tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post8796314374755287105..comments2024-02-10T18:50:01.193+10:00Comments on Gully Grove: Working the landChris http://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-60621217947047223402011-11-03T14:34:47.539+10:002011-11-03T14:34:47.539+10:00Hi Linda. :)
We get potatoes popping up all the t...Hi Linda. :)<br /><br />We get potatoes popping up all the time, from the compost we make, but we've never been able to grow a proper crop! We hope to one day, LOL. <br /><br />I agree with your sentiments, cover crops are better slashed before they seed - allowing it to feed the soil rather than draw nutrients from it.<br /><br />Your garden sounds like a wonderful place for experimentation though. Keep letting those mysterious plants pop up to surprise you. It's great to walk into the garden and realise free surprises from vegetable peelings and the like.<br /><br />Thanks for popping up yourself, LOL, and reminding me of the joy of sharing with others too. :)Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-46897887989732214072011-11-02T16:01:02.152+10:002011-11-02T16:01:02.152+10:00Excellent ideas! I read this summer that some plan...Excellent ideas! I read this summer that some plants that are cover crops cannot allowed to go to seed. They will deposit lots of nitrogen. But, when they go to seed, nitrogen will be pulled from the soil. Of course, I cannot remember tha plants in the article. So, this may just be useless advice without the particulars. <br /><br />I lovingly tended several plants, thinking at first they were tomatoes. The guy who mowed my yard told me they were potatoes...oh shoot! And, I had watered them. Okay, the plants were pulled up and there were potatoes smaller than the tip of my little finger.<br /><br />Since I read tomatoes and potatoes don't make good companion plants, I pulled the potatoes. But, I was so proud for awhile. <br /><br />It's Nov 1, and I have missed your posts.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991571309786149363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-61404941787212334962011-10-03T18:00:26.759+10:002011-10-03T18:00:26.759+10:00Took me a while to reply, sorry about that. :)
I&...Took me a while to reply, sorry about that. :)<br /><br />I'm wondering if the sage you have is commonly called Grandfather Sage? I tried planting seeds of this variety but nothing germinated. Still learning the ropes of good seed germination, LOL.<br /><br />I didn't know you could make a salve from yarrow. I've heard it makes a good compost activator too, and is good planted in orchards. The idea is you mow it once or twice a growing season and it feeds the fruit trees.Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-79129158519513875222011-09-28T22:35:54.169+10:002011-09-28T22:35:54.169+10:00P.S.
About the chamomile...yes, it can die off if ...P.S.<br />About the chamomile...yes, it can die off if it gets too hot and dry. My granny used to grow it in inland San Diego where she lived on the edge of the desert. She watered it diligently and I must say that her's was much more potent than anything I have managed to grow myself. On the other hand, she made us drink the stems and leaves, not just the flowers. That could of been the reason. <br />She grew it in a patch all its own by the side of the house which probably gave it occasional shade daily but it does need sun.LindaMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03624659670781181099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-77677191451548769062011-09-28T22:30:14.315+10:002011-09-28T22:30:14.315+10:00I've long lost the label to my sage. Its the o...I've long lost the label to my sage. Its the ordinary garden variety that is used for culinary and herbal concoctions. Silvery leaves and purple flowers. I'll look for its name and let you know. I steep it in cider vinegar for medicinal use. A weaker version could be used in cooking. Yum.<br /><br />I wouldn't mind if yarrow became invasive. Its a great medicine that I make salves with for serious wounds. It can help stem bleeding and unlike comfrey, it won't heal over and allow a wound to abscess. It can also be used for natural dye. I keep meaning to plant it here! <br /><br />If you get red clover, you can make wine with the flowers too. We have both growing around here. I simply encouraged it to grow as a mulch but will buy seeds next year to get more of its benefits.LindaMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03624659670781181099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-35657188282867400342011-09-28T13:58:44.389+10:002011-09-28T13:58:44.389+10:00Great to read you've got some tough nuggets in...Great to read you've got some tough nuggets in your garden too Emily. I've got a feeling your isabelle grape will pull through. <br /><br />I have a globe grape I plan to finally plant this year, after surviving two growing seasons in the same pot with minimal water, LOL. What's the saying - "tough as old goat's knees"?