Two big jobs done at our place this week, so we can hang up our boots for a couple of days around Christmas. The first has been harvesting the onions.
There were some little ones there still, but also some big thumpers and a couple had flower heads forming, so I reckoned it was time to harvest.
I used a fork to loosen the soil around them before pulling them out so as to keep their roots intact. What a great sight!
Last year I left them to dry under an eave of our house, but I’m pretty sure they did get the odd bit of rain on them, as the outsides started to go soft, I guess on the way to rotting. We used them up, but I do want to store them for the long haul this year. So I’ve hung them up in our garage. Rob said the smell would be intense in the beginning, but it hasn’t been too bad. Rob suggests keeping them like for at least 6 weeks. They may simply stay there as I use them, or I could cut the tops off and store them in breathable bags after that.
I had heaps of lettuce seedlings ready to be planted, so I quickly plumped up the old onion bed with worm castings from our Hungry Bin, compost, chicken manure and rock dust (Natures Organic Fertiliser) and mixed it all together using a fork. Then in went the lettuces in their paper pots. The best thing about them is that the roots aren’t disturbed when they’re planted out.
The previous lettuces are ready for eating now.
And I’ve sown another batch to keep the supply up. These ones are the looseleaf varieties which can handle the hotter weather.
My next job waiting to be done was completing our tomato beds. With the gorgeous rain we’ve had lately they’ve grown heaps again. So the first job was tying them up. I was tempted to do more delateralling but the day was humid, and we’ve managed to keep blight-free so far, so I restrained myself.
Next was applying our deluxe mulch – lucerne chaff.
Then I planted the baby basil and some more marigolds. Without nets on the tomatoes the birds have been working away under the tomato plants and pecked out most of the original marigold plants I had in.
And finally the web of netting.
There are lots of lovely tomatoes forming (these are Watermouth) and I can’t wait for them to ripen. Then it really feels like summer.
We wish you a safe and happy Christmas! Enjoy your friends and family and the fabulous food you’ve produced this year and we’ll see you in 2022!
From Jan and Rob ❤️
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9 Responses
I love the way your garden is growing and following your blog. Where do you buy your lucent chaff from? It looks amazing.
Lucerne I meant!
Hi Chris Yes, the garden is great fun! I buy lucerne chaff from Falloons Stockfoods in Dairy Flat. More pricey than barley straw, but I love it on the tomato bed 🙂
Hi Jan and Rob
A big thanks for all the useful info over the year, I love your blogs. May you and your whanau enjoy a great festive and holiday season (hope it’s more than 2 days!), wishing you the very best, Cheers, Kate.
Thank you so much Kate. We are grateful for your positive feedback. See you in 2022! 🙂
Thanks so much for keeping us on track this year it helps us realise we are blessed to stay healthy because of healthy food and healthy soil
Our pleasure Louise! That’s the key! 🙂
I went yesterday to Falloon’s and pick up my Chaff for my Garden so thanks again.
This morning I’ve just checked my Moth Traps and they where full of dead moth and things from my Feijoa trees.
so I’m delighted as we may get some beautiful fruits this season.
Thanks so much for your help thru the year. I do hope you have a wonderful Xmas and New Year.
Warm Regards
Fabulous Carolyn! Thanks for your greetings and we wish the same to you and your family 🙂