March 2012 – The Wrap Up

March often sees the end of the summer crops for me, and while this was true of cucumbers and to a lesser extent tomatoes, the eggplants are still going strong whilst some of my capsicums are barely getting started.  I think I’ll try a different variety next year as these have just been too slow.

Whilst some plants have had their day others are growing well – there are parts of the garden which currently look particularly lush.  Anywhere near the sweet potatoes – the picture on the left below shows a very healthy lemongrass plant about to be swamped by rampant sweet potato vine.  The turmeric, ginger and mint are all still looking happy, I will definitely wait until the plants die back before harvesting any turmeric or ginger rhizomes – my feeling is that they are putting on most of their underground growth at the moment.  The picture on the right is one of 3 newly acquired blueberries – after L & Mark both suggested they were great plant pots I felt I needed to get some as I love the fruit.

Whilst some things are still going strong there are others which are about to finish.  The figs are almost gone, the tarragon will soon die back and go dormant for the winter, the passionfruit have finished and the Thai Basil is starting to flower in earnest.

I was pretty busy in the garden in March.  I replanted a shady side bed with some Vietnamese Mint, Mint, and Lemon Balm that had previously lived in pots.  I am hoping their invasive natures will ensure they well and truly take over that area.

Otherwise it was harvests, harvests and more harvests, usually they included chillies:

But my plant of the month would have to have been the rainbow chard, which looked happy, healthy and provided us with leaves whenever we needed them.

I am feeling quite pleased with myself because as well as all the bounty I’ve had from the garden there is still more to come.  From left – Potatoes sprouting in pots, Tuscan Kale ready for harvest, Spring Onions gradually developing, Raddichio getting slowly bigger.

And most exciting of all – tamarillos ripening: