Garlic update - Look how much they have grown in 1 week!

Sunflowers

Melisha, thanks for the idea! I know that I can't be too sure about the integrity of the seeds, but I bought a huge bag full of sunflower seeds (still in the shell) from the local store (being sold as hamster food!). So, I just threw the seeds in the garden where I wanted sunflowers to grow (just before the rains started) and presto! Here is a pic of the very first sunflower I have grown. Today a second much bigger one has also bloomed (still to take pic). I have also decided to scatter seeds along the backyard wall (behind the baby olive trees) so will see if some of those come up before the birds find them. Note: If you have lots of seeds like I do, try sprouting them. These sprouts are referred to as "Sunnys" or "Sunflower Greens". They are yummy on sandwiches and salads and really nutritious! Here is a link to a website that explains how to sprout them.

soil erosion

We've got a problem at the drain in our front garden, running along the front wall of the house. Because our property is on a hill and our front yard slopes down towards the house, we get soil erosion. I suppose, in this regard, we should be thankful for the clay soil otherwise the erosion would be worse. I plan to build a little retaining wall with two rows of retaining blocks along this drain. First I needed to create a little foundation for the planned "wall". So, my neighbour who is building a garage on his property has given me his left-over brick "off-cuts"! It wasn't as tough a job as I expected... finished it in less than a day! :) Now, just to get the blocks to build the wall!

Drying herbs

Okay, so I know nothing about this, but I am giving it a go and so far so good! :) I harvested some thyme from the garden, rinsed it well (this step probably not necessary for most but with this clay soil, I had to wash off the soil residue), then shook it out and hung it upside down in a very dry place where it gets indirect sun. I've now bottled the thyme and managed to get out a 3/4 full spice jar! Now I have done the same with some orageno and will soon be stripping the dried orageno off the stems and bottling!

Growing garlic update

This pic was taken this weekend. It is one of the cloves I planted about 3 weeks ago.

"Sunshine", our lemon tree

There may yet be hope for our little lemon tree. This wonderful gift received from friends Justin & George on my birthday/our housewarming last year (June 2010) was planted close to our backyard porch for easy access. It was also the best place for it to receive a nice amount of sun. Needless to say, it seems to be growing very slowly due to the heavy clay soil (even though I did dig a big hole when planting). I realise now, that it might just need more 'tlc' because have a look at those beautiful little buds coming out! I've placed some logs around the base and kept adding lots of organic matter and worm tea around the base. I'll be feeding it more regularly now and with the winter rains, it will hopefully be thriving soon.
p.s. Once your lemons are growing, check out 'Greenlivingtips' awesome tips for lemon's many uses.

3rd and Final Attempt at saving the Bay

I am really struggling with the precious little Bay Leaf tree. It was in a pot and after a while the leaves started going brown and falling off. The stem then turned black from top down. I repotted it with lots of bonemeal and compost/potting soil and found that there were grubs attacking the roots (those fat white worms with yellow heads!). The bay did not recover, but I could not accept that it was dead so, this weekend, I have now replanted it in the ground (where the dead conifer was, next to the olive trees). I know it is probably a lost cause (no sign of green in the stem at all!), but I am hoping for a miracle! Oh, well, will have to wait and see! In meanwhile, I'm trying to grow an avocado tree from a pit, and if I succeed will plant it there if bay dies.

Olive Trees

Ma, you will be proud. I've finally cut back the two young olive trees you planted for me in September last year (Sept 2010)! As you know, they were branching out all over the place and looking more like bushes than trees. At one point I was worried about them because their leaves were going brown, especially the one, but they seem to be on the mend again. Only thing is I cut back the one that is growing slower more than the big one so it is looking a bit pathetic at the moment (not including a pic of that one!). It was tough because I had to cut branches off right at the base (almost below ground level). Luckily at the last minute I thought to remove some of the soil where I cut (at the base) so that those cut openings could dry out (don't want rot to set in!). AFter a nice warm dry weekend, we are expecting rain again, so hopefully the little openings have had enough time to seal naturally.

Garlic

So, I've been wanting to try this for ages. Never knew how to grow garlic, but found this great website giving some tips. I couldn't find 'organic' garlic anywhere, but I finally found some 'sprouting' garlic cloves at my local grocery store (the normal garlic you buy with green shoots appearing at the top of the cloves).

I planted each individual clove separately, just under the surface of the soil with my spinach in a big pot outside. Because winter is approaching I covered each clove with a plastic bottle (bottom cut off) to act as a little 'green house'. I planted my first batch towards the beginning of April and some more this past weekend (last week of April). Will let you know how it goes!