In an effort to Make May Count, and not have it disappear out from under me in a blur of lethargy and can’t be botheredness… I am pushing myself to get out there and do things. Any things. Chores that are long overdue and exciting things that I have yet to come up with but will bring joy as I do them. It is hard at this time of year stay focused in the garden. The weather is getting cooler, the sun is getting weaker and it just doesn’t compare with spring.
In spring the expression “ask a busy person” is perfect. A busy person is much more likely to squeeze in one more task, just to get it done, whereas the opposite in autumn is more likely to procrastinate. ‘I’ll just check out one more cool gardening video before heading out to do that job…’ In spring there is no time to lurk and linger on the great big internet, the entire season is counting on jobs being done right now. In autumn there is no urgency, and it is cold outside, well it’s getting that way.
But I’m a hardy sort and anything I do now will make a difference not only to the current season but too the entire growing year. This is no time to sit around, waiting for things to happen, I need to get out there and make them happen! I won’t regret putting in the effort and in light of this decision, today I have:
Taken care of the needs of the Monday row. I weeded, watered and feed the plants that were still growing there and hoed the paths around the beds to keep the tiny weeny seedlings from becoming giant weeds in the way.
As a part of the Monday row maintenance, I wrangled my peas. I love to grow alderman tall, because the peas within the long pods are so sweet, even when they’ve gone that tiny bit too far. The problem is in their name – they are ‘tall’. And the wind here can whip them about, when it gets up. Then I remembered something I did once at the last place that seemed to work well – although I should have done it earlier to keep them in control. What I did was get some garden string and tied one end to the end of the netting and the other to a short-ish bamboo pole and weaved the string in and out of the pea row, gently pulling wayward plants back in tight against the netting. This should not only prevent them from lolling about the place but also if the wind gets up, then they are hugged tight and shouldn’t come to harm.
I also sowed some sweet peas. A little bit later than I would have liked, but I’ve been procrastinating, much to my shame. I have just the right place to plant them out when the time is right – they will look fabulous growing up against the chicken coup at the end of the garden. It will look amazing.
And I gave my new feijoa plants a deep drink in a bucket of water as their pots felt very light. I will still need to plant them out, and all going well this should happen while I’m still Making May Count.
Then it was inside to cross inside jobs off the list, as like the garden there are things that need desperately doing indoors too!
I’m feeling amped, pumped and excited. Well that is what I’m telling myself to feel! I would really like to curl up with a good book or a good movie, but it is Monday and on Mondays work gets done!
Come again soon – I’m off to a good start
Sarah the Gardener : o)
Another great read Sarah.
Thanks Carol. : o)
I use a bungy cord stretched between both ends of the pea frame. Holds them in a treat.
That is a good idea. My pea row is 5 metres and I’d need to do it down both sides and I found I need to do it several times to keep them from flopping over as they grow! If I wasn’t so greedy for fresh peas, I’d absolutely grab a bungy cord! : o)
Looks great! I’ve been thinking of planting a feijoa tree as my 5yo loves them. But I don’t want to get her hopes up only to have all the fruit riddled with guava moth. Any tips for keeping them at bay?
I haven’t had to deal with that pest… yet! But from what I’m aware of, there isn’t a tried and trusted answer to this but I know they are working on it. It is a little blighter that doesn’t seem to mind which fruit he munches on! There is some good advice on the Auckland City Council website: https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/articles/news/2017/04/keep-the-guava-moth-out-of-your-fruit-trees/ I think it is worth giving it a go as you can cut the bad bit out and still enjoy the fruit. : o)
Wait, are those peas autumn grown? I mean, did you plants them as summer was ending? If so, they look nice and big. That is how we grow them here, with some peas getting sown at the end of winter to produce in spring, and some getting sown at the end of summer to produce in autumn. They do not do well through summer. I know in more humid climates, peas can be grown in phases from spring to autumn, but it does not work here. (Besides, it seems to me like vining plants such as peas should get sown in spring, and last all the way through, like pole beans do.)
These were autumn sown peas. They don’t do well here in summer either so we can grow them in spring and autumn, but if we don’t get a frost here, I’m just seeing how far I can push them into winter. : o)