<br /><br />Thanks for the lovely invitation for seeds Emily. I'm such a pathological propagationist, I won't be able to refuse!! What a mouthful, LOL. I have a truck load of pigeon pea seeds if you ever need any too. :)Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-66293541364665580412011-09-28T13:49:06.579+10:002011-09-28T13:49:06.579+10:00You've mentioned another two of my fav hardy p...You've mentioned another two of my fav hardy plants LindaM, Sage & Lemon Balm. I grow pineapple sage and steep its leaves (along with lemon balm) to make a lovely relaxing tea.<br /><br />Is there a favourite Sage varieity you like the most in your garden?<br /><br />Funny you should mention Chamomile though, as I tried it in the garden (after I thought it died) and it took off again, once I relocated it to a cooler area. I want this for tea too, and to try as a rinse for my hair. Extra points for being bee food. :) <br /><br />We're also in the same mind for the benefits of clover. Glad to hear it's found a useful niche at your place too. <br /><br />One more groundcover/living mulch/bee food/herb I just remembered I'm having success with too, is yarrow. I think it's the fine leaf variety which doesn't become as invasive as the other variety.Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-71589567947770886832011-09-28T13:35:30.549+10:002011-09-28T13:35:30.549+10:00Kale and broccoli crossing, I can believe that MW....Kale and broccoli crossing, I can believe that MW. We had broccolini cross with Asian greens this year. The leaves were peppery tasting (like Asian greens) but the broccolini tasted like regular broccoli.<br /><br />The wonderful world of cross polination, hey? ;) Definitely keep your seeds to see how it grows again. As long as you like the taste, you can grow two different greens from one plant!Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-4547955058109177372011-09-28T08:22:04.489+10:002011-09-28T08:22:04.489+10:00Sometimes we do have to succumb to what nature int...Sometimes we do have to succumb to what nature intends for us. And work with the land, not againist it. <br />My isabelle grapevine, lived through winter, despite no water or love from me. <br />Come spring it burst into life - only to be tipped from the pot by little hands and found a day later - I am hoping it will come back again! <br />If you need any vegetable seeds, drop me an email, I have way too many and am happy to post you some!<br /><br />Happy Gardening - EmilyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-41127844541218441742011-09-28T04:52:34.445+10:002011-09-28T04:52:34.445+10:00This is a wonderfully written post Chris. I see mo...This is a wonderfully written post Chris. I see more success than failures at this point in your garden. <br />Sage is my most hardy plant as is lemon balm. The bees love these when they flower. Chamomile would work for your area....roman chamomile is a ground cover that might interest you. Downside is that it doesn't like drought. It reseeds itself every year here. <br />You can most definately cut cabbage heads, leaving the root and outer leaves intact for a second crop of mini cabbage.<br />Iagree on the clover.If you turn it into the soil you'll build up your soil quality pretty fast. We use it as living mulch.LindaMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03624659670781181099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-6267498457568580772011-09-27T14:23:26.861+10:002011-09-27T14:23:26.861+10:00Oh I can feel the excitement of Spring in your gar...Oh I can feel the excitement of Spring in your garden! Everything waking up and deciding whether this is the year it will feed you LOL! <br />I currently have some kale which was so prolific through winter, not my favourite tuscan kale, but it gets extra points for toughness and perseverence, and now the same plants are growing me broccoli !!! (possibly going to seed but probably cross pollinated think the folks at ALS) Thats a winner in my garden. You are right, its about what works for you in your garden, so I'll try to get seed from that for sure. <br />Your cabbages are winners! And we have the same practice- anything mediocre or pest-eaten goes to the chooks, nothing wasted :-)mountainwildlifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05697065701317854063noreply@blogger.com