One of the best things, if not the best thing about blogging is how much you learn from other bloggers and commenters. As a result this could be a very long list indeed. For the purposes of this post I have limited it to 5 and they are:
- Brussel Sprouts – I have been reading on Mark’s Veg Plot about his brussel sprouts for I don’t know how long and despite my being fairly ambivalent about them as a vegetable they have piqued my interest. So last week I sowed some seed. Hopefully the cabbage white’s keep away from them…
- Different methods of rat control – Since I posted about my rodent issues I have had heaps of good advice. So far I have baited with poison (some of it has been eaten), and reset my traps (nothing as yet) but I’ve just read that they can’t resist salami so I will change the bait. Since embarking on those measures Ann left a link a great discussion on rat control on Gardening Australia’s website. Since reading that I have hung up the moth balls and I am about to put out some Mars bars (the shop across the road was out of Milky Way). We shall see if any of it works. I hope so as I would like to enjoy at least a couple of slicing tomatoes this year.
- Netting the blueberries – I had some lovely blueberries developing on my plants this year. I posted on them and a number of people mentioned that it was important to net them. I didn’t get round to it. I ended up eating one, that’s it, one blueberry. Not sure what got the rest – we have a lot of birds in our garden, but I do hope it enjoyed them. Grrrr
- You can grow tomatoes in winter in Sydney, in fact L at 500m2 reported better harvests in Winter than Summer (largely due to Fruit Fly in summer). What I don’t know is whether they would do anything at all in Melbourne’s winter. I suspect not but we shall see as last week I sowed some seed – Stupice that L grows and a Yellow Currant Tomato that overwintered in Diana’s Adelaide garden. I’m not really expecting success but as they say you learn as much if not more from your failures than anything else.
- Tronchuda Cabbage – I hadn’t heard about this cabbage before reading about it on Seed to Table. Its the cabbage that the Portuguese traditionally use in Caldo Verde and as a result its something I definitely want to try. Now I just need to source some seed.
The best Brussels I have ever eaten were picked fresh from a garden in Lincolnshire in Blighty and sautéed that evening. They were heavenly – yes heavenly. I think the are worth growing for that reason. Hope yours go well, a frost will make them wonderful , I might even try them myself as we will have stupendous frosts here.
I have had a good yield from blueberries this my first season. I didn’t net in the new patch( I did in Sydney) and picked enough to grace my fruity breakfasts every second day. The plants have grown really well here ( they are grown commercially in this area) and am looking forward to putting my babies in the ground.
Very jealous of the idea of those blueberries. Mum & dad are looking after my newly sown seed 9we’ve been away) – so i am off to check on it on Tuesday – looking forward to heavenly sprouts – sounds very exciting.
I’d quite like to achieve a crop from celery or celeriac.
No gardening would be to learn to use my camera settings off auto!
Interesting that celery doesn’t do well for you as it does best in winter here.
Hope you manage to sort out those rats – moth balls and chocolate sounds like an interesting approach!
Interesting and yet so far ineffective….
I am too inspired by L in Sydney, I am currently sowing the winter tomato seeds that I got from Burkie’s last year Stupice, Black Cherry, Giant Tree Tomato and Siberia. Can’t wait to experiment this!
Oh – how exciting – you must let me know how they get on!!!!
Brussel sprouts are one of my favourite veggies – but I’ve had little luck growing them. I might give ’em one more try, though!
Coincidentally, when I read about your desire for winter tomatoes, I went and dug out those seeds that Yvonne mentioned. Obviously I got them from the same magazine! I also found another pack from another edition that has Black Cherry, Oregon Spring, Giant Tree and Riesentraube seeds. I don’t know how viable they will be but I’ll post them to you this week – I know I won’t get around to trying them any time soon.
I just hope that I get rid of the rates by then…sigh… I hoppe you do try Brussel sprouts – I always think its worth persisting with your favourite things.
Funny enough I tried Brussels a bit too late last year and got nothing but green leaves before we decided to re do the vege patch. I am nervous about growing any seeds because of those moths.
I had to cover up my blueberries for the first time this year but while we were away a lorikeet was caught in the net which was much to sad.
Oh no! I agree that would not be pleasant! I’ve sown the brussel sprouts so hopefully I’ve timed it OK – I suspect I will get irritated with how long they take though.
I keep going back and forth about what I’d like to grow this year. I’ve decided that currents are on my list. But I have a whole host of other things I’d like to try, but not sure I’ll get around to it.
Thanks for reminding me about netting the Blueberries. Last year I left it too late and it ended up being a Heath Robinson affair. A definitely “Could do better” situation. Needs some thought…. And maybe some new hardware.
I’m going to have to give some thought to it for next year too – I hate the idea of catching a bird accidently.
You have reminded me that I really need to sow some stupices myself. Glad to hear you are going to give it a go.
And thankyou for the seed!!!!
Hi Liz,
I too hate little furry creatures eating my plants, mine come in the form of possums. Just something to be mindful of when putting out poison it may be worth seeing if they are native rodents or if indeed they are the imported kind. Our old house had native rodents type called antechinus. The previous owner told us about them as she poisoned a few before she worked out they were native and worth caring for. Just something to consider.
Cheers Andrea
My parents get antechinus and unfortunately these aren’t them. These are big fat rats as opposed to beautiful little delicate antechinuses. The antechinus I’ve seen are mouse size and have a nice long nose and if you look you can usually tell the difference. Having said that you are right poison isn’t particularly discriminating is it? Arrgh – so many dilemmas….
Good luck with all that! I hope you get some great crops and that the rats go soon.
I will be trying asparagus peas and a new variety of celeriac.
I’m trying celeriac for the first time this year – so far so good but I suspect I will get irritated by how long they take to grow.
I get my tronchuda cabbage seeds from Pinetree Seeds. Once started, the plant will grow huge leaves the size of dinnerplates. One year, the yellow canary birds ate at the leaves, this year, I shared them with my chickens after the frost. I’ll cook the leaves like a collard or Kale in the summer, or make soup in the fall.
Sounds great! I will have to put in a seed order soon.
OK well I will be reading with much interest and if you have success growing tomatoes in winter I will give it a go too. For the first time ever I have discovered rats. I saw one running along the fence. And it (they?) is venturing inside our house! Shriek. I am scared to put out poison because of the dog. There are so many spots rodents can find their way into our old house. 🙁
Good luck with your endeavours this year.
I’ve seen them on the fence too – I like to think that they aren’t venturing into our house but I suspect this is more denial than reality.
Hi Liz,
I was doing some seed shopping and noticed that Eden Seeds have the Tronchuda cabbage your after, its listed under PORTUGAL SUMMER.
Im trying Parsnips, Celeriac and Brussel Sprouts this year.
Ooooh good – I ordered from them for the first time last year and I found them very good. Plus the catalogue arrived in the mail last week and I should go through it. Thanks for the tip – much appreciated.