Giving your Cabbage some TLC.

🍄 Does your cabbage deserve some love? Then you've come to the right place.
🍄 This is all you need to do to get your cabbage across the finish line in the best possible condition.




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Alright already.

What's getting planted over the next week.

• Lettuce seedlings x 8, 1 punnet of. Done
• Peas by seed. Not yet.
• Broccoli seedlings x 6, punnet of. Done
• Radish by seed. I'm working on it.
• Leeks by seed. Soon alright.
• Kale by seed. Done.
• Cabbage by seed. Done
• Sweet Pea seedlings x 8, punnet of. Done.
• Poppy seedlings x 8, punnet of. Done.

What's getting planted in your garden?

Cheers

Stewart

Hi, how have you bean?

I had a few minutes spare on Tuesday and this is what I ended up doing. I wish it was as easy as it looks. It's like the weeds were just jumping into my hand.



I stopped into the nursery on the way home today (Sunday) and picked up a few punnets of seedlings while I was there. It seems now that I'm driving the Taxi of a daytime I can't care all that well for seeds that I've planted. Big seeds like beans and corn should be OK but the little seeds like lettuce and carrots that are planted close to the surface tend to dry out.

Anyway I bought some Leek, spring onion, cabbage and lettuce seedlings to plant tomorrow. I also picked up a packet of rocket seeds (I know, I just said I wasn't going to do that) and I'll try them in a protected spot where they wont dry out as much and see how I go. I know they sprout quite readily so fingers crossed.

I'm promised fine weather for the next two days that I have free to myself to play, plant and weed in the garden and I'm so looking forward to getting plenty of work completed.

Until next time,

Cheers

Stewart

My Basic Coleslaw

Raining a little here today so I'm just sitting back and listening to the seedlings grow. Also have nectarines on the stove cooking, getting ready for a nectarine chutney I'm going t try. And that'll be interesting to say the least seeing as it will be a first for me. Nectarine recipe I'll be trying.

My Basic Coleslaw

Lots of extra carrots but just as tasty.

I'd dare say almost everyone would have their own favorite coleslaw recipe but just in case you don't here's one I use with much success and enjoyment.

Stuff you'll need

• 6 cups shredded cabbage
• 1 carrot grated (sometimes 2)
• 2/3 cup mayo ( I like the whole egg mayo)
• 1/2 sour cream
• 2 tbsp vinegar (apple if you like)
• 2 tbsp veggie oil
• 2 tbsp sugar (I use castor sugar) (or to taste)
• I also grate radish 1 or 2
• A diced onion as well

Method

Toss cabbage in a large bowl with the carrots, onion and radish. In another bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients  Pour the mixture over the cabbage and carrots and toss to coat thoroughly. Bung it in the fridge until you're ready. There you go a s easy as falling off a log.

I find if you half the above recipe you'll have enough for about four people or in my case three people and some left over for a chicken and coleslaw sandwich.

Cheers

Stewart

Brass monkey weather.

Am I going to make it into the veggie garden this Sunday? I'm hoping so.

I've missed the last three Sunday's firstly due to misadventure and then to a badish reaction to a flu shot and then Sunday just gone it rained last and the weather forecast for this coming Sunday is for showers with the chance of a storm in the afternoon. But with some luck I might get the morning in at least.

Needless to say the veggie garden is getting a bit ratty looking (I'd like to apoligize in advance to any Rats out there that may take offence to my previous remark, no harm was intended).

However having said that the rain has kept everything growing and looking very happy and despite the weather's best efforts to freeze the balls off a brass monkey I still have some potatoes and tomatoes growing, albeit slowly.

I took this photo of the Savoy cabbage that was attacked mercilessly by cabbage moth grubs which, after a fair bit of attention on my part, has survived to grow into the magnificent specimen you see before you and is looking like it will contribute to a bumper coleslaw in the very near future.

Cheers for now and fingers crossed for Sunday.

Stewart

Bloody grubs #3

 Remember that caterpillar riddled (I think I got at least 50 caterpillars from it) savoy cabbage I posted about (see Bloody grubs #1 and Bloody grubs #2) a few weeks ago. Well after some persistence at pulling the little buggers off the plant and a garlic and chilli brew/spray recommended by a good facebook friend it looks like it's coming good.

I'll tell you I'm bloody sure every cabbage moth for a hundred miles around must have laid it eggs on my Savoy cabbage.

Here it is photographed just this morning.

Oh and the chilli and garlic recipe. Pretty simple really.
I just blended two really hot chillies, a teaspoon of garlic in a cup of water. Let it sit over night, strain and add a few drops of dish washing liquid. Make it up to about 250mls of liquid, bung it in a spray bottle and away you go.
You'll need spray all the plant and both sides of the leaves and to keep applying it after rain or watering but for me, so far so good.


I might get to enjoy my savoy cabbage yet and even more so knowing all the effort I've put into it thus far.

