A lot has happened in our garden over the past week!
Uncle Steve (Pete’s brother) has built us a new garden bed, and refurbished an old one. Our back bed has always performed poorly – it’s close to the fence and a couple of large, nutrient-sucking trees. Pete felt the solution was to raise the bed and increase its organic matter.
The bed is filled with a mixture of the existing soil, compost and mulched prunings. We’re not sure how well things will grow this season, but we’ve optimistically planted it out nonetheless, with purple potatoes, dwarf beans, cos lettuce, broccoli rabé, basil, jalapeno chillies, eggplant and parsley…
The purple potatoes are a bit of a punt, as they’re not virus-free seed potatoes, but rather sprouting kitchen spuds. Having said that, I bought them from the organic growers at Eveleigh Markets, so hopefully they’ll be ok.
A potato grower on Gardening Australia a couple of weeks ago recommended keeping just one strong shoot on each potato, and we’ve followed his advice…
There was an unproductive patch in between the side beds which was always flooded with run-off from the neighbour’s concrete drive. Uncle Steve built us a proper little raised bed – isn’t it sweet?
We’ve planted climbing beans and snow peas at the back, with kale, carrots, Hamburg parsley and cos lettuce in front. There are three different varieties of kale, but unfortunately we can’t remember what they are (the seedlings were started over a month ago)..
The Hamburg parsley should form a large, turnip-like root…
All done, and the garden is looking neat and tidy again!
Hope you’re all having a great weekend! xx
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Your garden is really neat and tidy and so well organized. I too have problems with tree roots, will need to rearrange my garden before planting next year.
Thanks Norma! What you see is almost all of it, so we try to eke out space wherever we can! :)
I love seeing photos of your garden. That new bed looks cracking! Those plants will get a good sleep…
They do look cozy with their quilt of mulch, don’t they? ;-)
Celia, your garden is already flourishing. Please send some warm weather our way. Still having minuses…. it was minus four on Friday night, but at least we hit about 18 degrees during the day. Thank you for the advice re spuds! Will bear that in mind. We plan to plant ours in a new half wine barrel mid October! Happy weekend xoxo
Look forward to seeing how they go, Lizzy! I love the old wine barrels, but Pete won’t let me buy one! :)
Hi Celia
What type of wooden planks did uncle Steve use? I would like to use wood that is not treated with poison as that seems to defeat the purpose of an organic garden.
Cheers
Helen
We used treated pine. The new types are much safer than they used to be (the ACQ treated pine is arsenic free). And we simply couldn’t afford to use hardwood sleepers, which is the only other practical alternative.
Here’s an article on the topic from Burke’s Backyard a few years ago:
http://burkesbackyard.com.au/article.php?id=6079
I do love to see your gardens, Celia!
They look so happy and productive and like you mean business.
Mine are rather apologetic and uncertain- but at least I’ve gotten some tomatoes and MAY have some brussel sprouts this year.
Heidi, I hope you get Brussels sprouts! I grew them once, and no-one except me would eat them. ;-)
Great to see the ‘big picture’ shot of your garden!
Thanks Cosmo! I finally found a spot to take the photo – and then was able to use an iPhone app (Autostitch) to try and do a more widescreen shot. Here’s an even wider one..
So tidy and neat Celia! I love this season of anticipation when we’re still picking and choosing what to plant where- so much potential in those little packets of seeds :) My spuds were just kitchen ones left too long under the sink, but they’ve been fantastic producers, I’m jealous of your purple ones I I’m looking out for the ones that are purple inside as well but no luck yet.
Becca, I only discovered the organic potato guys at Eveleigh this year, and they had the most gorgeous pink and purple fleshed (non-sweet) spuds. Maybe next year I need to get some and send it to you?
Sapphire and Purple Congo have purple flesh.
You can order online from http://www.taspotatoes.com.au ($8.95 for 12 tubers,plus $9.00 postage), also diggers seeds in Victoria………not sure of their price.
Elaine, thank you – I ordered from these guys last year, but didn’t actually have much luck with the spuds. My problem is they’re so expensive! Sebago seed potatoes sell at Enfield Produce for $3/kg! The Sapphire are the ones we’ve planted, and I think there was a Red Viking in there as well. Do you like the purple congos? I always think they look like dinosaur poop. ;-)
Oh what a shame after paying so much for them! I don’t like purple Congos at all……plus as you so aptly described, looking like dinosaur poo! Pink fir apple are my favourites………
Your garden is looking so lovely this year.
I’m trying to grow and plant all my vegetables biodynamically this year; it’s probably just as well as it looks like being a hot dry summer.
Elaine, I find the purple congos very dry, and by the time you’ve peeled them, there’s barely anything left! Haven’t tried the pink fir, but I’ll look out for them, thank you! Hope your garden grows brilliantly this year!
What a garden Celia – just wonderful!! Lovely to see all of your spring seedlings – I am waiting with anticipation for my seedlings to sprout!
Thank you! We’ve bought a heated seedling tray – you’ve just reminded me, I should probably do a post on it. Thanks! :)
Uncle Steve, sounds like the man to have around. Good on him for helping out. Did he go home with something yummy to eat??
Always, Glenda! And he is an absolute treasure, we’re lucky to have him!
Wow! Your garden looks amazing..!!
Thanks darling.. :)
And do the chooks approve…..?!!
I think so, Sally! They’re all looking very well at the moment, and getting lots of greens too! Their dome and run is currently at the back of the garden, in a “holding” spot, although they’ll be rotating onto the next bed as soon as the carrots and celeriac are ready!
I hope that your garden grows with abundance :)
I hope both of ours do, Tandy! :)
It all looks great. I can’t wait to see how your garden grows.
