SPRING GARDEN

I really wish it would rain.  It has been weeks of dry weather and the rain tanks are getting low and the soil is very dry.  Watering by hand only does so much - a good soaking from a sustained rainfall really does the trick to provide the deep moisture necessary to growth.

I have planted Scarlet runner beans, two types of cucumbers - a small lebanese cucumber and a cucumber called Mexican Sour Gherkin.  The later is supposed to be a climber so I have planted it where the snow peas were.  I am preparing another bed for a small pickling cucumber called Parisian.

Scarlet runner seedlings

I have also started raising my own lettuce - a baby cos and another called Crisp Mint.  I bought a commercial seed raising mixture and let me tell you it is a total dud.  No wonder I had so much trouble with my Alpine Strawberry seeds.  I succeeded with these against the odds.

With the lettuce I planted out a tray with the commercial mixture and another tray with my home made seed raising mixture.  The home made seed raising mixture is made of:

• A small block of coir peat especially designed for seeds (available from Bunnings)
• Half a bag of perlite
• Commercial compost

The coir peat for seeds expands into this lovely soft stuff which easily mixes with the other ingredients.  I keep this in one of those long white buckets with a lid.

The above is the commercial seed raising mixture.  The lettuce have remained this size for weeks.  I will try planting them out but dont hold much hope for them.

The above seedlings were planted on the 4th of September.  They are practically ready for the garden.  If you click on the image you will see the difference in the texture etc of the home made seed raising mixture.  The middle two rows contains seedlings of Blue Pimpernell as we all need some colour in the garden.

I have planted chives in a pot and they are just starting to show through the soil.

In the rock garden I have also planted a little daisy type flower.  It spreads so I hope it will look good amongst the other plants.

I will let you know the progress of the garden as it evolves - please rain.