In My Garden - Judy - November 2020

 In My Garden - Judy - November 2020

Judy's garden in Lindisfarne is a veritable hive of activity this time of year. Come and join her on a walk through her very productive patch!

We have 16 beds around the block.  One behind Mark’s workshop which currently has broad beans.  We have plenty to share with family and friends, which is what it is all about. 

Most beds are raised, and taking over lawns.  Tomatoes are grown in pots as well as beds.  Last count there were 53!  I haven’t bought any tomato based products this year. Slow cooked and frozen, preserved in jars, relish, passata...for us and our family. 

We have a couple of the original beds.  Most of the raised beds are “no dig”.  Layered with compost, straw or hay, cow or sheep poo. The raised beds retain moisture much better and are easier to work in. 

Help!   Any ideas about my miserable garlic?  This is the worst crop we have ever had.  All garlic planted was sourced from the Garlic Festival at Koonya.  I have Blue Lake beans sown to climb up the arch.

The broad beans are nearly as tall as our apricot tree.  No special treatment!  We have Trombonchino zucchini ready to plant along the reinforcing mesh wire.  I try to grow as much as I can up frames to maximise space.

More tomatoes in pots.  The cauliflowers have not finished yet.  Have had great brassicas this year!  This bed suffers due to the plum tree being very close, however, it did not stop the caulis and kale booming! 

Our favourite tomatoes planted to weave their way up the frame.  Japanese Black Trifelle.  A few Roma’s along the front.   Dry old seaweed mulching them.

The “nursery”.  A nice warm spot for chilli seedlings to wait until bed space becomes available.  We have 3 eggplants in the bed.

Seedlings waiting for a home.  Lots and lots of basil.  They will be dotted among the tomatoes in a few weeks.  Zucchini and pumpkins will go down the driveway and under pear and quince tree.  Squeeze them in wherever possible! 

This soil bacteria solution is watered around all seedlings planted.  Found this at The Weedy Garden on YouTube. 

Front lawn Kenebec potato patch!

More frames ready for cucumbers to climb.  There are  4 Romas at the far end, a couple of rows of corn in the middle and once the cauliflowers are done, chillies will go in.  We have very happy blackbirds in the garden, so I may need to top up the corn rows!  I have little cages over them but I suspect the sneaky birds get in at the ends.  Will be blocking them up this time round.

And finally: the Circle!  Where our old above ground pool lived.  So much fun was had in that, by our girls (and half the neighbourhood), that we decided to keep the shape. Baskets covering kale to keep the cabbage moths at bay.