We were away for much of December but that didn’t stop things happening in the garden. My watercress, for instance had been sitting there doing nothing for ages – I wanted to ave seed from it so I’d left it in. During my holiday it decided it was time to dump all of its seed over the lawn with innumerable seedlings the result. (This may actually improve my lawn which is currently a disgraceful mess of non edible weeds). At least a few seeds landed in the beds though:
On the tomato front the plants are doing well, I have tied up all the growth which happened while we were away and aside from the a few tops missing they survived the Christmas Day hail relatively unscathed. I am particularly impressed with my Broad Ripple Currant and Rouge de Marmande plants. The currant provided the first fruit and the Rouge de Marmande has stacks of nice big looking tomatoes on it.
My tropical plants are starting to look a bit happier; the ginger and turmeric have both emerged above soil line, although there is no sign of the galangal at all. The Lemongrass is starting to put on new growth since its repotting and the curry leaf tree has greened up and grown heaps.
Sunshine has entered the garden:
My overwintered capsicum has set lots of lovely fruit:
Unfortunately my overwintered eggplant succumbed to something – perhaps hail damage, perhaps disease – just as it was beginning to set fruit.
But mostly this month has been about growth; if its not potatoes trying to swallow up the lawn:
Its beans taking over the pots:
When 
A Salad Spinner – I don’t own a salad spinner and I often have wet lettuce as a result. This largely due to my habit of deciding to have salad the moment before actually making it. My leaves always seem to need washing – if they aren’t mud splattered then I have just given them a dose of seaweed fertiliser and if I’ve learnt one thing growing vegetables it is: always wash your lettuce after giving it seaweed emulsion!
A Coffee Grinder & Coffee Machine I actually already own a coffee grinder but I use it for spices and although I enjoy Chai Latte I’m not sure it works as well with coffee as it does with tea…..Surely every good Suburbanite should be grinding their own coffee, and embarrassingly I don’t. I either buy it ground or better yet go out for coffee. Neither of these help that much when one is in the presence of discerning guests (actually this rarely happens – most of my guests are of the more laid back variety which is fortunate given the state of my floors – but someday they may be less obliging.) I make the coffee I drink at home in a plunger with milk heated in the microwave (this is probably why I enjoy going out for coffee so much). Over Christmas I finally worked out how to use my parents coffee machine and I have to say it was good, not as good as the O’Hea St Bakery’s, but pretty good – I think steaming the milk rather than nuking it helps considerably…..
A Microplane -I got fairly addicted to the Australian Masterchef TV show- particularly the first two series – this years got a bit tedious (although it was still loved by my 5 year old). During those first two series (and possibly the latest one) the chefs seemed to be reaching for their microplanes every other minute. Yes I know its product placement but I am a sucker for advertising (as you will have already realised from Number 1 of this Top 5) and they did seem really useful……. I should point out that I do possess a perfectly functional grater so can I really justify the additional use of the earths resources?
Preserving Jars – In the early 80’s my parents moved us from Melbourne to the country (although still within easy reach of the metropolis) and embarked on an quasi attempt at self sufficiency. Other than dying wool with Eucalyptus leaves before spinning it, this self sufficiency seemed (through the eyes of a 10 year old) to mostly revolve around preserving things in Fowlers Jars. Unfortunately my mother got rid of her Fowlers jars before I saw the ‘need to preserve’ light (incidently I think she would secretly like them back) and I am now left to put my jam in old jam jars and bottle my tomato passata in stubbies (375ml beer bottles). This is all very good and recycling oriented of me but I can’t help but envy all those beautiful Mason jars I see on the US blogs.
