My intention of participating in this little series of posts started by L at 500m2 in Sydney has proven more intention less action. Sometimes this is because of being busy, enduring hideous weather or just plain forgetting. But it’s also because I have an ENORMOUS pumpkin plant growing in every conceivable direction and leaving me with little remaining space. I keep cutting it back and it just keeps on growing.
Having said that I do have a couple of little bare patches where past attempts at growing from seed have failed (leeks, beetroot I am not happy!)
This week in those spots I have planted…
Yet more leeks! I am persistent you’d have give me that. I’ve once again tried them direct in the ground and this time have fortified that area to keep the cat out of it. I’ve also planted another lot in a seed tray and will hope and pray they come up. It’s just about the last of my seeds so this may be it.
Beans – It’s perhaps getting a little late for beans but as I lost most of my plants in the heat I thought it would be worth giving them one more go. I planted a variety called beanette which is a dwarf variety and according to Gardenate they are still a goer this month in this climate.
Parsley – I have some growing in a pot, but it’s not keeping up with demand so more is needed. These seeds came from Andrea at Harvest with Glee some time ago so I hope they’re still good. (And Andrea the flowers from your zinnia seeds are putting on quite the display in my front garden at the moment. I put some photos on Facebook on Sunday. Thanks, I’m going to try and collect seeds from these ones so I can plant them again next year as well.)
That’s it for this week. Next on the cards are beetroot and more rocket, but I can’t promise when that will be.
The New Good Life 
I’m trying to conquer the leeks this year too. They are just so expensive in the shop, aren’t they!
Yes they are! And I’ve had such fun growing potatoes that I’ve decided I want to make a leek and potato soup from the things I’ve grown. So far it looks like it might just be potato soup… potato and rocket perhaps?
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Thanks for the reminder I’d totally forgotten it was Tuesday!
Good luck with your beans – and I hope your cat stays away from your leeks!!
So far the leeks seem untouched, but there’s still a long way to go!
I sneak up to my garden and water it and that’s about as far as I have gotten with succession planting. The problem is that my garden has gone completely feral. Every time I head up there it is bigger and more forboding…I am its watering slave and it eyes me off with menace when I approach…not entirely sure how this whole “harvest” thing is going to go but I might just stand, cap in hand and head down and ask it very nicely if it wouldn’t mind sparing me a zucchini or two seeing as how it appears to have sevently squinty squillion of them going to waste…
Narf, you make me laugh. I say show that garden who’s boss and beat it into submission! Rip that zucchini out and walk away smugly satisfied that you showed it!
But I am SCARED MA’AM! It keeps looking at me sideways! I took Bezial (our big black American Staffy) up to the garden to protect me today and even he wouldn’t go near them (could be something to do with a premonition that he is going to have to endure grated zucchini in his dog tucker over the next few months…). I am just going to have to learn to live with being a vegetable slave and be grateful that they haven’t worked out how to turn on the tap themselves whereby I would be unnecessary and toast!
Hee hee
I’ve grown Beanette before and loved it – great bean. Unfortunately I forgot to order any seed this year and don’t have it in. My leek seeds aren’t germinating at the moment either.
Ooh Liz, now I’m really looking forward to those beans. And I’m glad I’m not the only one with leak failures, damn vegetable!
Bugger your luck with the leeks! Do you know I’ve had no trouble growing leeks from both seed and seedling, BUT, I’ve only ever planted them in autumn through winter. Maybe they like it a bit colder??
Well if this lot fail Ren I’m taking a leaf out of your book and putting them in over the colder months. Mind you I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to grow leeks at all different times.
I heard or read the other day that allium seeds like it cold but not too wet. Maybe that’s why they don’t like germinating at the moment? I’ve bunged mine in to try anyway so here’s hoping one of us has some luck. 🙂 Othrwise I’ve got 2 flowers still blooming and 1 I’m hanging to dry for seeds so if I’ve done it right i shall hopefully have some seeds to share with you in a month or so. 🙂
My pumpkins have just realised that they’re allowed to take over ze vurld and they’re heading off but only still babies. I envy you yours. I’ve also got dwarf beans in and 2 look like they might be just about to flower. I hope. I also planted a heap of beetroot but I think 1 came up. 1! From probably a whole packets worth. 😦 It might be too dry for them I think maybe? I even planted some seedlings which isn’t ideal and only about 2 took out of 2 punnets worth. Either I suck at beetroot growing or now isn’t the best time despite Gardenate saying it is.
Check Jessie, I will wait for cool days to plant leeks again. I haven’t planted beetroot this year, it’s been on my list but always seems to get missed. I wonder if that would grow through the colder months here? Too bad about your germination rate, I have heard pre-soaking the seeds helps.
I tried the pre soaking too but I must admit it made it very difficult to plant them out – they stuck to my fingers! I think the beetroot should grow in the colder months. Gardenate says we can plant them in cold climate Australia from September through to April so there is hope. 🙂