Cheers and how's your Easter going so far?

Stewart.

Bloody grubs #2

Remember this grub eaten savoy cabbage I wrote about a short time ago? If not you can catch up here, Bloody grubs #1.

Well the next day I pulled off another thirteen grubs then five again the next then three and two and one and finally it has been grub free now for the last five days now.

And here it is freshly photographed this morning. Amazing the growth rate of a cabbage when it's not being eaten alive.

I'm really hanging out for this cabbage too, because now I have found a goodish recipe for coleslaw I can't wait to try it with my very own cabbage.

We had a big shower or very small rain event here last night so it's a wee bit on the wet side of things to be doing much in the veggie garden today. I am hoping for some drying weather today and then I can get stuck into a few veggie gardening jobs tomorrow.


Cheers and have a great veggie weekend,

Stewart

Nevele

Nevele/eleven

Walkies again this morning, but nothing as extravagant as yesterday.

Just around the big block to walk out some stiffness from yesterdays epic.

I found this nice reference to the number eleven while I was out so I took a photo and now here it is.






Stuart and Mabel street will mean nothing to anyone. It's just a photo I took to show I was there.













Oops, looks like it's the end of the road for me, but fear not fair maiden, for I have a plan.....umm, what was the plan again???

Ok so this is the top of North street that I refer too from time to time. And yes it is as steep as it looks.

As for the veggie garden we have rain predicted here for tomorrow and I am hoping it will hold off long enough for me to prepare for and plant (direct sow) some carrot, cabbage, cauliflower and brocolli seeds before it sets in.

Cheers for now

Stewart.


P.S. Happy Valentines day.

And I know why he had his head chopped off.

The first representation of Saint Valentine appeared in the Nuremberg Chronicle, (1493); alongside the woodcut portrait of Valentine the text states that he was a Roman priest martyred during the reign of Claudius II, known as Claudius Gothicus. He was arrested and imprisoned upon being caught marrying Christian couples and otherwise aiding Christians who were at the time being persecuted by Claudius in Rome. Helping Christians at this time was considered a crime. Claudius took a liking to this prisoner -- until Valentinus tried to convert the Emperor -- whereupon this priest was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs and stoned; when that didn't finish him, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate. Various dates are given for the martyrdom or martyrdoms: 269, 270, or 273.^[8]

Not the deadly

I had to hand in my enrollment paraphernalia for my prep course at uni today so I hopped on the deadly and rode out there.

It's about 9k's each way and mostly up hill on the way there and obviously down hill on the way home.

And for my 47 year old ex squash playing knees that don't do much more than lean on a brake peddle or accelerator in the taxi, I gotta tell ya that's a long way.


My plot at the Toowoomba Community Organic Gardens is on the way home, and as seen as I haven't been there since the last lot of rain I popped in to see how things were going.

When I first got my plot I planted some Violet Sicilian Cauliflower by seed which I planted in a spare raised bed close by. (behind the bike in the above photo)

They're doing well but I've got to get some blood and bone and sulphate of potash on them, as well as some mulch.


The peas are still growing well and will need to be stakes soon (I think I said that last time as well).













Weeds? What weeds?

This is a red cos lettuce the seeds of which I got from diggers. Never grown them before but they look good so far.








Leeks and spring onions.

I'm growing the leeks on at the moment, when they get about 200mm high I divide them up in to individual plants for growing on.










These are the broad beans I planted for a green manure but I'm finding myself attached to them and not wanting to turn them in.

When I get chance I'll ask the pres if I can have some more space for my potato planting plans and then I can keep the BB's.









Cabbage is doing well





















Broccoli Romanesco, same as the Violet Sicilian Cauliflower I planted some of these guys up.

They seem a little slow off the mark, but look healthy enough.

And same again, I've got to get some blood and bone and sulphate of pot ash on them, as well as some mulch.








Also after the recent rain the weeds are having a ball. Looks like wipper snipper time.

Well that's it for now, after having little to do for the last month the veggie gardening jobs seem to be piling up so I'd better get cracking and get into it.

Cheers,

Stewart

But wait there's more

Hang on a minuite, it must be Wednesday somewhere in the world.

Some more of the Wednesday walk through.

First up is the white Italian garlic bed with the purple podded peas at the back.

Very happy with the progress here.

Click on the photos if you want to see a bigger photo.



Some people think they are cute but, as you can see in the photos below, the trouble I have to go to to grow a few lettuce, (not to mention having all my carrot tops eaten off) I hate them.











These are the drunken women lettuce I've been growing for a while now.

The aforementioned possum has had more enjoyment from them than I have. Bloody, bloody bloody........bloody possums.








These are my Red Iceberg lettuce which I am especially proud of.

The possum got a few munches on them but I've had the rest and it's a great little lettuce for sandwiches.








Beetroot and some more lettuce which the possum hasn't found yet for some reason.













