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Garden Bloggers Harvest Day in October

Post author By Barbara
Post date October 5, 2012
10 Comments on Garden Bloggers Harvest Day in October

The days are now longer and this our tenth Garden Bloggers Harvest Day, the 5th day of October 2012 in the Southern Hemisphere. Two Gardens are spending more and more time out doors! Spring showers are the order of the day, but the sun is warming the days and invigorating the growth of our plants.

Let’s see what can be harvested from Barbie’s Garden this month

The sowing of seeds has been done and I am patiently waiting for something to happen. I remember that last years harvest selection was all about herbs and that’s what I have to show this month. Its all about herbs and salad greens, but let me show you what I can harvest so far ….

My red cabbages are looking healthy, but the slugs are causing some damage in the veggie patch.

[one_half]Cauliflower still needs to grow[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Sage is a good companion plant here[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Edible Nasturtiums[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Origanum-agreat one for pasta sauces[/one_half_last]

Arugula (Sweet Rocket) has been a huge favourite in all my dishes. Now it is flowering and the flowers are also delicious.

[one_half]

Potatoes in my new Tater Sacks[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Here again – a week later[/one_half_last]

[one_half]

Mint[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Two types of Thyme[/one_half_last]

[one_half]

Lemon Balm (Melissa) Great tea![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Well used Coriander[/one_half_last]

I keep some herbs close to the kitchen door for those quick seasoning needs! Sweet Basil, Thyme, Celery, Parsley and Spring Onions.

[one_half]

Cos lettuce-one of my favourites[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Red Curly lettuce[/one_half_last]

[one_half]

Oak leaf and Iceberg Lettuces[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Swiss Chard and Celery[/one_half_last]

[one_half]

Beetroot-greens also edible[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Broad beans-abit ravaged[/one_half_last]

[one_third]

My new arches[/one_third]

[one_third]

Celery grows everywhere[/one_third]

[one_third_last]

Love Chives[/one_third_last]

About Garden Bloggers Harvest Day

Please join us on the 5th of every month and show us what you’ve harvested. Whether you have a massive vegetable garden or grow a few herbs in pots or just pick a few peaches from a tree … we’d love to see! It’s all about sharing our experiences, photographs, successes and failures as we “learn to grow”.

So prepare a post on your blog about what you harvested this past month, link up to us at The Gardening Blog and then, add your link to the Mr. Linky below so we can all visit your blog and “share in your harvest”. And leave us a comment! We LOVE hearing from you!

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Tags garden bloggers harvest day

Annuals Barbie's garden Bloggers Harvest Day Gardening Home page features

Garden Bloggers Harvest Day in September

Post author By Barbara
Post date September 5, 2012
8 Comments on Garden Bloggers Harvest Day in September

The spring sun is out and the gardener is happy on this, our ninth Garden Bloggers Harvest Day the 5th day of September 2012 in the southern hemisphere, and the gardeners of Two Gardens are celebrating the spring – finally. The days are getting longer and warmer and we can feel the season is changing. Barbie loves the bold yellow of the canola fields surrounding her village and the bright red of the little Bishop bird. Spring is here!!

Let’s see what can be harvested from Barbie’s Garden this month

I have not had much opportunity to plant, but what I do have is a wonderous assortment of salad greens. The local church has a Spring Market this friday and everyone is getting ready for it with local produce and baked breads and cakes! Gonna be fun! I cannot boast with my veggie patch yet, but let me show you what I can harvest so far ….

[one_half]Broad Beans – they are so sweet and tender[/one_half]

[one_half_last]This will be a nice harvest soon[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Iceberg lettuce[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Tatsoi – spinach mustard[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Mizuna, Arugula and Bok Choy[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Swiss Chard with red stems-pretty![/one_half_last]

[one_half]Lots of leafy salad lettuces (Irises in centre)[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Pepadew chilli in the lettuce patch[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Salad needs a splash of lemon![/one_half]

[one_half_last]What a colourful salad harvest![/one_half_last]

About Garden Bloggers Harvest Day

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My Late Winter Harvest

I’ve been winding down my little herb and vegetable plantation (read: pots and planters filled with herbs and greens) in order to prepare the planters and pots with fresh compost and soil for planting up of fresh seedlings for Spring. So my harvest is small, but it sure packs a punch. For our August Garden Bloggers Harvest Day I’ve managed to fill a basket with wonderful herbs we will use in out kitchen for the next day or so. Judging from whats in the basket, I suspect a great Thai-inspired seafood dish might be on the menu.

