I picked what I thought were snow peas yesterday. When I got to the end of the row I thought I’d check when I’d sowed them and discovered they were shelling peas ‘progress‘ and I’d just picked them before they’d developed. Another reason to label things well. We have a broad bean feast (commonly known as a glut) so I enjoyed a broad bean and feta salad for my lunch. I found a few fallen grapefruit that went into citrus mini muffins for the freezer.
The temperature in Wellington has been very variable and it’s rained a great deal. Silverbeet (chard), parsley, coriander (cilantro), spinach, beetroot and rocket are all going to seed very quickly. The bees will enjoy the flowers as they’re having a hard time of it at the moment. If you leave the plants in the ground, most will self-seed for next year. Sow some more now as well as lettuce, spring onions (scallions), basil, beans, carrots, beetroot and white turnips. If you’ve got space you could try a few more peas too. I’ve grown a red silverbeet this year called ‘cardinal‘ and it’s coming on very well. I added it to ‘lusaka‘ – a home-grown combination of lasagne and moussaka.
Time’s running out if you’d like to buy someone a place on the fresh food garden course for a Christmas gift. Read the FAQs about it if you’re not sure it’s for you. The next course is Saturday 30 January 2010.
The ten Plymouth Barred Rock chicks are now quite grown up. The four girls will by my laying hens next year. I have Rhode Island Red fertile eggs for sale currently for $2.50 each if you want to raise your own chicks – most broody hens can cover at least six comfortably (if anything can be comfortable when you’ve sat on it for three weeks). Wellington Feed and Saddlery can supply chook food (and chick crumble), dog food and have horse manure for sale by the trailer load.