Debra, I went out today, and there were huge beetroots ready for harvesting! That’s what we’ll be eating this week!
Love your garden Celia…it looks like a happy place filled with delicious things! Your raised beds looks excellent!
Jane, thank you! Given how fabulous yours always looks, I’m chuffed by your comment! :)
I want an Uncle Steve and a HUGE backyard for him to come and build magic raised garden beds in…your garden looks AH-MAZING!!!
It’s a fairly standard sized backyard, but yes, everyone should have an Uncle Steve!
Fall’s coming and our garden after a long hot summer is going to sleep. This is inspiring. :-)
Thanks Maz! I’ll keep posting photos for you all!
Your garden, new and old looks fantastic. I hope the purple potatoes are a success. We buy them from Eveleigh as well, to eat though, and they are my favourite, I think :)
Thanks ED! The potato guys at Eveleigh are just the nicest people! I like the purple Sapphires and the two red varieties that I can never seem to remember the name of – one is Red Viking, I think!
Now if I just had an Uncle Steve…
Your garden is looking magnificent Celia!
:-) Mandy
I thought every Pete had a brother named Steve? ;-) Thanks Mandy.. xx
Hee hee – nope my Pete’s brother is a Derek. Have a super Sunday. :-)
It does look very good Celia. And how wonderful to have some big, strong help. I’m sure your raised beds will do very well xx
Thanks hon. I hope so! xx
You have been so busy. I hope you enjoyed the lovely weather. There will soon be so many beautiful things to see in your backyard. Don’t let the chooks out!
http://www.mykitchenstories.com.au
We had a lovely weekend, hope you did too, Tania! The chooks are very happy, they have a new run at the back of the garden, safely away from all the veg!
Hi Celia!
It was so nice to see a full shot of your garden like that. It looks lovely. I enjoy watching how it progresses…
This year, we too grew our potatoes from organic, sprouting kitchen spuds (one shoot). We grew them in pots, and overall it was very successful. Hopefully that will be the case with your purple ones!
How did your beets comes out ;)
Emilie, I did try the raw beet as promised! It’s very earthy – not sure I could eat lots of it, but it was surprisingly edible! Fingers crossed on the purple spuds, they were my delicious, so I’m hoping they’ll grow well for us!
Celia it looks so fantastic! You’re going to have a seriously bumper crop!
Claire, thank you! It always surprises me how much we need to grow to feed just our family though!
Your garden is looking so pretty, Celia. How lucky are you all to have an ‘Uncle Steve’?! I would very much like to place an order for one of these ;)
Thanks Chris! Uncle Steve is in high demand these days.. :)
I think there should be a contest for pretty gardens.. yours is so appealing with it’s tidy arrangements that contrast with the wild beauty of everything that grows there!!
Smidge, thank you! I took the panorama shots for you – I thought I’d remembered you asking for an overall pic of the garden before! :)
I sure did!! I would love to have a garden like that.. do your chickens live in the entire area or just visit?
Oh I love a peek into the garden, as you are gearing up for summer, the new beds look lovely and smart and deep, and all that mulch, nice and cozy! I have some seeds for the Hamburg Parsley but haven’t got round to sowing them – a reminder to do so next year, thank you Celia!
….. and when uncle Steve is finished, can he pop round :)
Claire, I love mulch. I’ve become hooked on the stuff, and Pete always has to remind me not to completely smother the seedlings when they first go in.. ;-)
Celia I loved seeing the whole garden. It always looks so green and lush.
Thanks Brydie! You and the fam have to come for a visit one day! :)
As always, a fine productive looking garden. We’re at the other end of the season – digging the last of the early potatoes, though not interesting purple ones.
Thanks Anne! I’ve loved looking at your garden through your kitchen window all through our winter months! :)
I love the internet! I can enjoy pictures of your garden even though you are at the other end of the world.
But I sometimes do a double take when I see it is spring for you and our crops are harvested now.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Pat! I’m so glad you enjoyed the pics! :)
Neat and tidy and a beautiful garden about to produce wonderful fruit and veg!
Thanks Anna! Not a whole lot of fruit, except the lemons – although we do have a couple of lime trees which are just thinking about growing now that spring is here.. :)
What an awesome looking garden!!! Can I come over and pick some snow peas when they’re ready? I love those things. How nice of Steve to make you that raised bed. You will have to continue feeding him well:)
We had a wonderful weekend, even though trying to still deal w/ pain. We went to a local farm, picked up some apple cider, apple cider donuts, and a generous handful of gourds I picked out to decorate the house. We snacked on hotdogs and a tall Pepsi while watching apple pickers, hay ride tractors and little kiddies birthday parties. It was a lovely day!
Mel, I’m sorry to hear you’ve got health issues to deal with. I hope things are on the mend soon. The day at the farm sounds wonderful!
Uncle Steve has done a wonderful job, the garden is looking great!
Tony built another raised bed over the weekend so we now have five “plots” of vegies, none terribly large but we hope all will be productive this season.
Thanks Rose! I hope your garden flourishes this season!
Such a beautiful garden, Celia! I cannot wait to see it later in the growing season. I bet it’s spectacular! Well done!
John, it’s starting to get hot, which is hard on the plants, but this warm spring weather is just glorious!
Two years ago I bought German furry (hairy?) potatoes at my local organic green grocer and spent a year looking for such seed potatoes, all without success. THEN it struck me that since the grocer sold only organic vegetables that their potatoes would be safe to plant which I did and which produced a bountiful harvest. In order to alleviate guilt now when at the green grocer I buy a couple of the German furry/hairy potatoes whether I need them or not.
~~Gian, Berkeley, California