Rebekahs Vegie garden

9 Aug '05 3:03 am

Hi Rebekah (and Moosey)--
You have a great "year round" vegetable garden, Rebekah--kudos! I enjoy reading about it and seeing your photos.

I'm surprised to hear that birds attack your tomatoes in New Zealand. Any particular species? They certainly have never gone after mine (NE United States). I keep my vines somewhat "caged," however, and tend not to prune much, if at all. Perhaps the birds simply can't find them... Very Happy

9 Aug '05 7:00 pm

The main bird that attcks my tomato plants has to be my chickens. They're little devils I tell ya!
But I've fixed that problem now by putting up a fance around my garden, and will *try* to keep my glasshouse door closed over summer.

Other birds that will eat tomatoes are blackbirds and thrush.
Not sure about the wax-eyes or other species.

I was busy in my garden this morning while it was bucketing down with rain.
Planted out 3 rows of carrots.
1 row Baby carrot
1 row lubinia(sp) carrot
1 row nutri red carrot

23 Aug '05 6:34 pm

My garden today:

De Cicco Broccoli. My winter crop is ready for harvesting now. The picture isn't too flash because my free range hens were taking the opportunity of the open door to the glasshosue where the crop is.

Red Robin Radish seedlings just starting to pop through.

Some Dwarf Massey peas I started in trays to test the water at seedling striking rate/success.

Dwarf Massey Pea row.

Early Purple Kohlrabi seedling.

Green Macerata Cauliflower that I have been growing over winter. This is the only surviving seedling due to weather conditions over winter.

A new flower bed at the end of my vegetable garden. In the pots are my calla lilies, and one pot containing Apple Mint.
This just adds a splash of colour during winter.

My carrots (Baby carrot, Lubinia(sp), Purple Dragon and Nutri Red breeds) are all due to come up within the next week or so.

My Artichoke, strawberry spinach, silverbeet, and pumpkin seeds are all on their way to getting their first true leaves in the trays I started them in.

8 Sep '05 9:00 am

What's up (and I mean that quite literally!) with your vege garden Rebekah? Or are those hens feeding too well? If you have time, snd us the latest pictures.

And don't ask me about the Moosey vegetable garden - it is in disgrace! It's got some lovely pansy seedlings, and lavender seedlings - oh, and some rather large foxglove seedlings - and then there is the army of weeds. So pretty! Oops...
Cheers

8 Sep '05 6:36 pm

Aahh - weeds are the unloved plant.

The garden is doing really well I think, but I am not sure how long this will last, as in past years when we have had early springs, we've paid for it in September and after...

I'll grab picture tomorrow and edit them into this post, providing I have time.
I've just taken on a new full time job on a local dairy farm and they've offered me a 3 bedroom house to live in on the farm, so I'll be moving out of here soon (within the next 2 months). But I will still be ale to look after the vegetable plot here on my mothers farm where I now live.

My winter crop broccoli has done really well and I've been harvesting it lately and giving some away to friends. However my caulis haven't done well at all, with small open heads and browning from moisture sitting on them. The army of hens will get those over the next week or so.

My red onions are just popping through the surface of the soil, as are the beetroot, carrots, potatoes, and believe it or not, an unnamed vegetable row that I can't for the life of me remember what I planted there! Its either kohlrabi or turnip or.... dunno!!! Shocking I tell you.

I was busy the other day planting more seeds in trays. This time it was Native Spinach, a selection of heirloom tomatoes, zucchinis and pumpkins (including "8 ball" and others) and lots of other goodies.
I even planted 2 rows of a potato nick-named by the person I got it from as "Zebra potato" because if its unusual purple and white zebra markings.

-:UPDATE:-

Lettuce plants

Carrots are just popping through

Now I'm positive this is my beetroot, or somethinge else? I see there are 3 rows with the same leaf, but I'm sure I didn't plant 3 rows of beetroot because I remember planting (physically planting tiny seeds) kohl rabi seeds there??? Has to be beetroot.

"Lavender" potatoes. oOoOo I can hardly wait until Christmas to dig into some new spuds *drools*

Red onion seeds just popping through the soil

10 Sep '05 7:47 pm

Rebekah, Can you mail me? I would love to feature your world famous (well - almost!) vegetable garden in a new section on the front page of the Moosey site. Your vegetable garden would be out there, on behalf of all vege and potager people. Hm... people might even fly in to New Zealand to see it!

Seriously, you are an inspiration to many, and I'd love to feature your garden on a proper page. What do you think? By the way, I weeded my vege garden today. It is not good. I have forgotten to get seed potatoes (I like the Jersey Bennes). I am not getting a good feeling about my on-going commitment to this garden. Help!

10 Sep '05 8:01 pm

Moosey - PM has been disabled on this board and there is no Email address in your profile? You can send me a Email at sandy.w@xtra.co.nz if you wish and I can post my reply there.

If you are interested, I have some good ole JB seed spuds here if you want some? I've got 6KG of seed spud and no ground to plant them in Mad

so you are more than welcome to a KG or two if you want.

Sounds like you've fallen off the band-wagon?!
Need I write out you a week/monthly "To Do" list that you can tick off!!! Rolling Eyes

22 Sep '05 6:53 pm

I remember what I planted now.

1 row white icicle radish, 3 rows beetroot. But I still thought I planted some kohlrabi seeds.

Red onion seeds sprouting though the surface

Roll on Christmas!! My 'Lavender' potatoes

Beetroot seedlings hiding in the mass of weeds Rolling Eyes

Crunchy baby carrots. My other breeds of carrots are sprouting too.

A baby 'shop brought' Lettuce plant

23 Sep '05 7:29 am

Yummy looking lettuce, Rebekah. How many vegetables do you think you have growing now...?

23 Sep '05 7:55 am

Heck - thats like asking me how many strands of hair I have in my head.

I'd say quite a few.

There is a bit (lot) of weeding needing to be done since with the new job I've found no time to sit and weed between the plants.

Today is gardening day though. Very Happy

Rebekahs Vegie garden

Tomato eating birds?

Delicious vegetables...