It is actually amazing that this blog still exists. I just received a notification from blogger about it and I honestly completely forgot that I created this as a way to remember my gardening trial and errors. I never stopped gardening.
I stay in Cape Town and we have been in the grips of a severe drought since 2015. This year is actually the first time that our dams are getting full. Last year this time the combined dam levels were at 37.5% and now the levels are close to 80%. Praise God for answered prayers.
The garden has been watered from borehole water and if any fall, rainwater. The whole saving water has been a lesson on its own. I learnt that our borehole has too much iron and it killed all my root vegetables. It also kills all the snails. So we had to install a filter and a pump and now we can use the water for irrigation and laundry.
Currently growing in my garden is broccoli, butter lettuce, tomatoes, onions, broad beans and spinach . Rocket has gone to seed and I managed to harvest 2 squash from a plant that self seeded.
I sowed eggplant seeds on Saturday and am holding thumbs that it will take since I have never had success with it.
One of the greatest lessons I learnt in my gardening journey is that soil preparation and watering is key. Without those 2 all the minerals you add to the garden counts for nothing.
Stay blessed.
Tuinmeisie
Still alive and kicking
WOW, today I just thought to check if my old blog still exist and here it is. The last time I was on here was more than 2 year ago. I should really stop doing that.
It is the start of a new season (spring) which means all gardeners must start sowing and preparing beds. I am all giddy with excitement with the prospect of seeing summer veggies and a wider variety of fruit now that it is getting warmer.
I did not have a garden for the past 2 years due to renovations and builders just break everything and trample on seedlings and throw left over cement in your flower bed.
I started again this year with turnips, beetroots, broccoli and peas. since I had very little space I harvested little but it was good. My husband has built a chicken coop for my 2 hens now I will be able to use the space they were roaming on for gardening. I have already sowed some onion, broccoli, brussels sprouts in seedling trays and carrots directly into the garden.
Happy gardening and stay blessed.
Broad beans...really worth it?
This year I planted broad beans for the first time. I never tasted fresh ones and was curious. It is a fairly easy plant to grow and once it starts to bear beans it does not stop. Taking into consideration my lazy way of gardening this is a perfect plant. It grew despite only getting water from rain and I never fertilized it.
I just planted it in composted soil around June 2014 and left it to its own devices. As it is reaching the end of its season; (summer is starting here in the Southern Hemisphere) I am pondering whether I will plant it again next season. I have limited space and only need to plant vegetables that we will actually eat and that produce lots.
We harvested the broad beans about 3 or 4 times, enough for 2 adults. It tastes amazing, but the effort that goes into shelling the beans versus the amount of beans one gets, make me wonder if it is worth it.
My family likes the beans and it does taste great, so if I have space I will plant it, but I will definitely not go out of my way to ensure they are in my garden.
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The pictures above shows the amount of beans you get vs the number of pods. Those pods are huge but only holds about 4 beans.
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Hello again
So I have not been around here in a while. It was winter and I do not spend a lot of time outside when it is cold. I planted broccoli, cauliflower and spinach as my winter crops. However all of the broccoli and cauliflower sprouted just as they started forming heads. I do not know why it does that since I followed the instructions of planting to a Tee. We have been eating spinach from the garden at least.
Now that Spring is here I am back in all earnest. I already planted carrots, beans, patty pan squash, butternut, tomatoes, corn, cucumber, lettuce and some radish. Will keep you updated on how its growing.
Now that Spring is here I am back in all earnest. I already planted carrots, beans, patty pan squash, butternut, tomatoes, corn, cucumber, lettuce and some radish. Will keep you updated on how its growing.
Garden diary - 13 May 2011
13 May, 2011
I went away for a few days and left no one at home; it was very hot and a few of my seedlings just didn’t make it without water. These were the Brussels sprouts and some of the broccoli seedlings I planted. The rest is busy recovering after watering them.
The granadilla tree is starting to grow quite fast and I placed a tripod over it since I don’t have a trellis on which it can grow up against.
This past week and last week, it has been raining for a few days this side of the equator. This means I could not go out in the garden. Yesterday the rain let up a bit and I went to check how everything doing, the pea plants are down and some of the broccoli have yellowing leaves at the bottom. I read that this might be caused by the bottom 2 seedlings needing to die off so that the plant grows or by over watering. The beetroot seedlings are only a few left that is still standing. I think I will need to plant more cauliflower and Broccoli if I want to harvest more. I am just not sure if it is too late now to plant them now .
