Research for Progress

I decided to try and plant something simple to start off with - not too overly ambitious for the novice gardener. Tomatoes seemed like a good choice.

Not knowing which tomatoes to buy and which would do best in my garden or climate, I bought one of each variety I found at the nursery. That way, I thought to myself, I could learn what each variety of tomato looks and tastes like.

I planted each tomato plant near a stake, in neat rows, stapling their identifying label on top of each garden stake.

I also decided to plant leeks - which looked a lot like fine blades of grass. I planted each blade until I completed four perfectly straight rows and placed the label in front of the rows.

Joe and Lucia from next door were watching my progress in the garden plot and asked what else I intended to plant.

I told them about my start on tomatoes, salads and leeks. I told Joe and Lucia that I was experimenting with the varieties and locations of the plants to see which ones would be more successful and produce more abundantly.

Joe commented that the garden resembled somewhat a CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) research facility.

Okay, so now I'm labelling everything so I know what I've planted and where, so I don't forget what I've planted or get confused with weeds.

I must admit, I have previously attempted to go my own produce. Last year, I planted a couple of plum trees, a couple of cherry trees and a couple of figs with the result of one cherry, one very hard fig and 3 very small plums.

I also bought a packet of what I believed to be mixed French gourmet salad. To be honest, the mixed leaves looked a lot like weeds and didn't taste too good either, not even cooked. They did have pretty flowers though. This year, these 'weeds' have self-sown and are growing rampant around the more sheltered part of the house. I sent Matthew out to do a little weeding an remove some of the bigger weeds. As Matthew pulled out a couple of the weeds, we saw that in actual fact, they were carrots.

So, as you now know, there is good reason for me to be labelling the plants.

Lucia yelled out: " Let's not plant the same things, that way we don't end up with too many of the same thing. I've planted zucchini and cucumbers."
"Good idea", said I. "I'll plant capsicums and eggplant".
What? Me plant capsicum and eggplant? What was I thinking? Why, why, why did I say that?
I have no idea what I'm doing! Now the pressure is on to produce enough capsicums and eggplants for two households.

I got Matthew to quickly clear a spot at the back of the house - a steep sloped area near the back fence which backs onto the nature reserve covered in long grass and rocks (just like the ones in my head).

With a sense of urgency I went to purchase the capsicums and eggplants and more horse manure. I planted them all planted next morning. The kangaroos looked on with curiosity or perhaps with pity at my stupidity.

I placed some capsicums in the plot near the tomatoes (for experimental purposes) together with plants of basil around the edges of the plot to make it look nice and to make its way into pesto and Caprese salad this summer.

Rows of tomatoes and leeks outside the kitchen  

        Matthew pulling out the weeds (carrots)



 

 

Kangaroos observing my progress in the back garden