2013 Wow

It sounds funny, like a future prediction or something.

I can't quite believe that we are this far into the future already.

It is now!

I still have a lot to learn about growing garlic.

These are my second year from seed, garlic bulbs.

I think I planted them too close together.

They would have benefited from a weed free bed and a bit more fertilizer.

The taste is still there, they are just a bit small.

Perhaps another year in the ground will swell their stature

 I also learned there was no real benefit from really early planting.

If anything that just meant they matured a month earlier

than the later plantings.

I am hoping to have some new ground for this coming years crop of garlic

I resolve to water more, fertilize more and make sure the bed remains

weed free in my quest for huge garlic returns.

This new bed was planted out in early spring with Roma and Louie tomatoes

Its hard to remember what is growing well and when.

This year I hope to reflect on what matures and when,

so I can use this blog to keep track of my next gardening move.

I am picking tomatoes daily. I hope I can grow enough for making sauce.

We ate a Louie tomato on a toasted sandwich the other day,

Flavour plus!!!

Home grown tomatoes are definitely much better than the

red things from the supermarket.

Worth the effort!

Flowers out and pickable at the moment are

Correopsis

This plant does best with regular deadheading.

I don't know why some petals are trumpet shaped, fluted.

They have nice long stems and produce masses of seeds,

which could prove a self seeding problem in an area where it rains occasionally.

I must look after these lillies better this season.

More water, some fertilizer & mulch.

Today I picked my first bunch of Zinnias for the season.

They are definitely one of my favourites. I love the bold strong colours.

They are so good as cut flowers too, long lasting in the vase!

The other flowers about at the moment are

Alstromeria, Lions tail, Aster, Dahlia, Verbeena, Calla Lilly, Sunflowers.

We are having another heat wave so I don't know

what will survive a week above 40 degrees Celsius.

Thank goodness for irrigation.

I often think of the pioneer women who would

plant gardens they had to bucket precious rainwater to.

What they would have achieved if town water

and a hose had been available to them?

A lot of old gardens relied on winter and spring bulbs for flowers.

Dormant over these hot months.

If I had to bucket water to the garden I would take their advice.

All the best to you for this new year!

2013!