The last month of disasters in the garden…

If you follow my blog, you will recall that the last time I posted, I said I would attempt to get another update done in a week, but that it was snowing outside right at that time, so I was not quite sure. Well…. after it snowed, and snowed, and snowed and it stayed around on the ground for 12 days, there was not much of a garden left to blog about! We then had a few days of ok weather, then the frosts hit and everything froze again, including the ground. So apologies for not blogging in the last month, but it has been diabolical weather and there has also been not much harvesting to speak of either. I was so happy that I had been able to store up so many vegetables earlier in the season and from summer/autumn pickings, as that got us through – mostly.

Above, are scenes from around our property in the biggest snow dump we have had in years. Below, is what the garden looked like… there was nothing I could do, I could only hope and pray that the plants survived. Most did, but it has taken them another month to recover from their immersion in freezing cold snow, which eventually turned to ice and it was this, that did most of the damage. Quite a few plants rotted and I had to dig them in or throw them away, but the hardiest ones are slowing coming back to life. 🙂

After nearly 2 weeks, the snow is still on the ground in the gardens. But, we had a wonderful visit from a Kereru (Native NZ Wood Pigeon), who started feeding on the winterberries in the trees – see below:

So much for a harvest! Although inbetween the snow storms and the freezing frosts, I did manage to pick a little of the few plants that survived – although most of them looked pretty battle scarred!

HARVESTED OVER THE LAST MONTH:

– Spring Onions
– Tat Soi & Misome F1 (Kings Seeds)
– Brussel Sprouts heads
– Leeks
– Kohl Rabi
– Celery
– Sprouting Broccoli
– Jerusalem Artichokes

      

The gardens have at last started to recover from their freezing snow and ice beating; you can see the frost/cold damage in some of the photos – it nearly broke my heart 😦
      

After yet another week, the plants are looking even better again now, although you can still see some residual damage. It does seems like I might be able to save some of the plants long-term afterall! I did find just the other day that the last of the Cauliflowers had rotted and the Misome F1 and Tat Soi got totally wrecked in the frost, but mostly everything else has survived, and I have now planted more Misome F1 and Tat Soi, to replace those that were lost. I might try picking the Carrots soon:

I have done a couple of experiments lately that I want to share with you. As Coriander does like the cold (but not the frost) and it hates heat, and I love to use it in a lot of my cooking, I have planted some out in pots and put it on the back porch. It is doing well!

I have also cut off Elderberry Tree twigs and put them in a jar of water. I did this just as they were budding up and look what they have grown into now! They are getting well leaved and rooted, and will be ready to plant out come spring. I’m so happy with them!

Once again, where-ever you are and whatever you are growing, or if you are just looking for inspiration to start a garden, I wish you every blessing in your endeavours.

Peace & Love, Suz

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