There's not been a great of it lately, growth and development I mean; a sign of the times I suppose, the season more specifically, however my garden isn't a total loss and it's pushed through the winter with a little help from me and mother nature.
As I've said a few times, I plant my garden to suit the seasons and what I want it to look like at any given point and the same goes for my vegetables; I plant what I know will suit the season and what I know I'll use.
I've had some amazing crops of tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, eggplant, spinach, capsicum, jalapenos, herbs, strawberries, apples, lemons, oranges, plums, almonds, nectarines and other things, all of which have required some effort, care and nurturing. Hard work? Yeah it is, but it's rewarding also Failures? You bet there was (my carrots for instance) but that never dissuaded me, it made me more determined.
I like to eat seasonally as much as possible, what's in season, rather than eat fruit and vegetables that have been picked early and frozen or ripened off the plant. It's not always possible but certainly with my own produce I work towards that end. I also tend to eat a lot of fresh produce rather than processed foods which are often not as healthy. I augment that with frozen vegetables where needed through necessity, often snap-frozen and packaged at the farms that produce them, but I love eating food I've actively worked to grow.
Over the last weeks I've been watching the progress of some of them eagerly as they're starting to get closer to being ready. I have broccoli, (I've already eaten some of it and it's scrummy), cauliflower (there's a little one forming pictured below), eggplant, beans, peas, spinach, turnips, tomatoes and a range of herbs like basil, tarragon, mint, rosemary, garlic, lemongrass and so on...all of which is looking pretty good.
I'll be totally honest and say that winter isn't my favourite time in the garden, but that doesn't mean I don't like it.
As per some of my other posts about my flowers it's really nice to see my bulbs popping up their pretty heads and the way they light up the garden with their colours, and spring time is not far off (an early one this year I think) and I can already see buds forming on many trees which means I'll see blossoms in no time...and so will you because I'll photograph them.
So that's it today, just a little vegetable garden update as I've not done one for a long time. I'm looking forward to spring time, it's such an amazing time of year where I live, and to seeing my entire garden come to life and in the meantime...I'll just eat what I harvest and give thanks to nature (and my hard work) for providing it.
Now it's your turn if you're keen. What's your garden doing; your potted plants, garden beds or even indoor plants. Are they loving in life or in need of a little of your attention and care? Feel free to comment about them, or anything else you wish to, in the comment section below - I always reply and would love to hear from you.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default; tomorrow isn't promised so be humble and kind - galenkp
[All original and proudly AI free.]
Every image in this post is my own.
How fantastic to see a gardening post from you in the Hive Garden community. I bet that broccoli was amazing. I was soooo gutted to find the rabbits had eaten all of mine just as they were ready to harvest. This was whilst I was in SA.
I do like winter, as at least the plants get water and I don't have to worry about things going to seed, and I really like the mega tidy up and preparing for spring. I've been putting some raised beds in - got them for $300 for 3 x 3 metres, but got a $100 refund as I complained as the pieces (which took ages to screw together) were different shades of woodland grey and some were scratched. Made no difference to the look really, I was just miffed they could be so careless packing their product, and I like a bargain.
I'm busy filling them with compost now, just takes a while as it hurts my back if I over do it. My post will be out about it on the weekend - you might like it. x
The broccoli is what made me post here, it spoke to me It was a nice moment.
Raised beds are a great way to go, some of mine are too, as they save bending over...not that there's anything wrong with bending over of course, the old bones complain now and then though. Seems like you got a good deal on yours considering that refund. I'll have a look at your post, even if I have to bend over to see it...which I won't and why I said I would...knowing I won't have to. Lol.
Your winter garden is impressive! Even your pictures are impressive! You have worked hard in all the ways possible.
I especially like the shot of the baby cauliflower and I am not sure what it is that I am looking at next to the broccoli, but, I definitely want to eat it! It is such a great plant to eat in season. As for myself, that is what I like to do when possible, the produce is at its best when you do. If I get too many in the garden, I flash freeze and vacuum seal them for the winter, I don't garden then, the weather is not agreeable for growing.
Everything about this post is awesome!
