Friday, April 10, 2009

In the Garden

I've spent a lot of time over the past few weeks working away in the garden.  As you will recall, I have been making a new vegetable garden and I thought today would be a good time to reflect on all that I have done.

I'm turning a piece of meadow into the garden and have created about 19 new beds.  All the beds are about 7m x 1.2m (24ft x 4ft). The ground is heavy clay so I have had to do a lot of amendment mainly adding in sand and compost.

The site has the provision for another 11 beds which might get added next year.....

The layout of the garden is pretty straight forward. It occupies a square piece of land running roughly north west/ south east.   There are 4 corner beds, each quadrant shaped.  On the west side there are two beds run together to form one long bed, running at right angles to the main beds.  Apart from those, the rest of the beds are in rows of 3 beds running lengthwise.

Of the 19 beds, 18 have been prepared leaving just one bed still to make. More sand and more compost......

I have also been planting these beds extensively over the past couple of weeks.

At this moment, I have perennial beds planted with Asparagus, Rhubarb, Artichokes, Red Currant, Raspberries and Hazelnuts.  The quadrant shaped corner beds have been planted with shrubs to attract birds and insects, some evergreen and some deciduous, Bay, Cotoneaster, Kerria, Thyme, Flowering Currant, etc.

Here's a list of the vegetables already planted

IMG_0407 Spunta Potato
Binjte Potato
Lollo Rosso Lettuce
Joy's Cos Lettuce
Oakleaf Lettuce
Chicory
Radish
Bok Choy
Ian's Red Cherry Tomato
Sturon Onions
Lillia Red Salad Onions
Spring Onions
Borlotto Beans

 

I also have lots of seedlings ready to be planted, including

   
Charentais Melon
Queensland Blue Pumpkin
Purple Ukraine Tomato
Veeroma Tomato
Golden Sunrise Tomato
Capsicum Yellow Cornos
Capsicum Kaibi Round
Cavolo Nero Kale
IMG_0425

 

 

In the herb garden this year I have

IMG_0430 Bay
Basil
Chervil
Coriander
Dandelion
Dill
Hyssop
Flat Leaf Parsley
Garden Mint
Peppermint
Sage
and something called aillette in France.....maybe a wild garlic.

 

Last year's vegetable garden is still in operation and has

fennel
red cabbage
Broccoli
several varieties of Garlic
Salad Onions
Leeks
Broad Beans
and three varieties of Strawberries
garden

and finally, I still have some seeds to sow, mainly beans cucumbers, melons and peas.

DSC_0015-1

I think I'm likely to remain busy for a few more days yet....I'm so pleased that when Kate was here helping me get started on this project she insisted on having a table and chairs right in the middle of the garden

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I so enjoyed those cups of hot tea on cold winter afternoons, after working in your garden Ian. Somehow that sitting circle just had the perfect curve.

Maggie said...

It all sounds great Ian. I have great success with companion planting. It seems to work really well.
Do you have chives, I love chives.

Ian said...

Hi Kate, the sitting circle is getting a lot of use still....

And yes, Maggie, you have identified the herb that I missed from my list... I think you can see a small pot of chives growing in the photo.

Cassie said...

Great to see your gardens so changed, hope your both well

Love Cassie