What’s in my August basket?

The Violas (or pansies) – there are plenty more happily growing and flowering in the garden so we can pick them if and when we want to use them. Using them in the kitchen is something we’ve never done before and I am experimenting. I doubt I’ll use them for anything other than decorating a dish maybe.

The Fennel – My very first fennel stem harvest. We have been using the fronds already. They are rather nice in a salad and we’ll try the first harvest of the celery-like stems in a dish tomorrow.

Lemon Thyme is a lovely herb and Rosemary we use regularly. It really is at its absolute best when it’s picked fresh from the garden just before use.

[one_half]A closer look at my stash[/one_half]

[one_half_last]There’s fresh rosemary and thyme …[/one_half_last]

[one_half]As well as coriander, fennel, parsley and …[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Keeping fresh in little bottles after harvest[/one_half_last]

There is plenty of parsley and the coriander is doing great in this cooler weather (I find it bolts very quickly here in Spring and Summer and I have to continuously replace my Coriander plants in the hot weather if I want fresh coriander on hand. (We use it a LOT in our kitchen).

The limes are wonderful, we use them all the time and never seem to have enough.

I love the Lemongrass plant. It’s lovely to look at looks great in any perennial planting scheme, but here it holds pride of place in my veggie planter because I love it in there. We don’t use lemongrass that often, so for me just one plant seems to supply us with all the fresh lemongrass we need.

When I pick a couple of herbs from the garden and don’t plan to use them immediately I stick the bunches in these little ‘vases’ and they stay fresh and lovely for a few days and are always ready for throwing into a dish. And they look and smell great in the kitchen. Lovely!

My hands have the most wonderful lemony-herby smell on them after this little harvest!

What herbs or vegetables are you harvesting or growing in your garden right now? Please do join us for Garden Bloggers Harvest Day and share photos of your bounty with us all.

Happy Harvesting
xxx

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Garden Bloggers Harvest Day in August

Post author By Barbara
Post date August 5, 2012
9 Comments on Garden Bloggers Harvest Day in August

There is snow in them thar hills!! The evenings are still bitterly cold as we kick off on our eighth Garden Bloggers Harvest Day this 5th day of August 2012 in the southern hemisphere, and the gardeners of Two Gardens are weary of the wet and cold. We are preparing for the sunshine and the warmer days. The hint of spring is here, but we are still wrapped in winter woollies! The seed banks are full and a few nursery visits have us keen and ready for action! Roll on spring!

Let’s see what can be harvested from Barbie’s Garden this month

Joy of joys! I’m harvesting my salad vegetables daily and even a few edible flowers. The rain has been plentiful and we have had a few lovely warm days. The evenings are cold, but we eagerly await the spring warmth. The soil is not quite warm enough for spring sowing, so my seed bank is full and I will be planting my assortment of potatoes this month. Let me show you what I can harvest so far ….

In the raised beds …

[one_half]Bok Choi[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Rocket or Arugula[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Mizuah[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Tat soi[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Carrots, beetroot, potato, mint & strawberries[/one_half]

[one_half_last]A raised bed waiting for potato planting[/one_half_last]

In the veggie patch …

[one_half]English spinach[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Broad beans not ready yet[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Lettuce varieties[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Swiss chard – yellow and red stems[/one_half_last]

[one_third][/one_third]

[one_third_last][/one_third_last]

I have a few rogue potatoes growing from last season that were left in the ground, so they can stay. I am experimenting this year on 3 – 5 varieties of potatoes, from Nicola to Valour! Some are organic potatoes (left to sprout) from the grocery store and others are from heirloom seed suppliers. I will have to do a special post on this result. But you will have to wait for summer!

