Trip to Ceres

Pip and Ngeste at Ceres

Ceres is an environmental park with an excellent nursery. Our group combined with Norfolk Terrace to select our new seedlings for autumn planting and have a cup of coffee together in the cafe instead of our usual gardening session last Friday. This photo of Pip and Ngeste reminds me that I should do something about dressing less drably- these two certainly brightened up the morning with their cheerful colors. 

Crop rotation

Carrots and garlic growing companionably

As space becomes available in the plot I plan to practice crop rotation as best I can in such a small garden. This is what I plan to do over the next month:

Take the climbing beans out and plant winter spinach, silver beet, beetroot, dill, lettuce and chard in their place.

Take out the chili and marigold plants. The tomatoes are already compost. Dig in the marigolds. Lime the soil.

Replace with garlic, carrots,  spring onions and lettuce.

Take out the cosmos. Plant peas on the wire frame,        surrounded by coriander, lettuce, small brassicas & carrots. Peas are likely to be pilfered. Over late summer I enjoyed picking beans so much I would like to give peas a try and hope for the best.

Au revoir Anita

In France haricot vert is harvested this small?

Anita with Rond de Nice zucchini

Anita's relocation to be closer to her family means she has had to leave the Farnham St. Neighborhood Garden... she will be greatly missed. These photos are of her last summer harvest, showing Anita's preference to grow vegetable varieties from her native France. Anita harvests vegetables when they are tiny- for immediate eating.

If left unharvested, zucchinis like the Ronde de Nice, above right, grow massive and change colour. This one will be kept for seed. The tomatoes in the last picture are Jaune Flamme, an heirloom French variety... au revoir Anita, jardiniere et amie. 

Anita's empty plot awaits a new owner