September Garden Diary

One year of growing and learning.

September 12, 2024

Brrr, it’s cold outside! I just returned indoors and started a fire after being attacked by a smarting wind. I was planning on sitting and sketching by the beach today after the Willunga market, but the weather wasn’t particularly conducive. I did make myself wheelbarrow one load of old leaves and one load of fresh green weeds to a new compost pile. I’m so proud of my compost piles, they are PH neutral and I’ve grown lots of veggies in their richness already. Since moving in to our new home exactly a year ago now I’ve made several hot compost piles. It was a wonderful brain wave when I realised that our neighbours have donkeys have lots of poo that I can use. Yay for poo!

Here’s a little recap of what’s going on in my veggie garden so far:

• I have soooo much spinach, it’s awesome! We’ve been eating spinach in every meal and giving it way, yet there is still more. I made a palak tofu the other day, which I was super proud of. I might collect more tomorrow and blanch/freeze some too. The plants are starting to bolt and flower, but I’m not letting them. I might let one go to seed though so I can try and save the seeds.

• My brussel sprouts have already gone to flower and I don’t think I’ll be harvesting any this year. NOTE TO SELF: Plant them in March next year.

• The nasturtiums are giving lovely colour to the veggie patch and make a killer pesto. Super yum!

• The coriander and dill are loving life, but the sage and Vietnamese mint - not so much.

• I’ve harvested two lovely healthy broccoli plants and made a delish creamy broccoli pasta for lunch this afternoon.

• Leeks are VERY SLOWLY growing.

• Radishes are a wonderful little fast growing staple, I love the pickled radishes I made.

• I planted some seeds with my lovely friend Bree a few days ago, but with these cold nights, I’m nervous they won’t germinate. Owning a greenhouse would be a dream… one day soon! Zucchinis are planted straight in the ground with little glass greenhouses on them.

To Do This Month

Here’s a little list of things I’d like to do this month, join me if you like.

• Finish making a new compost pile with all the weeds that are so quickly coming up.

• Plant beans in pots out the front.

• Make new veggie patches for the seedlings (fingers crossed they grow).

September 29 Photo Notes

Here are a few photo notes of the things going on in the garden right now.

How incredible is this giant moth I found on our back door? Any idea what it is?

Yesterday we went to a big native plant sale and were very reserved in our purchases! Excited by the running postman.

Kyle has been working hard ripping out many of the agapanthus on our property. How funny do the roots look?

Many of our recently planted natives are blooming beautifully.

Found these little clay friends that my sister and I made in Primary School, they look lovely next to the compost bin.

Snow peas growing so fast!

Little flower surprises in the lawn.

Super proud of my hot compost making skills.

Arum lillies popping up everywhere!

New pumpkin sprouting, yippee!

Native rosemary is thing and it’s flowering beautifully.

Planted and caged my first tomato.

Finally have a cauliflower growing, I’ll never undervalue shop bought cauliflower again!

How lovely is this poppy from Kyle’s granddad?

How are things going in your garden? I’d love to see photos!

With love and whimsy,

Zinia King