Spring has begun up in the mountains, the distant sound of chainsaw's and strimmers fill the air, in preparation for the yearly land clearance. A vital part of living out here in the depths of the mountains, is that the land is maintained, and mainly for prevention of the risk of fires.
The sun has been hot this week, temperatures reaching up to 30celcius, and the garden high up here knows about it all, and us gardeners fear the risk of early bolting plants. The heat change hot to cool, and the humidity can cause some distress to both gardeners and plants. Nothing much different from most years, it'd about keeping an eye on the plants making sure they have water at the right time of day, and have adequate shade from other plants and trees. It has taken me a long time to figure this out, for all the 7 years i have been growing food for my family.
Today the 16th May we have experienced a lovely break from the harsh sun, and are having a lovely cool north-westerly wind, and a few clouds, when i say cool wind i mean gusts of 30 knots, but all in all a natural wild flower and seed carrier.
Up to, and including today, i have planted in Corn, Potatoes, Onions, Turnips, Cabbage galega (a portuguese variety) and sweet heart cabbage, Carrots, Beetroot, Lettuce, Spinach, Tomatoes, red peppers, Piri piri chilis, 3 different variety of beans to dry and store, and flat romano green beans, courgettes, butternut squash and cucumbers.
For the herbs, i have coriander, rosemary, sage, basil, fruits i have strawberries, raspberries, cherries, plums. Last but no means least, for nuts i have almonds. I found a few almond plants popping their heads up in the compost heap, and decided to give them a good go of growing.
Mostly it is sit back and wait now, a few topping up of my lovely stinky comfrey tea i have stewing in the back garden in a big barrel, this mix added frequently, yet keep up watering each night.
Many more jobs to get on with at the homestead, like keeping the chicken fence in check, the winds come to ruin it all. Collecting in poles for the beans, and tying them in as they grow, keeping an eye out for the naughty colorado beetle that feeds off the potato plants, although not a complaint from the chickens. We don't seem to have a snail and slug problem here. We did find a snake in the garden the other day, it had found my little friend the garden toad the other day, was sad to see my friend the toad in Mr. Snakes tummy, but still snakes are good in a way hoping they catch mice and voles rather than the useful toad. Suppose nature must take its course one way or another.
This is my eldest last year in our garden, in the corn and cabbage area.
This is the unexpected pumpkin patch, growing out from the compost bin, next to the tomatoes.
The sun has been hot this week, temperatures reaching up to 30celcius, and the garden high up here knows about it all, and us gardeners fear the risk of early bolting plants. The heat change hot to cool, and the humidity can cause some distress to both gardeners and plants. Nothing much different from most years, it'd about keeping an eye on the plants making sure they have water at the right time of day, and have adequate shade from other plants and trees. It has taken me a long time to figure this out, for all the 7 years i have been growing food for my family.
Today the 16th May we have experienced a lovely break from the harsh sun, and are having a lovely cool north-westerly wind, and a few clouds, when i say cool wind i mean gusts of 30 knots, but all in all a natural wild flower and seed carrier.
Up to, and including today, i have planted in Corn, Potatoes, Onions, Turnips, Cabbage galega (a portuguese variety) and sweet heart cabbage, Carrots, Beetroot, Lettuce, Spinach, Tomatoes, red peppers, Piri piri chilis, 3 different variety of beans to dry and store, and flat romano green beans, courgettes, butternut squash and cucumbers.
For the herbs, i have coriander, rosemary, sage, basil, fruits i have strawberries, raspberries, cherries, plums. Last but no means least, for nuts i have almonds. I found a few almond plants popping their heads up in the compost heap, and decided to give them a good go of growing.
Mostly it is sit back and wait now, a few topping up of my lovely stinky comfrey tea i have stewing in the back garden in a big barrel, this mix added frequently, yet keep up watering each night.
Many more jobs to get on with at the homestead, like keeping the chicken fence in check, the winds come to ruin it all. Collecting in poles for the beans, and tying them in as they grow, keeping an eye out for the naughty colorado beetle that feeds off the potato plants, although not a complaint from the chickens. We don't seem to have a snail and slug problem here. We did find a snake in the garden the other day, it had found my little friend the garden toad the other day, was sad to see my friend the toad in Mr. Snakes tummy, but still snakes are good in a way hoping they catch mice and voles rather than the useful toad. Suppose nature must take its course one way or another.
This is my eldest last year in our garden, in the corn and cabbage area.
This is the unexpected pumpkin patch, growing out from the compost bin, next to the tomatoes.
This year in fact i believe it to be the 13th May 2019. Facing north-west. This house is only used during the summer months as a holiday home.
These two houses, both, are used in the summer months as summer lets.
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