It is winter weather, cold winds and drizzling rain now and again. This is the perfect condition for seedlings to pop through the wet ground. And oh my, is there a medley of different seedlings sticking their little heads through the ground this season! Along with this, there are so many plants going to seed along with the tremendous growth from my herbs and vegetables.
Come along with me as I show the growth of these plants in my garden and as journey and meander through the various stages of growth of my experiments. I hope that you can learn something along the way!
After some violent wind storms a while ago, I needed to cut most of my gooseberries and basil plants down. Since then, most of the basil and gooseberries have taken over the flower pots again. However, the basil obviously did not return to its former glory, as most people who grow basil probably know the younger the plant the better the leaves. But the gooseberries grew even better than before! The new leaves are strikingly beautiful and I can already see some flowers that will turn into delicious fruits. (If the wind does not return...)
Between the various basil and gooseberry plants, the chickweed is beginning to seed. I have never tried to save the seeds, but this time around I will try and save some seeds. All the years that I grew chickweed, I always relied on the plants self sowing. But this time around, I will try and save some seeds to plant elsewhere.
A month or so ago, I wrote about a grey plant, which I think is a type of dusty miller or what I think is cineraria maritime, that merely grows wherever I stick it in the ground. I have no idea what plant it is, but it grows wild in most gardens in the area. I cannot determine if it is indigenous, excepts that it is sold on a website selling indigenous plants and a strange YouTube video that says it is South African. But as far as I know, this plant hails from Italy and the Mediterranean area.
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Moving on, I have an interesting situation on hand. One that if I had the opportunity could have yielded me a lot of money (or so I think). A local plant/shrub, the Honey Euryops virgineus, have dropped so many seeds throughout the years, have all sprouted in my lawn! I have transplanted so many of the little seedlings throughout the garden (see the above-middle photograph) and I hope they will take (stay alive). If I succeed in growing them, the plants will fill the empty spaces in the garden, but the shrubs will become really big. And if you cut it right, it can grow taller than 2-3 meters. The money opportunity comes from selling these seedlings. I bought the shrub for about $2-3, and if I can sell these seedlings for half that price... Alas, I do not have the means to do this now.
Returning to the succulent-raised bed, the basil has sprouted beautifully. I hope that it will grow more in the spring, as the colder weather is not ideal for them (in my experience).
But the Swiss chard (below) is doing extremely well in the colder weather. I will be harvesting some of the seedlings (below-right) for salad this evening to thin them out a bit. I always plant more than I need! But I am also so happy with the transplanted Swiss chard (below-left) as some of the leaves are already 30-40 cm long!
Also a bit slow out of the gates, but right on time is the salad rocket. They have grown in the last 30-40 (ish) days into a matt of green. The wild rocket is struggling a bit, but I will give them a chance. But I also think they prefer the warmer weather.
And lastly, the garlic chives (or what my fiance calls the "hairs") are growing just as well. I transplanted some and I sowed various seeds as well. And all of them are doing so well. I have harvested from the transplanted ones many times.
All in all, I am so happy with the growth in the garden. We have still to experience the winter rains, maybe it is coming this week, but the plants all seem to be very happy.
I know I am also happy with them, and the harvests that I have been making throughout the growing season.
For now, happy gardening and keep well!
All of the musings and meanderings are my own, albeit inspired by the growth of my plants. The photographs are my own, taken with Nikon D300.
basil seed head so beautifull 😍
Thank you so much! They are indeed, so many nice seeds for new plants and cooking.
Thank you so much @ewkaw for the curation! I really appreciate it.
WOW so nice and green!!! this post gives me inner peace!! I hope it all grow nice and healthy.
Thank you so much. It gives me inner peace to also walk between the plants; and I am glad that I could share that here with you, my friend. Keep well and stay healthy!
Have I read this correctly? This is your first garden journal post?! How is that possible?
Thanks for joining us, I love your playfulness!
You've been curated by @gardenhive on behalf of the HIVE GARDEN COMMUNITY! We support gardening, homesteading, cannabis growers, permaculture and other garden related content. Delegations to the curation account, @gardenhive, are welcome!
I myself also wonder! I think I always forget to post the link on the actual Garden Journal post. I have been writing the weekly/monthly updates for a while now and somehow always forget to add the link. But I will be better in the future! We have some wonderful gardens and gardeners here on Hive, and I love to visit and learn them! Keep well, and thank you so much.
Nice green garden very good photos. We lost our kale and rocket somebody told us they use lots of nourishment from the soil and after don't grow so much. salad I tried but before they grow the snail has been eating them. I am very impressed with your garden and your work. :)
Thank you so much! Is that really so? Wow, I never knew that rocket might be bad for the soil! Their roots are always so weak, but that might contribute to it. Could you give me more information on that, really interesting! I luckily grow them in raised beds which I continually feed with new compost from my own compost heap. So, luckily not that bad then!
I received this information from a woman who gave me some plants in 2019. Her garden was full of arugula at the time. After we planted the arugula in 2019, it grew and spread, taking over the area where we had other herbs. In 2022, the plants were full of seeds, and we scattered the seeds all around the open area near the house. However, last year we didn't get a single plant, and neither did my friend who had many of them. For two consecutive years, they haven't shown up in our garden or Karri's garden. When I talked to Karri last time, she told me about this info. I haven't checked the internet. But I will also ask one of my gardening customers for advice. Don't worry may your garden has some different energy levels. Enjoy your harvest regards :)
I am so sorry for only replying now! I got sick and could not do much. Thank you so much for this information though, and it makes sense as I can rarely grow arugula or rocket in the same area twice. And this might be the reason. Thank you so much!
For it being winter, everything looks so lush! We're in the heat of the summer here, so those tender greens are long gone until the weather cools off. I bet that Swiss chard tastes fantastic!
Love seeing some of the other plants, as well. A few I am definitely not familiar with. Always fun to see what folks can grow in different parts of the world.
Thank you so much, and I can assure you the swiss chard is incredible; nothing like home grown! I am so sorry for only responding now, what a couple of rough days. I hope your garden is doing well!