I have fewer Monday Harvest photos this week, not because of a paucity of produce but because I am having computer issues and couldn’t upload anything over the last few days. Either my hard drive isn’t working properly or Vista is corrupt in someway but unfortunately my knowledge level on these things is such that it may take me quite some time to work it out. As a result I probably wont manage a Top 5 post tomorrow ( I am posting from Mum & Dad’s today).
Prior to computer meltdown I did manage these photos. The first being a basket of herbs and ingredients for salad and guacamole.
The second and most noteworthy, albeit miniscule, harvest of the week was of my entire pea crop for this year. While that might sound like something impressive and worth looking at unfortunately it wasn’t.
I have decided the main reason for my crop failure was using old seed. Although I got reasonable germination rates the plants simply weren’t strong enough, or grew quickly enough, to withstand the onslaught from my gardens slug and snail populations. We live and learn – I have ordered fresh seed for next winters attempts.
My final harvest was a basket of silverbeet (Swiss Chard) from my rapidly bolting plants which are turning into triffids before my eyes at the moment.
And that’s it for this week. Hopefully I will resolve my computer issues by next Monday if not before, but in the meantime hop on over to Daphne’s to see what’s going into everyone else’s baskets this week.
Technology can be either the bane or joy of our lives – depending on whether it is working properly or not! I have to admit to losing patience with it and not being very open to learning how to tame it, either. I don’t know what I’ll do when the boy leaves home (again) – he can resolve most of my frustrations with it. I may never be able to watch a DVD again, once he’s gone. 🙁
The taste of home-grown peas is wonderful – but I can’t imagine having enough room to grow enough for my modest requirements so I don’t really bother, sticking to snow or snap peas instead.
And I need to have a whinge. This weather is driving me CRAZY! Where is our spring? Nothing much is bursting with growth here in my valley (apart from the broadbeans, silverbeet and parsley). I need sunshine and so do my veggies!
Spring is forecasted to arrive next week and frankly I for one will be holding the weather bureau to it!
Interesting observation about old seed and plant vigour. I always feel like I have cheated fate when old seed sprouts but your observation means it may not be worth it.
Nice pics of your picks anyway, even if you didn’t get them all.
Oh dear. I hope your computer issues are sorted soon – I do look forward to your posts.
Why do you think old seed would lead to weak plants? The genetics of the seed would be pre-determined, but could the seed itself not have the ‘oomph’ to sustain itself in the initial growth stages i.e. before the first true leaves appear? Just trying to understand the logic.
Hmmm not sure of the logic myself but i have found that older seed often produces weaker seedlings, malnourished perhaps? I’m going to have to find out if there is any science behind it though.
You don’t know how much you need (want?) Technology until it’s not available, do you? I often have “issues” with internet-based software, such as Blogger and PicMonkey, but not so many with my own PC – probably because I leave it alone and don’t fiddle with it as the ISPs do.
I’ve decided to give up growing peas. The yields I get make it non-viable in VSR terms. I’ll concentrate on beans instead. I’m good at beans!
I think I might have to follow your lead where peas are concerned – maybe one last go though…
So sorry about your computer woes. I hate when things go wrong on my computer. Last week my screen died and I have one on order . Right now I’m using my husbands old screen (we keep an old screen and old computer upstairs for guests, slow but works for the internet).
Screen dying is annoying – I’d probably think it was the computer for quite some time before eventually working out it was actually the screen.
Computers can be such a headache! For all that they have widened our horizons…your Swiss chard and other greens look lovely. I am interested in your comments about old seed, wondering if there isn’t something in that at times.
I do think seed loses a bit of its virility – now I’m going to have to google that to see if science agrees.
Aww, sorry about the peas. I planted fall peas and I don’t think I am going to get any more than you! At least that is how it looks right now. I am getting some purple snap peas though. So that is good. Everything else you have looks great, and I do enjoy some yummy guacamole! Mmmm!
Computers can be best friends and worst enemies.
I though our pea harvest was bad but I think we managed a few more than you.
I have a love/hate relationship with technology…such a pain, and yet so convenient the majority of the time!
Your peas look wonderful, even if they didn’t produce well for you. I hope next years crop is more productive 🙂
Ah so true of technology. I enjoy it but then i worry about the bad bits then i enjoy it again…
Oh guacamole is heavenly! Sorry to hear about your computer issues and the lower garden productivity. What you harvested looks great though! I love all that green. I have a few older seeds (tomatoes, peppers, squash) and want to use them next spring. We’ll see how productive they are. I have them stored in a dry place and plan to soak them a bit before planting. I wonder if that will help?
I think soaking them may help with germination, hope it does.