Enjoy the
fruitsvegetables of your labor.It's coming along really nicely to be honest, and the last few days have been sunny and warmer so it's boomed over those days.
Below is a photo pf the same cauliflower taken literally a few moments ago. It's growing up! Next to the broccoli is a variety of lettuce called green mignonette which is now also a lot bigger and getting closer to being ready.
We're lucky to have reasonably temperate winters in my part of Australia so year-round gardening is a thing...Another reason we're the lucky country. You're welcome to come down and check it out anytime.
Oh!! She is growing up! What a beauty! Green Mignonette sounds purposely delicious.
You are really lucky and if I moved two states down, I could garden all year, but tempting to check it out. ;)
Looking good! And a little yummy!
If I was going to change my name, I'd change it to Green Mignonette.
Ok, not really...although that wouldn't be a bad super hero name right? The Green Mignonette.
The Green Mignonette For sure! Greenie for short! Haha! You are too much fun!
Good night!
Night Swigs, sleep well.
Pick and eat fresh, looks an awesome variety in healthy soil. Coastal one has to prepare soil carefully, now our month for planting seeds. Little chili bush is doing well in a pot where it can be nurtured.
Normal vegetables a problem on the coast, will be trying a new method this year, see if more successful with time next week.
!BEER
Coastal gardening can be problematic and it takes a little extra time and effort I think. I've never done it though so I'm not really sure on what all is involved. Those chilis look good. I have a jalapeno bush myself, it's been producing well, more than I can use, but I freeze, dry and preserve them so it's all good. I sometimes barter my chilis for other things like farm-fresh eggs or milk, honey, jams and relish. It's a good system.
Inland most grows well 2km up the road, with our sandy soil or clay you have the pick, spent many years adding compost, manure, bone meal nothing holds very long. Next round will see with veggies. Never enough to share around further than family and monkeys that visit.
Pesky bloody monkeys! 🐵
Happier with monkey business rather than the baboons that wreck havoc in most other places around the land.
Oh yeah, I heard that the baboons are a problem. We don't have any here, no monkeys either...well, in the zoos we do, nut otherwise not.
No you got the 'Roo to jump fences and get everyone excited !LOLZ
Wow, I congratulate you for your garden and your great vegetable garden, the list you have of everything you managed to plant is very long, I live in an apartment and the space is very small to plant, but despite that we have a pot where I planted basil, my wife in the tomato season makes a lot of sauce, and we pack them in this way we always have homemade tomato sauce, one of the ingredients is basil.
When I saw the broccoli I remembered a recipe I make, it is a broccoli sauce for spaghetti, it has broccoli and homemade mayonnaise, but only with the yellow part of the egg, of course a touch of salt to give a little flavor, and additional avocado, she puts it all in the blender and the result is a broccoli sauce, the girls love it.
I think growing one's own produce, even in small ways like you do with your available space, can be just as rewarding; it's all about the process and that excellent moment of harvesting and eating one's own vegetables and fruits.
Home grown tomatoes (and the sauce they make) is sensational! I'm glad you get to experience that.
Broccoli pasta sauce? I'll be digging a little deeper on that and seeing what I can find, sounds scrumptious.
I never did any research on it, as they say over there,
necessity is the mother of invention.
That was one day that in the fridge we only had an egg, a broccoli floret, and half of an avocado, and of course spaghetti, and my wife told me to make the mayonnaise, I helped her make the mayonnaise, with the yellow from the egg, then the broccoli with the avocado in the blender and finally the homemade mayonnaise, stir and ready, I'm sure you will like it.
Then, when we could make it again, we added bacon.
Excuse my bad English, regarding the tomatoes they were not grown by me, in the month of January is the biggest tomato season, and therefore it is very, very cheap, so we buy a lot of tomatoes to make homemade tomato sauce.
Sometimes it's good to eat simple food right?
I remember a time a while back when I didn't have much to go around...I had a small can of tomato and onion flavoured tuna fish, a little broccoli and some pasta...I finely diced the broccoli and stirred it, and the tuna, into the cooked pasta and it was pretty good. Basic, but did the job of feeding me.
