not impossible. You could start with putting leaves on top of your soil, call it a layer of mulch, in this way you protect it from direct sunlight on in. In this way you also give the soil natural nutrients and the insect in the soil will love it.
And here in Greece we have this Green shade cloth for above the garden, to protect the plants from direct sunlight.
I think that are the first steps to make a garden work in hot temperatures
Lucky you that they like to eat your husband more then you, haha here i am alone and there only choice....
So beautiful to see more of your garden and some tips I didn’t know yet, like the charcoal in the water.
I will remember that one.
Have a great day and enjoy the garden 👋🏻😁
Thanks you, i wish you as well a great day kisses from us
You are welcome @babetter 👋🏻😁 kisses back 😘
I love the sunflower and the tomatoes. Good evening!
@afterglow thanks a lot, I can't wait to eat my first tomato 😍
You're welcome (^_^)
You have a beautiful garden there, congrats. And your two beautiful ladies, Sunny and Bella, are so cute 😻
@coquicoin Thank you so much
You are welcome 😊😄
Your garden is amazing! Your produce are all healthy! This makes me want to just start my own garden here too! Sunny and Bella are the star of the show though! 😍
Thanks a lot @indayclara Hahaha Yes Bella and Sunny are my stars, they have such a bad life, hanging around in my beautiful garden and be served :P🙄😛
I am envy and at the same time I love all these you have succeeded! Iam sure you really love it! I wish one day follow your steps!
You are so close by @giorgakis , it would be lovely to meet you here in Chalkidiki and show you around the garden(s). Maybe i can get you inspired, or help you out to find the step to do the same
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