I started this Vegetable Planting Update a few weeks ago before Christmas and I got caught up with other stuff and didn’t finish it so I thought I would just post it and then do another one in a week or so and show you how much everything has grown.
I think I should change the title of these posts now to “Vegetable Growing” instead of “Planting” but I think you get my drift.
The vegetable garden out the front is growing daily, it is so exciting to go out there and see the changes. We are now busy just trying to maintain all the weeds and making sure everything has enough water.
It has been rather cool this week but there are warms days coming by the end of the week and next week and although I don’t like the heat, we need it to to make our vegetables grow.
We have a great water supply here with a bore which is drinking quality and very abundant, it is such a blessing. Water is so important.
The children and I finished strawing the tomatoes and the first ones we put in are flowering. The potatoes are going great and the photo below shows my husband using the tractor to bring dirt from the trench up onto the sides of the potato beds, using a bed former which is like a double sided mulbourd plough. He actually did this with all the beds as well.
![DSC_0642[1]](http://darlingdownsdiaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/DSC_06421.jpg)
Below are the potato beds after they have had the dirt from the trench brought up.
![DSC_0640[1]](http://darlingdownsdiaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/DSC_06401.jpg)
Here are the zucchini plants, they are coming away nicely. I can’t wait to have fresh zucchinis, I really miss them during the winter. This year I am going to grate the excess and can them for soups, stews and cakes.
![DSC_0644[1]](http://darlingdownsdiaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/DSC_06441.jpg)
Below is the second lot of tomatoes we put in and they are looking really healthy. Yum fresh home grown tomatoes are the best.
The next update will follow soon – after I have done some weeding (lol).
Blessings
How are the 3 sisters doing?????
Mmmm not so good, the weeds have taken over. The corn is going well but the pumpkins are a bit stunted, I want to get out there this week and try and weed them. My husband has already gone down between the rows, it’s just between the corn now. Will see how it goes after a good week. Blessings
ugh, weeds–it’s amazing how we can plant things intentionally and really work at it to get them to grow, and those blasted weeds take no effort and are plentiful!! I really detest getting under the vines to week, those things get started under there and get going–bermuda grass in our patches get going and is such a pain to get out. And it seems they get going best when it’s the hottest outside to be doing the weeding!
Can you tell I hate weeding?? LOL
I am so with you, I don’t enjoy weeding at all especially at the moment when the weather is so warm. I need to get out early in the morning (not my best time) and get some done hopefully over the next couple of days. I am trying to be joyous doing all things 🙂 Thanks and blessings
I don’t know if I like the smell of fresh tomatoes or fresh carrots better. Love all the straw you got on. We ran out of any I could use for my actual garden this last year so I didn’t have any. [Big sigh]. I am hoping this year we have enough left for my spring garden.
It’s coming along nicely. Do you grow many of your own herbs?
Yes we have almost run out of garden straw and I don’t want to use the good stuff on the garden it’s for the stock. I try and grow some basic herbs around the house and I have an awesome rosemary bush at the moment. I usually grow parsley, basil, coriander etc, must get some more in. Thanks for your comment. Blessings.
My favorite herb to grow would be my oregano. I can get two cuts a year off of it (even in our tiny growing season), and it’s virtually no-maintenance. It’s a perennial that takes care of itself.
Oh how I wish rosemary would survive here…
I am going to try some herbs in the aquaponics later, when it gets going a bit better, by then it will be under plastic so maybe the herbs will survive more there. I put rosemary stems in with my bottled tomatoes last year and they taste great now, although they are nearly all gone. Where abouts are you? Our growing season can be short too, we can’t grow melons or anything like that outside, it just isn’t hot enough long enough. Thanks for stopping by. Blessings
It’s looking good! What a blessing to have the tractor do all of your trenching! It’s good to see someone else who can grow this time of year! Thanks for sharing your outdoor post on this week’s Maple Hill Hop!
It must get very hot where you are if you can grow the best vegetables in winter!!! Unfortunately we get hot, but not for long enough or consistent enough, so each year is a wait and see what will come of the vegetables. Yes the tractor is great and very handy. When we sold the family farm my husband kept quite a lot of equipment and stuff just in case we bought again, so we have been carting a 40 foot shipping container around with us, but it was well worth it. Thanks for talking to me. Blessings
Hi, just read your e-mail.How do you can zucchini??? Never heard of that before. Sure would like to know. Thanks Dede
Hi Dede thanks for your question. I would just grate the zucchini and then put it into hot bottles and cover with hot water and process for the normal period, probably 75 mins for quarts. I did carrots this way last year and it was great to be able to open a bottle of grated carrot for soups, stews and cakes, so I thought I’d try the same with zucchini. Blessings
Mum, it all sounds great! You’ve been busy on the ole blog this week too.
Looking forward to your next update.
We are travelling through Bright area (upper high country… Mountainous and beautiful). It’s sooo green here and everyone seems to have a ripper veggie garden in their yard… You and Dad would enjoy the stalls I’m sure.
It’s got me looking forward to getting back into my patch… In March.
Xxx
Sounds like you are having an adventure, hope you aren’t getting too wet. Yes we really like road side stalls, sigh maybe we’ll have one soon. Blessings to you all, love you all xxxx