Climbing snow peas in flower.

I'm growing about 6 plants in 3 week intervals so I can hopefully have a continuous supply of snow peas until it gets too hot for them.

So far so good.







An eclectic collection of brassicas which includes red cabbage, kohlrabi, Cauliflower, 'Violet Sicilian' and Broccoli, 'Romanesco'. I think there is a normal drumhead cabbage in there as well as a normal Broccoli.

Cheers and happy veggie gardening,

Stewart

Wednesday walkthrough.

Hi all,
I just put new batteries in the camera, went for a walk around the garden and here are the results.

First off is the purple flowering broad beans which are doing quite well if I do say so myself.


Click on the photos if you want to see a bigger photo.



Next is the freshly sown onion bed. Not much to see, Just a nice photo of of some fresh soil, but can't you just see the potential?













I love a good yellow rose as much as the next person so here's one to share.














A small selection of dwarf and mini brasscias.
There's red cabbage, mini cauliflower and mini cabbage as well as a Broccoli.

All growing well thank-you very much.








This is the hard neck garlic which is the first time I've grown it and therefore have nothing to compare it to so I have no idea if it is growing well or not, but it looks good to me.










Baby cos lettuce, three in a row all ready to eat.

Luv this gardening.

Cheers and happy veggie gardening,

Stewart

Baby carrot thinings

Just picked(pulled, lifted, thinned? whatever)!!

My carrots were overdue for thinning, but now I'm thinking steamed baby carrots for dinner.
I just need to work a meal around them.

I haven't had chicken for a while and I've got fresh beans, cabbage, beetroot and baby carrots of course.
ummmmh sounds good to me.
God I love gardening.

Damn fine weather, but

Damn fine weather, but it's fairly warm and humid which is playing havoc with my peas. Cool misty nights and warm humid days are a perfect recipe for powdery mildew which I'll have to attend to.
Here's a photo of my tiny tom tomato's I transplanted today. They only just have their first set of true leaves on so I have put them into pots to grow on before I plant them into the garden proper..
I had a productive morning mulching/weeding and watering. I also planted this seasons first row of beans plus another two foot row of carrots.
The Sweet corn I planted has sprouted and a few more Chilli have come up.
I also planted another two cabbage in my secession planting goal. At the moment I should be able to have cabbage when I want it for the next three months without having any excess or waste.
Cheery bye.

Talk about spoilt!

These are my Cabbage, Lettuce and Turnip that are about half grown and I decided to give them a treat. My Beetroot and Brussels also got the same treat.



First I added a light side dressing of blood and bone at about a hand full per sq/mtr.














































Then a side dressing of compost. I used about a bucket per sq/mtr































And then I covered it all over with my mulched prunings, again about a bucket per sq/mtr.

Today

My wife commandeered me today for some car repairs but, I managed to get some seed planting done.
Sweet corn Snow Gold Bicolour F1 x 10
Pak Choi x 6
Broccoli Italian Sprouting x 2
Cabbage Sugarloaf x 2
Tomato San Marzano x 6
Lettuce Iceberg x 6
Celery Green Crunch x 6
Basil Sweet Genovese x 6

So much to do so little time.

I'm feeling overwhelmed at the moment so I need to look at getting myself underwhelmed.
1st off the weather has let me down with little (.04mm) rain falling, but some still being predicted for mind week.
Spring being spring there is lots of soil prep, weeding, watering, mulching and planting to do, plus I'm trying to clean up other areas of the garden that I have let fall into neglect.
I collected seed from a Passionfruit I bought a few days ago so they will need to be planted.



Seedlings of Lettuce (iceberg, see the cute little fella an the left) and Cabbage (sugarloaf) have been planted.
I divided two Globe Artichokes into four a month ago and they are going well.
My Rhubarb is starting to form leaf. I can taste Apple and Rhubarb pie already.
What else is there. Arr yes, turning soil/preparing small area for sweet corn which I'll plant from seed in about three weeks. The second sowing will go in where my Broad beans are at the moment.




Earlier sowing of lettuce.

I'm also going to try growing climbing beans in with the corn this year so I'm looking forward to trying that.
Rocket, spring onions and spinach I planted direct by seed 3/4 weeks ago are growing well as is the beetroot which will need follow up plantings some time this week.

Harvesting
I gave seven lettuce to my wife to take to work (Myre) with her and they were all gone within a matter minutes.







Spring onions, spinach, garlic chives and Cauliflower I picked will make it to dinner tonight.












Here are some Cabbage seedlings planted about 4wks apart as part of my continuous cropping plan. The two on the left I planted today, the tow in the middle I will plant in 2/3 wks and I'll need to plant 2 more seeds to keep the whole thing rolling.
I find it really hard to plant just two of things. I'd rather plant a hundred and have a good old go. Maybe I have a repressed farmer inside me somewhere.



Here are some about seven weeks old.