There’s been a few false starts in my garden over the last month or so due to the unpredictable and warm weather, here in Melbourne. I said goodbye to the brassicas I planted - they had a lot of leafy growth but did not get enough hours of sunlight to form flowers and justify the space they need.
There’s also a minor issue with the general increase in dog activity that is influencing the growth of vegetable seedlings in a section of the vegetable garden next to the side fence. This explains the temporary placement of the large bag of mulch next to the garden seat and the pot plant on the edge of the raised garden bed.
We did get some cooler weather and rain over the Anzac Day weekend, but the first weekend in May was hot again. The Bureau of Meteorology's (BOM) updated seasonal outlook is predicting one of Australia's warmest winters on record1.
The beetroot leaves are calling me to bake a fetta and beetroot pie, or perhaps a salad, with some rocket. There may be some googling involved to find a suitable recipe. If you have a favourite recipe you recommend that includes beetroot leaves, please let me know in the comments.
The lettuce is growing well and gets picked and enjoyed with lunch most days. I’ve been experimenting with re-planting the coriander roots from supermarket-bought coriander, and some have taken and started to re-grow. I know I can use the coriander roots in some recipes, but I love to chop the leaves and garnish my curries with an abundance of their fresh flavour.
The trimmed rhubarb leaves will be stewed with apples and enjoyed with my muesli and yoghurt for breakfast.
I’ve limited the climbing edibles to the sunniest part of the vegetable patch on the left hand side of the garage door. Hopefully the snow peas begin to flower and form in due course.
My next job is to buy more cos lettuce seedlings from the local produce store to keep up with the demand. There is something very special about knowing we’re eating produce direct from the garden.
What’s happening in your garden?
With love and gratitude,
KPH
I acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which I live and pay my respects to Indigenous Elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was and always will be, Aboriginal land.
“BOM predicts warm winter weather record putting snow season on downhill slope”, by ABC meteorologist Tom Saunders, published on ABC News.
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