AUS: Summer has Arrived!

And with a bang...

It was 38C (100F) yesterday in western Sydney and 41C (106F) expected for today. Bleugh!

I've been a bit busy lately so the garden has been a little neglected but I finally got my tomato trellis up last weekend and I replanted a bunch of other squares as well so my squares are all filled again.

I went with a really simple option for my trellis because we thought we might be moving before the end of January, that has now been put on hold but I'm happy with the results anyway. The plants are going crazy and we have our first tomatoes growing already.



This is last Thursday's harvest for a salad when my husband had a work colleague come for dinner. Turned out he was a bit of a gardener too and he loved seeing my garden. He also called my hubby during the week and said I had inspired him to plant some tomatoes.



The lettuce is also going crazy, I filled 3 large Tupperware containers the other night and still had more so my neighbours got a gift.

The corn is looking really good too, not entirely sure when to pick it but I don't think it's ready yet. The carrots have been variable, had some really crazy looking ones but I didn't get around to taking a photo. I picked some good size ones last night for dinner but most of them have been pretty small. The Atomic Red ones are really bad, they are going to seed but the carrots are these minuscule thin roots. I think it just got too hot too fast, the plants don't know what to do!

Erica, Glad to see I'm going to be able to follow along with your gardening during my winter sleep time here in Maine, USA. I love the idea of seeing your pictures and progress.

As for the corn, when the tassels get brown, peel back the corn a bit and if the kernels are all about equal in good size, press your fingernail into a kernel. If its milky, they the corn is ready to pick.

Thanks Quiltbea, I knew I had read what to do somewhere but I haven't had time to go and look!

So nice to see veggies growing while we wait out our winter months. That is some really great pictures of of your progress erica. Keep up the good work!

erica .....so happy you are posting and giving us some pic's too!!!

we had the same problem with our carrots...this next spring we are going to work real hard on carrots....its the veggie that keeps letting our son down....my son wants a carrot like GWN's!

hugs
rose

Erica,

Regarding your corn, my mother, who was from Arkansas (south-eastern United States, hillbilly country) always used to give this advice, along with a tidbit more:

The corn "milk" should also squirt you in the eye.

Great Job Ericam, please keep the pictures coming! My garden is shut down for the winter so it is a treat to see your success while I dream of next Spring.

It's too hot out there today but if you're nice to me I might do another video tour in the next few days!

Erica, my tomatoes shut down production in the extreme heat this past summer. I found that when I shaded them with burlap they started back up again. Please let us know if yours do the same. What kind are they?

CC

I've got two San Marzanos, one Baby Red Pear and one Earl of Edgecombe which is a variety from New Zealand.

Back to cooler weather today 26C (79F) so hopefully that won't be a problem but thanks CC, I'll keep an eye on them and let you know.

Just picked my first corn!



It just went in the steamer for dinner along with these...



Sad little specimens but I forgot to buy carrots and there aren't any big ones left in the garden. Oh well, baby carrots are trendy aren't they?

ericam wrote:


Sad little specimens but I forgot to buy carrots and there aren't any big ones left in the garden. Oh well, baby carrots are trendy aren't they?

It is currently -22C here - I would be THRILLED to be able to pick carrots like those! Thanks for the pics that keep us snow-coated gardeners dreaming!

GG

Your corn and carrots look divine. Baby carrots are the best. Thanks for sharing.

Hi Erica
I have been having computer problems for a few weeksbut hopefully this first picture might work.
If all goes well I have lots more to put up.
Ray down under

Very pretty Ray!!! Definitely show us some more.

I took a few tonight whilst I did some overdue garden maintenance, will have to post tomorrow.

It is nearly the official start of winter in the U.S. so it's a real treat to sit here with my morning coffee and enjoy pictures of our Australian friends' healthy looking gardens, thanks so much

Very nice, Ray! Are your boxes made of three 6 inchers? And put atop what? Does the excess water go out onto the tiles?

Well done on the carrots, Erica! How long were they in before you pulled them?

CC

thanks for sharing you pic with us Ray!

love your box's

happy gardening
rose

I started my new garden 14 weeks ago when we moved into our new house.
I hope these photos come out okay
Ray down under





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Thanks for the comments on the garden.
I have been doing sfg for about 6 years now and my new garden is my best yet.
I bought ready made boxes and put one on top of another. They sit directly on the ground so that they drain. I then tiled around them so there is no weeds.
I half filled the boxes with top soil and the last 2 feet with "mels mix".
The plants have grown so well that I have a lot of crowding so not everything is doing well but most terrific.
I have 23 different varieties at present.
Will pick my first tomatoes for xmas.
Cheers Ray

Erica and Ray, I just have to come here to get my fix of green, growing thing. Love your pictures.
We have another 4 inches of snow last night here in the British Columbia Southern Interior, but it is only a few days to our winter solstice then we really look forward to spring and it will be your turn to look at the green, growing things.

I love the green and growing. Beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

Great Pictures!!! Snowing and clod here but now I have something to look forward to..better get the seed catalogs out soon.

oh wow! i am sooooooooooo jealous right now!

those plants are gorgeous!! i do hope you attain your goal of a fresh ripe tomato on christmas day - what a wonderful gift that will be!!

i love the height of your boxes - how so utterly convenient! no bending over at all - LOVE IT!

thank you for sharing the pics and thanks also for letting me drool over those pretty plants while snowflakes are swirling down faster and faster all around me in ohio usa. . .

Hi happyfrog,
I do enjoy seeing your gardens as well, why I like this site.
A couple of snaps taken today of silver beet, cucumbers, marrows and my first tomato
There are two types of marrow, the round ones I havn't grown before.
Going to stuff the marrows tomorrow as I have so many.
Cucumber pickles to make as well.
Cheers from down under where it is going to be 39C (102F tomorrow
Ray
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