See what I’ve done there with the post title? Hilaaaarious. Many an Etsy print/card/tshirt adorned with this cracker. Ahhhh word play. I have lettuces and beets to show you, no turnips though sorry.
I thought it high time I update you on the status of the ‘Carlton’ veggie patch…
Well, our iceberg lettuces have bolted, and I really must remove them but I kind of like the look of them going to seed! We planted our tomatoes on Caulfield Cup Day, people say to plant on Melbourne Cup but Matt’s mum (who knows these things) says no no – a week before. Duly noted.
Our silverbeet and spinach is going gangbusters. I can not get enough of the baby spinach and mushrooms with an insane amount of butter and garlic. We also planted some beans on the new fence, some wee little things that Matt’s mum sent us in the mail as ‘magic beans’. They were going well…until a 37 degree day just absolutely burnt their little socks off. No amount of water would save them. I’ve also lost a zucchini to the darn snails (along with my basil and sage).
Over near the chook pen we’ve got a little potato patch, Matt living out his potato farming dreams. Germination in the sand has been *ahem* less than inspiring though. Our neighbours also gave us what I think is a pumpkin (could be a zucchini though…) so that’s gone over there in the paddock to ramble about and do its thing.
I’m pleased to report that after much love and car my lime tree seems to be on the improve! Gosh, it was sad there for awhile… Along the falling down fence also near the chook pen grows what seems to be a completely dead old grape vine. Well I’ll be blowed if it doesn’t have little ruby grapes on it! Our more lively grape vines over near the orchard are fruiting readily also, Matt’s gearing up for perhaps one glass of wine from ‘our vineyard’!
After literally months of thinking my artichoke was all leaf and no glory, I’ve been watching it grow into an actual artichoke – or three! Love the look of these, aren’t they beautiful? I think it’s my favourite looking vegetable. Our sunflowers are reaching for the sky also, ready to give us a summer show.
Wandering about the orchard just now I spied something amazing – trees which I had long thought would not fruit, are fruiting! I found apples, and apricots and what I think are pears? I’m beside myself!
Figs are plumping up on the enormous tree, I tried to get a photo with Tess in it to show you the grand scale of our old girl. She’s just as wide again at the back from where I’ve taken this photo. I pulled up our beets finally too, ready for roasting, perhaps pickling and plenty of garlic-laden dip making.
Harvest is plentiful and yummy here at ‘Carlton’ – even without my basil and beans. Delicious stuff for the soul all this growth and digging in the dirt.
What’s growing in your patch?
Or rather what’s giving you grief?
Got sandy soil? Snails? Damn them!
Love the look of bolted lettuce and artichokes? Me too.
Katie says
Sorry the snails are a pest – they look so cute on the post! They are not a problem in Pennsylvania. And right now nothing is a problem in the garden, since it is covered with a layer of snow. I enjoy seeing the sage leaves twinged with ice crystals.
Emma says
A white Christmas! I dream of having a white Christmas one day.
Ainsley says
As always, gorgeous photos Emma! Living on the coast in CQ means our garden is a little different to yours. Pumpkin and Sweet Potato are plentiful, the rocket is ‘bolting’, we’ve corn not far off harvest and a bumper mango crop. My evenings are spent picking, slicing and freezing fruit …..
Amy says
Go you good thing! Abundance! Enjoy the spoils of your tending. xx
BabyMacBeth says
Looking fabbo!
sharon says
and you didn’t want to put in a vege garden! look at the joy its bringing you. And WOW, real apples and pears and stuff on a TREE! I’ve never seen an apple on a tree in real life, must go on the list of things I must one day do – pick and apple from a tree (and eat it!). Looks like one of those really lovely varieties too!
Emma says
You are more than welcome to come and pick apples at ‘Carlton’ – you might freeze here in Winter though! My aunty and uncle who my parents farmed with used to have apple trees, I remember picking them when I was little, we had two enormous plum trees at the old house on the farm where my brother and his family now live. Homegrown apples taste so different – better!
Alli @ Ducks on the dam says
No greens to speak of in ours – a handful of peas. Beets are being slow. The berry patch is taking off – blueberries should be ready for Christmas and the rosellas are enjoying our strawbs! Our orchard of about 12 trees is in about year 4 and I think that we may have hit jackpot this year. Unless the cockies get in there first! Cant wait.
Emma says
Our beets were incredibly slow, like the artichoke. I used to always have a blueberry patch but I don’t think it will be cold enough here for them, I might attempt in Winter. I’m not sure how old these fruit trees are, some aren’t very big except a plum and the fig, and the house was built in the 1940’s. That’s the trouble with fruit trees – the waiting! Hence why we’ve never had them before, we never stick around long enough!
Tina says
Hi Emma, I’ve just recently started reading your blog and love it. I’m very envious of your garden/orchard. It looks amazing.
How wonderful to be able to eat fruit and veg straight from your garden! Love your photographs too.
Emma says
Thank you! We are a bit lucky. I’ve never had fruit trees before so it’s all a bit of a learning curve! I like that about it though. E x