Ok, I misunderstood. It's ok, no harm done.
Greetings dear friend, your appointment is very true, you have to be a seeker of opportunities, we must never give up to find the path that leads us to development as people, when faced with a problem, find the way to find the solution to it, always do the right thing to have enough morality to be an example before society and humanity, always thinking about the future of the passing of time, you have an enviable garden and it is that anyone would like to have a garden like yours in the patio of their house, fortunately the winter, with a little work and some other nutrients you will have an excellent garden, as you say the effort is gratifying, when you begin to see the fruits of your sowing and you can feed on them, truly admirable, although my family is dedicated to farming agroproduccion does not have an orchard like this due to work commitments but in the future I would like to have an orchard like this
Hey mate, I hope you're well.
Well said, and spoken like someone who has a code of conduct and takes ownership. ✅
I know a few people who do really well with balcony and patio gardens although, as you can imagine, space is limited and that limits their opportunities. The enjoyment-factor is the same though. I'm lucky to have a little room to spread my garden out a little more, and I take advantage of that.
I hope you manage to get some space to get some vegetables and fruits in someday, it's very rewarding.
What a magnificent garden you have! The flowers you have been sharing are picture-perfect. As flowers should be. I agree about eating seasonally wherever possible. I like do dehydrate fruit for year around snacks. Freezing is also amazing. But we prefer fresh. All the power of the green is in being fresh. As for failures. Yup. More than success at the moment. Our carrots and beet were a total non event. But the garlic is looking promising. As for all those wonderful greens......my chickens were full of compliments😣
Why thank you, I appreciate garden compliments, I work hard at it and while I fail at times, I succeed too...learning from those failures.
I freeze some of my vegetables...a quick blanch in super hot water and a rapid cool down then dry and into the freezer...Fresh as a daisy when they come back out for cooking. Having said that, I generally eat what I harvest and only freeze, preserve or dry excess, like y'all I guess.
Carrots...Mine came out all twisted and fucked up (the official term for a non-straight carrot) and I refused to try again; I know, stubborn huh? Lol.
If I saw your garden I reckon I'd say...wait for it..."crikey, that garden is bonza! 😂
I hope you've seen your friend and said that...if not, get on it!
I hope your ankle is feeling better.
Oh I seriously doubt you would say that. You would want to know how I angle my camera so that the disasterous side of the garden is not shown. As for my Aussie friend she has ... wait for it .... mumps. Crazy.
I think twisted carrots is the new normal. As long as they taste normal who cares. I admit I've gone from impressed by your musical expertise to being super impressed with your homegrown food prep. THAT IS BONZA
You're probably right, or I'd say, where's the tools, I'll help.
That friend has mumps huh, "crikey, that's not bonza". 🤣
(I've always found mumps to be a funny word. Mmmmumpppss. Lol, weird word.)
Yeah, I don't mind if carrots are a little warped, but these ones were a monumental fail, too many planted too close and they all twisted together, (wrong soil chosen) and looked like orange brains. Freaked me out. Considering the cost of carrots, (bugger all) at farmer's markets I figured I'd leave carrot growing to those better suited to it and just buy mine. That leaves more room for other things too.
I do many things have have many interests, a lot of of which doesn't make its way to Hive for privacy reasons and simply because people don't need to know everything about me; I also like to reserve some of who I am just for myself and people close to me. Having said that, I'm happy to share some aspects of me and I guess sometimes people get surprised/confused that I do so many things from shooting, hunting and gun stuff to piano playing, nature stuff and gardening, writing and the job I do and so on...all the other things I have happening. I see myself as a rough-cut diamond with multiple facets beneath the surface. Lol.
I hope you're well Hoppy.
Right? Wierd word. I sent her a message yesterday asking if she was still mumpling.
We've also resorted to buying carrots. But I have learned to choose my battles. Carrots is a war I prefer to avoid.
Nice to see the artistic side of you. The Diamond in the rough analogy is a perfect one! I'm sorry to hop and run but I'm cleaning up after a big burger and chocolate mousse day. Have an amazing weekend
One must avoid growing carrots if one is to retain one's sanity. 😵💫
Right then, you're busy, I get it. I'll make like a diamond and go. Lol. Also, mumpling. Good word! I hope your friend isn't too mumpistic and you can get to catch up with her.
