Baby beet

Sowed the babybeet straight into the soil and they have started to
grow. I suppose I should thin them out at some stage but I find it
very difficult to do this to healthy baby plants.

Potato sightings

These potatoes came to the surface to say hello. They were quickly
covered up as they could turn green and poisonious otherwise.

Grapes

Just thought I'd post a picture of a few grapes on the grape vine.
They are Albany Surprise, a red table grape which are normally ripe in
January. We have had quite a bit of rain recently so they are plumping
up well. I need to find some way of preserving them as we have a glut
for a week or so and then the birds seem to win the battle and eat
them all before we can :-(

The cactus area

Sophie and I planted up this area last weekend and to kill the grass
we have put down some board that used to be under the carpet in the
lounge. We intent to cover this area with stones, large and small.
Large to stop the cats from using it as a litter tray and small to
stop the weeds and grass growing. It should look good as most plants
will fill the space we have given them. Also it is another area of
grass I won't need to mow - hurray

The oasis has gone

The chickens are enjoying the newly dug area Sophie and I emptied
last weekend.

The worms have arrived!

Ended up buying worms from Wormz Away and found them on Trademe. $21 +
postage and a good service. They are tiny, but will eat their own body
weight in one day. I have followed the instructions and torn a hold in
the bag and placed them upside down so they can make their own way
out. I also put a bit of food too. Very cosy.

Pumpkins

Veggie garden

I know it's not big, but it's a start :-) I have tomatoes in spaces
1,2,3,4,7
Onions in 13,14 & 16
Peppers in 5,6,8,9,10,11&12
Silverbeet in 15

Potatoes 2008

Well, Sophie kindly planted my potatoes for me while I was away in the UK. I had already been sprouting them for wayyyy too long and they were trying to grow out of the cupboard out of the sink. She planted the, in very nutrisious ground, although a bit shallow. Today they are looking very good plants.

Tui Certifified Seed Potatoes $9.50

Desiree - Early main crop, likes reasonably fertile soil. Oval shape with a red skin and distinctive yellow flesh. Good all yound cooking potatoe, excellent for chipping.

Feeding - potatoes are gross feeders, fertiliser should be mixed in the soil and watered in well

Maintenance - Carefully hoe around the shoots to keep the crop weed free. Mound up more soil as the plant grows which gives protection from the woind and frost and prevents light reaching the tubers and turning them green. When watering, water the soil not the foliage to avoid blight. if blight does occue, srpat\y the foliage regularly. aphids, potato tubers moth and wireworm and other insects you may need to spray for if found on the plants.

Harvesting - to harvest, gently move the soil away and then use a fork to carefully lift the tuber. Early varieties are ready to harvest when the flowers are fully opened, approx three months after planting.

Storage - being able to rub the skin off easily with your thumb means potatoes are not good for storing, so eat these first. Earlier varities are unsuitable for storing. As soon as potatoes have been dug, dry throughly and store tubers in sacks, paperbags or shallow boxes in a cook dark well ventilated position. if using boxes, cover with soil or dry sacks to stop light getting in. do not leave poattoes exposed to light. carefully stored poattes should last up to 6 months.