Adventures in Geelong West Community Garden

Garlic



It's been a whole WEEK since I visited the plot with my mum and got her weeding. Was feeling a bit down, so I went to see how things are going, well needs a weed quite clearly. As soon as the weather picks up, I will get down there and spend a couple of hours weeding. Also I have some cos lettuce seedlings that wouldn't fit in my garden at home...

And there is a space.................could cram in a whole punnet there, found another spot for some herbs too, the broccoli is ready to pick, and there is also a spot for potatoes

Hmm, back to Uni next week and looks like I will be busy-need more seeds..and a cold frame......

Changes in the garden

Mulch, mulch, mulch

This week I went crazy and got rid of the lawn at the front of my house. My friend Mal, who grew up with a Croatian father who planted vegies in the front garden, is disgusted, I threaten him with pumpkins on the nature strip!! Well it was kinda a long term plan, I drove to Visy in Geelong, they have ENORMOUS bins outside, full of cardboard fantastic for sheet mulching. Then I ordered 4m2 of Forest Blend Mulch (recycled Green Waste to you and I) and spent a couple of happy hours spreading it across the lawn. The neighbors kid was very helpful, gave him a little bucket a spade and he helped out, even his mum came over and watched making sure he wasn't too rambunctious, he was good at spotting the litter and once I had pointed out to him what was 'organic i.e. was once a plant and what was rubbish, he seemed convinced that wood was rubbish, didn't seem to understand it was once a tree.


The fruit trees are now happily mulched, and I gave them a good feed of liquid seaweed. I had an old wheel barrow in the back garden and I decided that it wasn't really useful in the state it was in, so now it is living under the Red Flowering Gum-Eucalyptus ficifolia, planted up with Spearmint-Mentha spicata

Bare Rooted

Very exciting day today, WEDNESDAY..but that is not that exciting , but no exams or schoolwork for four weeks. Celebrated by going and picking up the four fruit trees I had ordered. Well three fruit trees and an olive(in honor of my grandmother who loved all things Greek), and they are planted. I got a Picual Olive Tree, but would really like a Kalamata.
"A very dense, bushy tree, producing medium sized fruit, that is suitable for both pickling and oil extraction. The Picual olive will start to bear from an early age, and in high numbers. Suitable for cold climates." http://www.engalls.com.au/Olives/tabid/70/Default.aspx
A double grafted plum, Mariposa and Satsuma.
Mariposa-A Japanese blood plum with dark red flesh and large fruit if thinned. The flavour is excellent, the skin glossy red and it has a egg shaped fruit. Will crop over a wide range of climates. Pollinator Satsuma
Satsuma-Red to purple flesh with a freestone. The flavour is good, the growth vigorous and its bears particularly well, in fact to get large fruits it may require thinning. The firm juicy flesh has a sweet spicy flavour. Self pollinating. 350 - 400 hours chill. Bears November to early December.
A four grafted apple, Gala, Red Fuji Naga FU2, Pink Lady and Jonathan. Also not forgetting the Almond. Will keep them small for netting and picking, well medium size I think I would like a lemon and a mandarin too. But patience. And a grapefruit. Might move the Apricot-it is a rare one a Blenheim.