Well, I know this is not a great harvest post, but I am eating from my garden and this is aways a great thrill for me!

That’s all for this month – What’s growing in your Veggie Patch this month?

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Barbie's garden Bloggers Harvest Day Christine's garden Gardening Home page features

Garden Bloggers Harvest Day in July

Post author By Barbara
Post date July 5, 2012
12 Comments on Garden Bloggers Harvest Day in July

Winter Blues are deep set this month as we start off on our seventh Garden Bloggers Harvest Day this 5th day of July 2012 in the southern hemisphere, and the gardeners of Two Gardens have very little to show off. All the gardening magazines highlight the fact that we should be harvesting our cabbages, cauliflowers and broccolis, but this is far from happening. Well, the temperatures have been rather cold and we have spotted snow on the nearby mountains. So time off in the veggie garden has been authorized!!

Let’s see what can be harvested from Barbie’s Garden this month

With the great care taken last month, all the seedings are sitting well in the veggie patch, but far from gracing our tables this month. I am still harvesting swiss chard from last years plantings so this is a huge reward. I know that this coming season I will be so flooded with leafy greens, that I could open my own veggie market! For the first time I have sown various baby leaf lettuces in my raised beds, so this month will be the ‘calm before the storm’, so to speak! Let’s see what will burst forth this coming spring…..

In the raised beds …

[one_half]Baby leaf lettuces[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Lots and lots of greens[/one_half_last]

[one_half]This is tatsoi – I think![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Will have a plentiful harvest soon![/one_half_last]

In the veggie patch …

[one_half]The organised veggie patch[/one_half]

[one_half_last]All companion planted for better results[/one_half_last]

Here you can see the English Spinach in the centre rows, beetroot above this as well as celery, then the broad beans next to the trellis. I have chamomile surrounding the cauliflower and a fennel or two. In between I have planted some violas and stuck some bulbs in there too for some ‘pretty’. I have a small rosemary in the corner and hope my lemon verbena will flower again. Oh, and a potato managed to re-seed itself – see it?

[one_half]Here you can see more clearly[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Here I have a pepadew chilli-very sweet![/one_half_last]

The fruit Trees…

My beautiful lemon tree – bursting with lemons!

The guavas are ripening and are sweet and delicious. These have the soft white flesh inside and I read that they are full of great health benefits. This attractive fruit is a real storehouse of nutrients. If it is “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” in Europe and Americas, it must be “A few guavas in the season keeps the doctor away for the whole year”.

In the Herb Patch…

[one_half]Celery and chamomile have re-seeded and taking over! But some flowing bulbs too.[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Thyme and Mint with parsley in background[/one_half_last]

That’s all for this month – What’s growing in your Veggie Patch this month?

About Garden Bloggers Harvest Day

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Garden Bloggers Harvest Day in June

Post author By Barbara
Post date June 4, 2012
23 Comments on Garden Bloggers Harvest Day in June

Winter starts us off on our sixth Garden Bloggers Harvest Day this 5th day of June 2012 in the southern hemisphere, and the gardeners of Two Gardens have been hit hard with the “flu blues” and “sinus struggles” the past week, but on the mend. Even though our winters are not that harsh, they can be wet and stormy. This threatens our delicate seedlings in our vegetable and herb gardens planted in autumn. The winter seeds that we could sow in May were beans, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, swiss chard, beetroot, carrots, and onions. Let’s see what our vegetable and herb gardens look like in June.

Let’s see what can be harvested from Barbie’s Garden this month

My June basket is looking miserably empty, I’m afraid! But the prospect of a winter harvest is looking promising. I have spent the best part of two weekends cleaning, pulling, raking, digging, and planting. I am happy to say my seedlings have had a good start on my deck and are now put to bed in the veggie patch. Here we can see the newbies and how they have been placed with the companion planting method.