I went away for a few days and left no one at home; it was very hot and a few of my seedlings just didn’t make it without water. These were the Brussels sprouts and some of the broccoli seedlings I planted. The rest is busy recovering after watering them.
The granadilla tree is starting to grow quite fast and I placed a tripod over it since I don’t have a trellis on which it can grow up against.
This past week and last week, it has been raining for a few days this side of the equator. This means I could not go out in the garden. Yesterday the rain let up a bit and I went to check how everything doing, the pea plants are down and some of the broccoli have yellowing leaves at the bottom. I read that this might be caused by the bottom 2 seedlings needing to die off so that the plant grows or by over watering. The beetroot seedlings are only a few left that is still standing. I think I will need to plant more cauliflower and Broccoli if I want to harvest more. I am just not sure if it is too late now to plant them now .
What is growing in the garden and rain
22 March 2011
According to the weatherman, yesterday was the first day of Autumn. We had about 30% rain but it was enough for the plants and seedlings in the garden to just perk up a little bit more. I’m so amazed at their response to rain compared to when they are just watered with tap water.
My garlic, beetroot, cauliflower and onion seedlings that I planted about 2 weeks ago are pushing through. I did not have my camera with me when I went outside so I will take pictures the next time I go out.
All my corn is now done bearing and I have to pull up the stalks. Next time I will plant much more. Apart from the herbs and green peppers javascript:void(0)we are getting only spinach from the garden now. I planted some more peas from seed since the ones I planted on the 3rd of March, are very slow in germinating. I think I planted about 10 directly into the soil and only 2 are showing up now. Yesterday I planted about 20 seeds.
I made basil pesto with the basil that is in abundance now and also made a basil and parsley pesto. I use the pesto in pasta, with chicken breasts as well as on sandwiches. I froze 3 small containers and 1 is in the fridge for our daily use.
According to the weatherman, yesterday was the first day of Autumn. We had about 30% rain but it was enough for the plants and seedlings in the garden to just perk up a little bit more. I’m so amazed at their response to rain compared to when they are just watered with tap water.
My garlic, beetroot, cauliflower and onion seedlings that I planted about 2 weeks ago are pushing through. I did not have my camera with me when I went outside so I will take pictures the next time I go out.
All my corn is now done bearing and I have to pull up the stalks. Next time I will plant much more. Apart from the herbs and green peppers javascript:void(0)we are getting only spinach from the garden now. I planted some more peas from seed since the ones I planted on the 3rd of March, are very slow in germinating. I think I planted about 10 directly into the soil and only 2 are showing up now. Yesterday I planted about 20 seeds.
I made basil pesto with the basil that is in abundance now and also made a basil and parsley pesto. I use the pesto in pasta, with chicken breasts as well as on sandwiches. I froze 3 small containers and 1 is in the fridge for our daily use.
corn, green pepper, chillies basil - growing in the garden
17 march 2011
On Tuesday evening, 15 March 2011, I harvested carrots, basil, chillies, corn and a green pepper. This was all that I needed for dinner that night. I have lots of green peppers, spinach carrots some and different herbs currently growing in the garden. I lost out on some of the corn cobs because I was unsure of when to harvest. My guess is they were ready about 2 month ago, but when I wanted to pick them my husband said no it is not ready yet..
Lesson learnt…do not listen to hubby.
I have planted broccoli, peas, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts seeds in trays. Beets and garlic I have planted directly into the garden and am waiting with bated breath to see if the beets are going to germinate or at least produce. Since I have been sowing beetroot, not one beet has grown to maturity.
On Tuesday evening, 15 March 2011, I harvested carrots, basil, chillies, corn and a green pepper. This was all that I needed for dinner that night. I have lots of green peppers, spinach carrots some and different herbs currently growing in the garden. I lost out on some of the corn cobs because I was unsure of when to harvest. My guess is they were ready about 2 month ago, but when I wanted to pick them my husband said no it is not ready yet..
Lesson learnt…do not listen to hubby.
I have planted broccoli, peas, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts seeds in trays. Beets and garlic I have planted directly into the garden and am waiting with bated breath to see if the beets are going to germinate or at least produce. Since I have been sowing beetroot, not one beet has grown to maturity.
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