In my (combined) patch - April 2024
To maximise my space I have a small veggie patch at home and a plot rented at the Woodville West Community Garden. Here's what's happening in both patches.
Anyone with limited space to grow their seasonal veggies will know that they need to think very hard about using the space wisely and only grow what they know they will use; not too little and not too much! My learnings from the autumn / winter 2023 growing season was that I planted way too much dill. My lucky friends and family had a good supply of dill for the winter.
I have been following a lot of good gardening profiles over Instagram, YouTube and right here on Substack, in particular I enjoy watching Vasillis Garden and Sydney Backyard Veggies for tips and inspiration. I have learnt the following that I want to apply to my gardening:
Early planting - sowing early in the season to extend the seasons supply. And planting more crops in the one season.
Succession planting: making sure I have the next batch of seedlings ready to have continuity in my harvests. There is nothing worse than running out of coriander in the middle of winter and having to go out to buy it (biggest pet peeve). Great to read Duncan’s latest post on Leaf, Root and Fruit about succession planting, but not the reminder of the dreaded cabbage white fly that I should be expecting a visit from soon.
Use all of the space: position plants close together and interplant where the space allows.
Nitrogen: For leafy greens with a fast harvest time (such as pak choy) a water with a nitrogen rich liquid fertiliser will get the crop to your plate faster.
Veggie patch at home
Remains from the summer months are still kicking around in the garden. The basil still looks amazing even though there is not much vigorous growth. Also I cheekily put in some tomato seedlings at the end of summer. I have some flowering but I doubt I will get any fruit. Although knowing Adelaide’s climate I wouldn’t discount a freak week of hot weather just to mix things up a bit and help the tomatoes along.
Super happy to have rocket, radish, celery, coriander, parsley, beetroot, broccolini, snow peas and spring onion seedlings up and about. All kitchen staples during the winter, plus my mother requires an endless supply of rocket which I am happy to deliver to her weekly. They will be getting a feed of Charlie Carp (high nitrogen) in the next week to give them a bit of a boost.
In the seedling trays I have mini cabbage, pak choy, celery and Paris Island Cos having a bit of a gentle sun bake to put on some growth before being planted out in the patch.
I have also purchased my first Salvia plant for the home garden bed. This one is Salvia ‘Mysty’ which has brilliant blue flowers and is a bit of a smaller plant for a my space. I want the bees not to forget to visit my patch during the cooler months. Hopefully this helps.
My plot at the community garden
I went on a seed sowing frenzy in my plot on April Fools Day (also Easter Monday). There is great germination as you can see in the pictures below. I have planted a bit more of the same; coriander, spring onion, perpetual leek, radish (french breakfast and white beauty), pak choy and rocket. So in the space of 3 weeks I am seeing some good growth. I am excited to have planted a broader leaf variety of rocket. Do yourself a favour and grow your own rocket from seed this winter as the wirey crap they sell in the supermarket just does not do this leafy green justice.
I also have my trusty thyme plant going strong (which loves a good haircut from thyme to thyme hahah) and a couple of celery plants. Celery and thyme are necessary to have on hand for winter stews. I suck at growing carrots but I will try and try again this year. Promise to myself.
I am loving The Happy Harverters Table on Instagram. One of his most recent posts has got me thinking I need to get some fava / broad bean seedlings started. So that will be on my to do list in the coming fortnight. And I will think about what other seeds I can grow to ensure the succession for the winter.
Gardeners win
I am always on the hunt for produce to supply to my parents. Preferably not store bought. Usually they will have me on a wild goose chase for something they are after. The current request is to keep an eye out for green olives for pickling. I happened to search Facebook marketplace for persimmons as I know my dad loves them. And lo and behold I found a backyard grower IN THE SAME SUBURB selling them for $6 a kilo. All organic. And as an added bonus they were selling the astringent variety (eaten soft like jam) which dad loves. This win had to be documented and shared with you (if I still have your attention at this point).
What a way to end this post. Look at these beautiful, home grown and organic persimmons.
Nasreen