[one_half]Broad beans, coriander (behind)[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Tomato, cucumber, and strawberry pots[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Coriander seedlings[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Cucumber – Ashley[/one_half_last]

The veggie patch has been cleared for the new seedlings. The only remaining plants are the lemon verbena (my soldiers who keep the bad bugs at bay), sage, some flowers for pretty, the chilli plants and a few swiss chard plants that are looking sad but still proudly producing.

[one_half]Chilli – all year round[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Celery – seeds itself![/one_half_last]

My broad beans are ready for planting. These are heirloom seeds and the beans are purple but turn green when cooked! This will be fun to eat!

[one_half]And here are the new seedlings[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Companion planting method used[/one_half_last]

And my fruit trees…..

[one_half]Guava tree is full[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Lemon tree is full![/one_half_last]

My herbs are all looking and tasting beautiful – parsley, sage, thyme and mint. The only one I’m missing is Basil – soon, soon!

Let’s see what can be harvested from Christine’s Garden …

I’m not as organised as Barbie … sigh. So I don’t have much to show in the veggie department, except for something that is brand new in my garden … Waterblommetjies! Waterblommetjies (Aponogeton distachyos) are used in South Africa to make a type of stew called Waterblommetjiebredie. Cooked with onions, mutton or lamb and a few leaves of the local sorrel it makes a delicious stew. Mine have just started growing, so I won’t be making the stew anytime soon, but I thought this was a bit more interesting to show than repeats of my usual veggies.

[one_half]Waterblommetjie (Aponogeton distachyos)[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The flower of the Waterblommetjie[/one_half_last]

[one_half]My Garlic bulbs are coming up[/one_half]

[one_half_last]I love the Fennel plant [/one_half_last]

[one_half]Borage – so rewarding to grow[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Lots of herbs ready for picking[/one_half_last]

That’s all for this month – What’s growing in your Veggie Patch this month?

About Garden Bloggers Harvest Day

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Annuals Barbie's garden Bloggers Harvest Day Christine's garden Gardening Home page features

Garden Bloggers Harvest Day in May

Post author By Barbara
Post date May 5, 2012
9 Comments on Garden Bloggers Harvest Day in May

Welcome to our fifth Garden Bloggers Harvest Day this 5th day of May 2012. Our Two Gardens are in a change of season mode and being faithful to nature, we are preparing our gardens for the new growth ahead. So the sowing and the harvesting of seeds are the topic of discussion. We can officially declare summer over and the Autumn short! We are looking past all the fallen leaves and dead branches and, just by shifting the viewpoint, we can see our gardens as places of beauty to come and this sparks a whole new relationship with our plants and veggie patch!! Even though the beds are bare, lets bless our mess!!

Let’s see what can be harvested from Barbies Garden this month

Well, the month of May, for me, is a time for harvesting seeds and starting a formal seed bank. This I have never done before – yes, the odd seed or two, but this time I have a collection of seeds from my garden from swopping with friends and the yet-to-plant seeds that I have bought from various food and plant markets and garden shows. But I have a few veggies and incredible edibles that I can harvest and display with a smile on my face – we use these regularly in the kitchen and I have friends who call and ask for my herbs and lemons!

[one_half]Love Swiss Chard and its versatility[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Also fun to photograph[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Parsley, Sage …[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Rosemary and …[/one_half_last]

[one_half]… Thyme![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Origanum and Chives make a pretty picture[/one_half_last]

The back garden has accepted its fate and has now officially gone to seed and the harvesting of Sweet Basil and Rosemary seeds and Celery is in full swing. The Parsley and Thyme still grow on.

[one_half]Sweet Basil gone to seed[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Rosemary seeds now need to dry out[/one_half_last]

Other great harvest gifts from my garden!

[one_half]The lemon tree is bursting with growth![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Chilli is still going strong![/one_half_last]

[one_half]Celery for winter soups – yum![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Something new – Peppadew Chilli[/one_half_last]

These versatile and great to eat plants add flavour to so many warm winter dishes – soup comes to mind – Yum yum!

