Spring kitchen garden

New infrastructure

It's been a while, since I updated the kitchen garden. Much has changed since, October 2018. This small area of raised containers, has produced a lot of growth since the new addition was added. Mostly herbs. But also cherry tomatoes, chillies, silverbeet, and strawberries. Listed in order of productivity. They're just not as prolific as herbs.

To give you an indication, of what I started with...

Last addition

It was truly the bare bones, and hardly enough infrastructure to cope with the unbearably hot days we can get through summer. It sends everything to seed. We managed to buck that trend, on the two, 40 degree (C) days we had recently, though. Everything coped really well. I had a very crude shade, up, which I won't explain right now, as it's still a work in progress.

I'd much rather, just show the finished shade, when it's done. Because for such a narrow space, it needs a compact design, with the ability to remove easily. I only want the shade up, when it's necessary.

Going vertical

What I did decide upon, was a vertical space, for the new addition. Made of hardwood, to weather the elements, it's designed to give my emerging choko, room to expand. It was starting to climb the flowering, society garlic. Now it has something more stable to cling to, once the flower spikes, perish!

A cherished edible

I successfully grew choko, on the old chicken coop, for many years. But then a renovation to the coop, caused it's removal. I've regretted it ever since. For many years I've tried to (unsuccessfully) get another choko to sprout. Either the vermin got to the fruit, when planted outside, or I killed it with kindness, as an indoor plant.

This is my first successfully sprouted choko, since those early days with the coop. It will eventually get transplanted to a more permanent home, but will live in this container for now.

Some ornamental elements

I also have flowering plants for the bees, and for me, because they add colour. This is blue salvinia, and hardy enough for containers. It's best to plant flowers, where they can easily access the sun though. Or they grow straggly, trying to get to the light - covering your herbs. Most herbs prefer good air circulation, so choose the right location for flowers.

As there isn't a lot of room in containers, flowers do best, right on the edge - nearest the sun. You will be rewarded with bees, frequenting your cherry tomatoes and chillies too!

Location, location, location

I recently planted a nasturtium, on the eastern side. With the intention for it to cascade over. We like eating nasturtium leaves (peppery) and sucking the nectar from the flowers. The nasturtium is next to this hot-pink dianthus, which has been flowering prolifically since spring. All the butterflies, have been loving this flower too.

It does my heart good, to see amongst the larger garden (in severe drought) that life is still capable of flourishing, on the edges.

Mid process

 

The original area (next to the archway) had to be cut back recently. It was a jungle of self-seeded parsley. Some of the herbs like basil and oregano had to be replaced too, as they were too large and woody. They would be perfect specimens for a larger garden. As they'd be hardy enough to survive in the open. A small container garden, however, can create conditions for breeding disease, relatively easily. So you need to do a lot of maintenance.

As much as I loved the overgrown look, things had to come out! This area is still a work in progress. I have plans to revamp this area too. For now though...

Double duty

...I'm using the covered archway, to help keep our one and only rooster, alive. Remember, these fluff balls? As I predicted, they all turned out to be boys! Two found a new home, and we kept our daughter's favourite. His name is Chips, and will move to Hilltop chicken coop, when I finish the (new) renovations. He'll be happy with the company of some new girlfriends too. He's ready for it.

But the shade cloth helped immensely, with the 40 degree (C) days we had recently. I made sure to spend time outside, during the day. To feel what he was feeling - and the shade cloth made a huge difference. It's only held up with pegs, but not intended to be permanent.

Taken back in winter (June) 2019

I collected this cayenne chili plant, at the last Toowoomba, Simple Living Group meeting, I attended. It's performed magnificently too! But I only got to eat these two, before the local bird population, figured out where they lived. Who knew birds ate chillies? I wish they didn't, lol.

I'm hoping to make this area a little less attractive to winged marauders. It's all part of my remodelling project, for the kitchen garden. What I like about it is, the scale is smaller, so more manageable with resources. I'm not going to feed the family with it, but not having to buy fresh herbs, has saved us a lot of money.

Secondly however, it's right outside my kitchen door. So I can see it from the kitchen window. Being connected to something growing, year round, is important to me. As it helps continue the learning process of growing food. Even if I cannot grow all that I need, I still have to keep my hand in the game. So this area, is exciting to continue developing.

Do you have a favourite edible, you like to grow at home?