Update: Mid February

Busy busy busy! Our Markets are back on now after a break over January plus a week spent in Adelaide on family matters... The Strawberry runners I potted up have developed strong roots and are ready for separation from the mother plants!

Temperatures:
Lowest Min 6.7C
Highest Max 37.3C
1mm Rain

Storm clouds keep promising rain but not much arrives. The temperatures have been high but fortunately no heatwaves. With only about 1mm of rain since mid December the soil is very dry, we could use a decent downpour as we prepare beds for Autumn planting.

Propagation:
Seeds:
Beetroot Beta vulgaris
Bulls Blood New Gippsland Seeds & Bulbs
Golden Detroit 4Seasons Seeds
Cylindra Diggers Seeds
These went into seed trays after soaking overnight in rainwater
Coriander Coriandrum sativum Cilantro Select Organic
Coriander Coriandrum sativum Cilantro Mr Fothergill's Organic range
Miner's Lettuce Montia perfoliata Phoenix Seeds
Rocket  Eruca sativa Select Organic
These were scattered in pots that live under the back pergola
Peas Pisum sativum
Climbing Snow Peas Mammoth Melting Mr Fothergill's
Dwarf Peas Onward DT Brown
Sown in Loo Roll centres for planting as soon as the roots are visible below the cardboard

Potted on:
Beetroot - Bulls Blood, Golden Detroit. Cylindra 
Silverbeet
Stevia cuttings

Planted out:
Basil Genovese seedlings into pergola pots

Free Seeds:

 

This week I had a surprise package arrive from Mr Fothergill's a great collection including:
Pansy Mini Comedy Mixed F2 Viola wittrockiana
Calendula Lemon Daisy Calendula officinalis
Sweet Pea Hi Scent Lathyrus odoratus
Dichondra repens
Grass Blue Fescue Festuca glauca
Grass Snowy Woodrush Luzula nivea
Grass Bunny Tails Langurus ovatus
Grass Green Fountain Pennistetum alopecuroides
Onion Early Californian Red Allium cepa *Easy Sow Seed tape
Spinach Viking Spinacia oleracea *Easy Sow Seed tape
Pak Choi Brassica rapa var. chinensis *Easy Sow Seed tape
Broccoli Italian Sprouting Brassica oleracea *Easy Sow Seed tape
Little Gardeners Mini Strawberry Growing Kit
Little Gardeners Lolly Plant (Stevia) Growing Kit

The others came via a $10 voucher to spend at a newly discovered (via facebook) supplier The Seed Collection. I'm looking forward to trying these seeds as it's a "no frills" supplier...with seed packs from $1 and free postage over $5  I was able to choose 10 packs of seeds.
Alyssum Royal Carpet Lobularia maritima
Broccoli Chinese Kailaan Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra
Cabbage Red Dutch Brassica oleracea var. capitata
Cauliflower Macerata Green Brassica oleracea botrytis
Kohl Rabi Purple Vienna Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes
Coriander Coriandrum sativum
Onion Gladalan White Allium cepa
Gypsophila Repens Rose Gypsophila repens
Hyssop Hyssopus officinalis
Salad Burnet Sanguisorba minor
Gotta love freebies!! Just in time for more autumn sowing.

Meanwhile around the Garden...

Capsicums forming in Bed 7

Cucumbers on the cage around Bed 20

Pink Lady Finger Grapes on the fence line bagged and growing bigger

A mosquito net over the pots under the pergola will not only stop the birds digging the soil up but will also keep the moths and grasshoppers out.

Jumbo Pink Banana Pumpkins hiding under the corn in the Old Chook Run Garden

 

I'm waiting for rain to help with autumn bed preparation but the seedlings are coming along nicely

The recently cleared Strawberry Tank Bed (e), where the plants look much healthier now they have been trimmed and fed.
 

By the looks of this bee activity I should be getting at least a couple of Red Warty Thing Pumpkins this year...pumpkin numbers are low this year I didn't plant many and they didn't like early heatwaves we had.

 No such problem in Bed 1 where the Zucchini plants are still producing well

 

The Tangelo tree over in the Almond area has survived a spring bug attack and has set about 8 fruit...we should get to taste this fruit for the first time since planting the tree 6 years ago...citrus are very slow over here.