Have a good weekend.
It has taken me three days to contemplate how a diamond can go.....nope. I'm still mumpling over that one. So much so that my children actually caught it! Mumps, not diamonds. Imagine if it was the other way around. And while I'm at it there are so many unanswered comments - sorry - it would be amazing if I could blame it on the horses running away with me over the mountains. But nope. Still hopping mad about that reality....
You brought back fond memories of my huge garden in Argentina, where I had a very large vegetable garden. The garden was 25x50 meters. Fruit trees, vegetables, flowering plants... I have it in my memory.
I planted lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, asparagus, potatoes, among other things. Fruit trees lemons, oranges, peaches, nectarines, apricots, vines, walnuts, figs, plums, cherries, olives. All this comes from my grandparents and great grandparents.
Herbs: rosemary, thyme, basil, oregano.
Well, here I have a pot with rosemary, the rest is indoor plants, cactus, and as I told you, many rescued ones, I can't leave them in the street, I just can't. I can't leave them in the street.
Some require my attention, change pots, trim them, strengthen them... and I talk to them, I like to do it. I have them in front of the living room window and in my room. I love it! I have to be careful, Cata likes to bite the potus.
I am fascinated to see the vegetable garden!😍
It's all looking pretty good huh? I'm looking forward to some better weather as I'll be able to get some cucumbers, more lettuce, tomatoes and other things I'll use in warmer seasons. I still enjoy winter gardening though.
It sounds like you had a fairly extensive vegetable garden with a lot of stuff in it. I have about 20m x 6m dedicated to vegetable and fruits but more than that for flower beds and stuff like that plus a load of potted plants in my outside entertaining areas. I go ok, although I'd like a little more room.
And can you get more space?
I'll have to look for some pictures of my garden... to see if I can find
I could knock my house down and have more room, but I'd then have to live under a mushroom.
No please, not the house! And when it rains, what will you do?🤣
I'll hide under a big leaf like a caterpillar.
Your garden can be all that nature around you.😀
Don't destroy the house
Your stuff is looking yummy. We both weren't feeling it this year and didn't plant a garden. Last year we did a potted garden on the patio and it turned out nice. This year we only did two cherry tomatoe plants and they are pathetic. I was tlaking to the wife and we have a lot of unused room in the basement now that we did some cleaning up and clearing out. Thinking about trying to grow some stuff over the winter from seed in the basement. I will need to purchase some grow lights and more pots, but it will give me something to do. May run the electric up as well. All things to weigh I guess.
Gardening is a little relaxing and good for the health in other ways I think, one of the reasons I do it. If I'm not feeling so good I go out there and potter around and before long I'm feeling better; nature is healing I guess.
I don't mind your hydroponic idea. Great plan really. Maybe that could be a project you work on, the research and all, then determine if it's viable and then getting it going. It's something to think about.
Yeah, it is just a thought for now. We have some time to think more on it and lots of time over the winter to make it happen. I agree, something about plants, trees and just nature in general is relaxing.
I'd like to do an hydroponic set up but I don't have room inside so it would need to be outside. One of my clients used to do lettuce that way, so tasty! If only I didn't have to work, I'd have time to do all these things.
I have started landscaping my backyard and have been repotting my plants because they've grown and multiplied so fast. Bu still, I am planning to add more plants to beautify my place. 😊
Your shots look great!😍 And there is no other rewarding feeling in planting than to see your plants growing and bearing fruits. (harvesting and eating are rewarding too😊)
Gardening is enjoyable to me, although there's often hard work involved. I'm sure your garden will come out great for all that effort you're putting into it. Thanks for your comment, I appreciate it, and yep, I love eating what I have grown. So rewarding.
Your garden updates are a lot more recent than mine XD I haven't done one for literal years x_x and it's looking happy :D
Not much got done in our vege patch this time round, most of it was planting avocado trees earlier in the year and then the puppy happened to them (there was bone meal so I guess she was looking for bones, it wasn't great for the fruit trees though). I have told J we need a better fence as the barricade he put up doesn't keep out the chickens never mind the dog -_-
I tend to only do them when something is happening and if I remember to take photos when I'm out there working in it. I also suppose it's only interesting to me anyway.
