While it’s not autumn yet (my seasons follow the solstices and equinoxes), it’s time for some particular jobs.
Taking out tomatoes
They’ve all pretty much had it and I’m beginning to think I’ll go bonkers if I see another tomato! I picked almost 30 kilos in all. There are whole tomatoes in the freezer. There are tomatoes in the fridge, in pasta sauce, green tomato pickle and tomato relish. There are tomatoes (cherry types) out on the deck in the sun, drying. I’m all tomato-ed out. These are my dried tomatoes. Last year I managed to fill both jars. Not as many this year:
After taking out the plants, each wicking box gets a top-up with chook poo compost and mulch:
Wicking tubs likewise:
Planting new seedlings
New seedlings are ready to go in. These are broccoli and kale:
And in a wicking tub, more kale and senposai, a green I haven’t grown before:
Collecting seed
Tomato seed pulp fermenting:
Dill seed, bean pods and a head of lettuce seed:
Drying herbs for winter teas
This is Lemon Verbena. It makes a lovely morning cuppa. Since it dies back over winter, I need enough dried to get me through to spring:
Moulting
Well, the Girls do that, not me. Cheeky and Lady had an early moult and have finished re-feathering, but not re-laying. Molly decided to be late for some reason (so like a woman, some would say), but she’s well into it now. Her bald spots fascinate the others who can’t resist pecking at them (especially her bare bum…yuk!), but she’s quick to retaliate with a clout around their ears:
Planting garlic, potato onions and shallots
This is one of the major autumn jobs, but I don’t do it till the equinox, on the 21st. I’m hoping this oppressive heat will be over by then. 10 days in a row above 30 C is just too much!
March 14, 2013 at 7:31 pm |
Are you sure we aren’t living next door to each other? Your chooks are moulting, mine to…yours aren’t laying eggs, neither are mine, you have had more hot weather than you can poke a stick at and so have we…I think that Tasmania may have rejoined victoria in solidarity if not physical stature! I still have tomatoes to pick along with capsicums, chillis and lots of eggplants but we started after you guys so I guess this Indian Summer is doing something positive for us after all…I just wish we would get some rain soon…
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March 15, 2013 at 3:16 am |
I’m planting the same crops here in the Almost-Spring USA…specifically the west coast, Seattle area. I love this literal snapshot of the season’s jobs. Hope you get cooler days and rain soon. 🙂
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March 16, 2013 at 4:29 pm |
I’m missing the heat already…sigh….20 tomorrow seems a little on the cool side….30kg is great going from your tomatoes.
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