Like most of my gardening things are a bit haphazard with planting dates. I’m a few weeks late by Wellington standards if the local blogs are to be believed but what the heck. This year is a total experiment so we’ll see what happens.
Traditionally garlic is planted on the shortest day and harvested on the longest day. By this rule I’m a bit early. So who knows what’s right.
Whilst the sun was shining when went out to pop these beauties in the ground there was a biting southerly wind to make it a quick operation. I dug over the bed and made a couple of furrows in which to plant the garlic cloves then covered them over. It took all of a few minutes.
The shallots were slightly different in that they need their necks showing.
My big fear with both these crops is that they want well draining soil. Although the potager is well prepared and pretty fertile it’s clay base so not ideal. But its all I’ve got so will have to see how they go.
The hair like onions I planted are starting to thrive. There’s a long way to go yet but it’s nice to know that just sticking things in the ground and crossing your fingers is an acceptable way to be a vegetable gardener.
My only problem at the moment is that I’m not being terrible systematic or planning ahead for use of the space. As soon as something is harvested I’m just filling it up with another crop after turning the toil and giving it a scatter of organic blood and fish bone. Then I leave it for a while before planting something else out. It’s probably not the most efficient way of growing but so far it’s working.
Here’s one of the garlic furrows wedged in between the onions, leeks and beans. This is where the fennel was for a while.
The celery plants are doing OK to. They actually look like they may grow up to be proper celery plants now they are growing upwards. It will soon be time to earth them up or put paper around to protect the growing stalks. Or so the gardening books tell me.
A bit like the hair like onions I planted, my string like leeks are still going strong. I love they way they line up in a row. Standing to increased attention as they grow stronger and bigger. The frosts are good for leeks so I’ve got high hopes. Shame I didn’t plant potatoes as they would have been the perfect accompaniment to the leeks.
In my container growing days in the UK I’d never have been gardening at this time of year. Now is the time to be hunkering down and letting nature take its course. Without proper planning for this winter it’s a bit wing and a prayer but I’ve been salivating over the seed catalogues for Spring. I’d promised myself though that I’m going to put in some more raised beds and get a proper system going for next season. That way I can move the beds down to the kitchen garden when it’s finally built.
I’m also eyeing up getting a Digloo. How close to divorce do you think that will bring me in it’s construction?
What I was up to………
Can’t you get a solid glass greenhouse for less? or a lean to greenhouse for the back of the Barn?
For one moment I thought you were going to have a modern version of an earth closet built, Dig-a-loo ? until I followed the link. It seems rather expensive. I think I’d like to talk to someone who has had one up for at least a year to check the claims for wind resistance.
some great close ups.
Did you mix up your longest days and shortest days in the bit about planting garlic. You said you were a bit early with the harvest, but June21st is the shortest day round these parts.
Will
Erm, I didn’t see the mix up – I think Julie was saying she’s already planted her garlic – earlier than the recommended shortest day – of 21 June – and will then harvest it on the longest day – which will be December time:
“Traditionally garlic is planted on the shortest day and harvested on the longest day. By this rule I’m a bit early.”
Good luck Julie and I am in awe of your continued gardening efforts. I have to say I’ve been very lame and have nothing edible growing at the moment – apart from a few surprise spring onions and some parsley. The strawberry plants are lying fallow and my baby blueberry bushes have lost their leaves – but are sprouting new buds – eh?! I have planted a few daffodil bulbs with the girls – which will hopefully make for a colourful surprise. Come Labour Day I’ll be rolling up my sleeves and getting dirty again!
Best wishes, Sarah