The dog terrorised your garden huh? That happens. Hopefully the damage wasn't absolute and those fruit trees can be saved.
She dug them up multiple times in her quest for bones that weren't there. Last I checked one of them was clinging to life but I'm not sure about the rest, I think J grafted some of their cuttings onto some other ones he was sprouting.
Hmm, well I guess she's just doing what she's supposed to do as a dog; that doesn't help y'all much but it can't be helped.
I have a friend who used to have a really nice garden...until he got a dog, and now he has a barren patch of land we refer to as the Nullarbor Plain. If you've ever driven across the Nullarbor from Perth to Adelaide that reference will make perfect sense. He doesn't seem to mind much, although we don't go there for BBQ's anymore. Lol.
🤣 I have not made that drive but my godmother has and she's told me a bit about it. Also done the image search thing even though it's not the same.
We've always had dogs so this wasn't expected for the phase of life she's in, it's just one of those annoyances that has to be dealt with till she grows out of it.
The Nullarbor is featureless...I had a mate who was so bald his head glinted in the sunlight...we called him Nullarbor nut. He didn't mind, most of the time. 😊
Nullarbor nut! XD
Wow, those are looking really nice. That broccoli especially! It looks way better than the head that our shopper just delivered to us the other day. I have a spot for a garden in the back, but I didn't do one this year. We travel so much in the summer that I can't tend to it the way I should.
Thanks mate, I work at my garden, have failures and go back to work for better results. It pays off.
I've been eating that broccoli for the last couple days, so tasty. I'm looking forward to the cauliflower...and then my tomatoes. Scrumptious!
I don't do cauliflower too much, but my wife finds a way to sneak it in here and there :) Usually we try to do zucchini and tomatoes. Sometimes peppers, but those often require more water than I can be around to give them.
Zucchini and tomatoes are good, there's a lot of stuff you can do with them as far as cooking goes. I get the water thing, that's always a constant factor here...Australian being the driest (inhabited) continents and all, and my State being the driest in Australia. Still, we make it work well, have some methods around doing that in place and my produce is scrumdiddlyumptios.
I've thought about getting a timer system for my outside faucet, but I am not sure I want to commit to it that much. Especially if we are going to be moving in a couple of years!
Yep, smart...the timer and also not getting it if you're not going to stay. I think more people should think that way rather than just cave in to want purchases.
We have so many things on this house we are holding off on because we know we aren't going to be there forever.
Wow your garden and all the vegetables you planted are adorable, very fresh and attractive,
I love it that you have determined to eat fresh and right from your own garden, it's said "we are what we eat,,
Thank you, I love your garden.
Hi there, thanks for your comment.
I put a lot of effort into everything I do and my garden is no exception; it's enjoyable, despite being hard work, and it repays my efforts many times over.
Thanks for dropping by, have a good weekend.
Thank you, have a great weekend too.
Thank you , seriously your garden is lively and I love that.
Your vegetable garden looks good and your plants also look very healthy. I read something but I want to understand it well. Do you mean that you plants things according to the season that they usually germinate?
Is that what you meant?
I plant things that will tolerate the season. For instance, planting vegetables that may like cooler temperatures in summer won't work so well as we have a very hot summer here, and vegetables that don't mind the warmth and copious amounts of sunshine won't do well in the colder winter months.
Green life... Lots of work out there and the picture shown shows the result. Eating what is planted is a healthy way to live. You know well what you use in making them bloom. And that's great.
I'm not afraid of work in fact I look for it as I know it's through effort I'll reach my goals. Work never killed anyone...Well, it actually did I guess, but you know what I mean.
Haha... Geez, yeah I get it. Well, work helps the muscle relax.
Wow, congrats your plants are already bearing fruit ,happy harvesting soon!
Yep, a little care and attention and they're producing as they have in other years. It's rewarding.
