Shorter days, off-farm jobs and covid-related restrictions made this a slower week. And the plants themselves have slowed down. In summer, we could barely keep up with the seedlings that needed transplanting. Plants like chard were in the ground within about three weeks. Now chard and beetroot seedlings that we planted six weeks ago are still tiny.  At least I finally understand why the example planning sheets have the “seasonal variation” column that I’d been ignoring! For the seedlings the shorter days are being compounded by the low sun which, in combination with some beautiful tall eucalypts nearby, is keeping the tunnel shaded in the mornings. We’ll trial some seedlings outside in a sunnier, but less protected, spot. We really don’t want to move the tunnel!

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Still, some plants are thriving in the cooler weather. Broadbeans are bursting out of the ground and green garlic shoots are poking out after just two weeks. The latest coriander seedlings seem much happier so far than the ones we grew in summer. (Those still did well in the end and they’re flowering now while I impatiently wait for the seeds.) The green manure is knee-high and looks pretty with purple flowers, though sadly this means we will cut it down to feed the next crop.  

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Alex continued innovating, this time extending the hose-holding system while I was asleep one early morning. It’s not attractive but it does make watering a lot easier by preventing hoses from sweeping across garden beds, colliding with seedlings that lie in the way. We’ve finally started netting the brassica seedlings from the beginning in our seemingly eternal quest for caterpillar-free plants. And the summer harvest continued with highlights including two Jarrahdale pumpkins (4.8kg and 6kg), more purple cauliflower and sampling our first red tomato. And, of course, there were more late-night preserving adventures. This week’s new recipe was green tomato relish but I forgot the mustard. Luckily, perhaps, there are still plenty more green tomatoes.

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