October in the garden - planting!

Of course one of the big jobs in October is planting! Especially when you're growing vegies (and constantly finding fun new food plants to try...)

So in the bits that are already prepared, I've been planting.

I've planted lettuce twice, as the first lot was decimated when the chooks escaped from their yard (along with some of my precious garlic - aaaargggh!).

As well as some tomatoes, basil, eggplant and leeks. I had some little bits and pieces that I'd grown from seed (like some zucchini plants) but the chooks got those too. I'll put them in again this week. One of the pitfalls of having them I guess, but I wouldn't give them up. I love my yummy fresh eggs! I'll introduce you soon.

I've also put in some new raspberry plants from my dad (a very clever gardener along with my mum), planted some corn seeds, transplanted some strawberries and I thought I'd try a honeydew melon in a warm spot that I've got out the back. We'll see how it goes...

October in the garden - preparation!

Early this month I gave the chook yard a good going over and in my garden beds put down chook poop and comfrey (good green manure) and 10 bales of pea straw (you should see all the pea plants that have sprouted now!); to keep the weeds down (ha!) and the moisture in. 

My 'orchard': apples, oranges and apricots

Comfrey

I also did lots and lots of weeding. In fact I'm still going with that, but I've got a whole other series of posts planned about my weed battles! 

I also had a go at tying down some branches from my pear tree, which I'm hoping to espalier (with no actual experience or knowledge of the process) along our new rumpus room/shed). 

And we created a new garden bed for my favourite berry - the raspberry! Of course, it has to be dog-proof!!!