Wow! You have a lot of plants or vegetables in your garden. It's good that you prefer to eat fresh foods from your garden and in season. Frozen and food with preservative is far different from those vegetables picked from the garden going to our table.
I think frozen vegetables are a good alternative, certainly better than canned vegetables, but there's nothing quite like growing one's own - They taste better and are healthier through more organic growing methods.
You're but for us we don't have refrigerator so we can't have some frozen.
Ah ok, I didn't think of that. You're not missing out on anything though. Fresh is best.
I don't really garden, but I get reports from my library patrons. They have generally had success with our giveaway seeds! I still have some herb seeds, and some people are still starting indoor herb gardens with them. We're definitely transitioning into people borrowing books about recipes, seed saving, and preserving now though.
I think growing a few things is going to become more prevalent as the cost of living rises. Unfortunately it's not always more cost-effective, especially if setting up from scratch, but free seeds help; they do similar things here.
Water can be a major expense here. It's not high desert by any means, but summers are dry. Irrigation is a must for traditional crops. The natives hunted and foraged over wide areas, and settled near water for agriculture.
Yep, it's the same in parts of Australia. We have towns that haven't seen a drop of rainfall in over eight years. They have to truck all water in for human or animal consumption. Crazy huh?
Hi there!
Woah thanks for sharing this, Now I knew how is a plant of Broccoli grows, the first time I saw it it's like a pechay but it's not hehe.... That is very fresh and really good for the health you bet it right.. it is better to have a fresh veggies rather than frozen or whatever
Fresh vegetables, especially those one has cultivated oneself are so much better than bought produce and I'm really fortunate to have the space and ability to grow my own vegetables. I'm looking forward to my own tomatoes, they are so much better than store or produce market bought ones.
Thanks for your comment.
Oh that's great! Yeah indeed having a stable area for you to plant is such a blessing best of luck to your farm.
Welcome!
Frozen vegetables and preserved fruits do not give the same taste as the fresh ones. That's why I also don't like the frozen vegetables and fruits. I want to have healthy and seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Eating seasonal fruit and vegetables is preferable for sure, and it's great to be able to grow them myself, it adds another layer of satisfaction.
Winter is not plant's favorite season yoo. I hope the plants will give you mre fresh food
Winters here are a little different than in some other places, more mild, but even when cold I think it has it's appeal. Not weeks on end of gloomy weather though; luckily we don't get that too much.
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I just saw that @balikis95 had boosted my post so I reciprocated on one of hers. I appreciate it although I feel there's more deserving users than myself. I'm still grateful of course.
I prefer boosting Ecencians who need a boost to get above a dollar or two, but appreciated her gesture to use her points to give you a 'whale vote'. It's a great way to reward friends when your own vote is small.
She is a good egg, seems to do good posts and gets some voting from me because of it, and I curate her with curangel now and then too. I am really pleased to see her boosting other people, rather than herself, as I think it is a great way to build rapport and start relationships, if backed up with commenting etcetera, which she also does with me. Anyway, I appreciate it and she'll get back more than she has invested in future voting from me because of the way she shares out her own Ecency points.
I'm not sure if you saw my recent Quick coffee comment post last week in which I gave 50 Ecency points away to commenters, some 850 or so points in all - I also asked some of my connections to vote up the comments, which they did. I wonder if they used them to boost themselves or paid it forward; probably the latter though. I have three more such posts in draft right now, which I'll deploy over the coming weeks. I guess I'm trying to demonstrate that giving them away to others is an investment.
A lovely way to demonstrate paying it forward! I have no problem with anyone using the Points they have earned to boost themselves, especially when it's a matter of trying to get your post $ over a couple of cents. But using your Points to boost others and build relationships is certainly carrying out the ideal of Ecency generosity!
Yay! 🤗
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Thanks @balikis95, I appreciate you curating my post. Nice work, I'll reciprocate.
You are welcome. I appreciate what was written. It is just my way of saying job well done. Thank you.
I applaud you for your generosity in using your Ecency points on others; it's a good example and one others should follow.
Thank you for your kind words. It is my little way of appreciating people whose written contents are mouthwatering, hehe☺️.