First day of Summer 2015

Time to sow beans:

Maximum temp only 17 C today so it doesn't feel like summer. However, I planted 12 assorted bean seeds in half toilet roll tubes for later planting out in one third of my plot after I have prepared the soil. The remaining 2/3 of the plot contains two well-spaced tomato plants on frames. I will gradually introduce their companion plants, marigolds, spring onions, parsley, lettuce and carrots. Today I put some heat-hardy lettuce seeds in the fridge to chill in preparation for next Friday's garden session.

Soil Prep:

I am deliberately not cramming my plot or mulching early this year because I need to renovate the soil. I will dig down about 30 cm and remove invading roots from the fruit trees in the adjacent food forest. I am working my way around the perimeter of the plot removing roots and adding sheep manure and compost as I progress. 

Last chance to plant Carrots before the hot weather:

On Friday I sifted the soil in one such prepared section and planted carrots. I placed a board over the top to keep the soil moist for a week as I can't water every day. I helped Leyla who attends the English classes in the house use this carrot planting method the previous Friday and Pat removed the board after a week but watered daily and ten days later Leyla's carrots were up and growing; very satisfying for a beginner gardener - but where is Leyla? She hasn't been seen at the garden since we planted the carrot seed.

All Saints Day garden make-over

November has arrived and its time to plant my summer crops: Last week I took delivery of seven 10 liter bags of sheep manure from Robert from Broadford. I removed the remainder of my winter brassica crops and the spring crops of spinach and peas will soon be finished. I have raised seedlings of four varieties of tomato: 'Tommy Toe', 'Jaune Flamme', Broad Ripple Yellow Currant' and 'Wild Sweetie'. They have been nicely potted up into individual pots ready to put in the ground; about 20 plants in total. I have already planted one 'Tommy Toe' and have room for one  additional plant of the variety;'Jaune Flammee'.

'Wild Sweetie' and 'Broad Ripple Yellow Currant' are destined for the adjacent food forest where they will sprawl, which is their habit and children may snack on their tiny, sweet fruits. I grew too many tomato seedlings for my garden plot; the left over plants, I will attempt to give away. Hopefully I will find people who will appreciate a tomato seedling; doubtful though because Pat could find no takers for the heirloom tomato seedlings she offered us last week.

Companion plants for tomatoes: Stephanie Alexander lists asparagus, basil, parsley, carrots, nasturtiums and onions. I have insufficient space for perennials like asparagus but I have seeds in stock of the other plants on the list except marigolds and nasturtiums. As both tomatoes and beans take up considerable space and compete for water and nutrients, I will fit bush beans into the remaining third of my plot measuring approximately 3 m x 1.5 m. 

Companion plants for bush beans: carrots, parsley, spinach, summer savory, cabbage, lettuce, cucumber, potatoes, peas and capsicum. 

The right time to plant basil: Now! If I sow the seeds at the start of November, they should be ready to plant out by the start of summer. Past experience has taught me to wait until November to grow basil seedlings. They germinate very readily if sown in in seed raising mix in a punnet.

Zucchini fertility

Male Zucchini flower

It is the second week of January and we have experienced cool weather conditions around the end of December followed by extreme hot weather and now a cool spell with some (not enough) rain.The zucchini seedlings planted in November are bearing fruit but I am finding that there are very few bees around this year and pollination has to be done by hand. This is best done in the morning when the female flowers are freshly open. Find a male flower (above photo), strip off the petals and press the pollen-laden stamen to the stigma at the center of  female flowers (photos below). By mid-afternoon the female flowers are starting to close over and within the next couple of days the fruit rapidly begins to expand. Within a week the fruit are big enough to harvest; left longer than a week and you will be harvesting whoppers only suitable for soup or a gratin. Fruit that fails to develop is generally not pollinated but sometimes this is the result of stress to the plant caused by uneven soil moisture resulting in a condition called Blossom End-rot. Another cause of Blossom End-rot is lack of calcium in the soil. Apply Dolomite lime to the soil  before planting Zucchini seedlings to prevent calcium deficiency.

Female Zucchini flower

Female Zucchini flower after pollination