Let’s see what can be harvested from Christine’s Garden …

My veggie garden is mostly confined to planters and pots which are still producing plenty of herbs and chillies which I am using in soups and stews. I’ve finished planting out all my garlic bulbs and have been planning what else to grow that can grow well in containers. Although my tomatoes are finished and we’ve removed the spent plants, other things are growing well, some profusely including the new fennel, the bell peppers and the lemon grass plant is huge and lush. Basil never seems to give up and i’m still getting lots of parsely.

Here are a few of the edibles I’m harvesting for soups and stews …

[one_half]A basketful of goodies[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Chillis, peppers and herbs[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Lots of lovely chives[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Lovely fennel foliage[/one_half_last]

[one_half]The bell peppers are growing[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Oh dear! What have we here?[/one_half_last]

That’s all for this month – What’s growing in your Veggie Patch this month?

About Garden Bloggers Harvest Day

Please join us on the 5th of every month and show us what you’ve harvested. Whether you have a massive vegetable garden or grow a few herbs in pots or just pick a few peaches from a tree … we’d love to see! Its all about sharing our experiences, photographs, successes and failures as we “learn to grow”.

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Barbie's garden Bloggers Harvest Day Gardening Home page features

Garden Bloggers Harvest Day April

Post author By Barbara
Post date April 5, 2012
16 Comments on Garden Bloggers Harvest Day April

Welcome to our fourth Garden Bloggers Harvest Day this 5th day of April 2012. Our Two Gardens have not been very productive now that the season has ended and the time for winter sowing is upon us! But we still love sharing with you the joys of our gardens on this day each month! Also, having a peek into your veggie patches will continuously inspire and delight! There is so much to grow and enjoy! What’s growing in your edible garden?

Let’s see what can be harvested from Barbies Garden this month

Well, the month of April, for me, is a time for clearing the old and making way for the new winter sowing of seeds. All I can share with you this month is my bountiful herbs that are still growing and adding flavour and colour to all my dishes. There were a few veggies I could show, but not very exciting.

[one_half]A few small carrots were found![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Spring onions are still growing[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Oh look-celery has grown back![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Chives are so nice on baked potatoes[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Chillis still in production[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Swiss Chard giving me so much[/one_half_last]

My lovely and well-used herbs…

[one_half]Oreganum[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Sage[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Flat leafed Parsley-my favourite[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Sweet Basil now in flower[/one_half_last]

Not quite ripe yet …

[one_half]My lemon tree full of potential[/one_half]

[one_half_last]My guavas will be bountiful this winter[/one_half_last]

I know it is not a bountiful harvest, but I guess every garden needs time to renew itself. I’ll also look for some yummy recipes for next month’s post!

About Garden Bloggers Harvest Day

Please join us on the 5th of every month and show us what you’ve harvested. Whether you have a massive vegetable garden or grow a few herbs in pots or just pick a few peaches from a tree … we’d love to see! Its all about sharing our experiences, photographs, successes and failures as we “learn to grow”.

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Bloggers Harvest Day Christine's garden Gardening Home page features

My Veggie Harvest for April

Post author By Christine
Post date April 5, 2012
4 Comments on My Veggie Harvest for April

My ornamental plants are starting to shed their Summer beauty for more sedate Autumnal finery, but no so the vegetables and herbs. My little veggie planters are brimming with produce waiting to be pickled and we can’t eat it as fast as its growing. I added a few new things this month. I like to plant and grow herbs that are not always available at the local supermarket. A new one is fennel which comes up occasionally in recipes. So this month I added fennel, more coriander, rocket (a red variety), I was gifted three green pepper plants (Thanks Helen!) and added a few more coriander plants as we have had to buy coriander to supplement our own home-grown.

Let’s have a look at whats going on …

[one_half]Coriander, basil, fennel and parsley[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Lemon grass and two chillis[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Tomatos are still ripening[/one_half]

[one_half_last]New colour in the veggie patch[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Cherry tomatoes[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The reddish coloured rocket[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Flat leaf Italian parsley[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The interesting looking fennel[/one_half_last]

[one_half]I bought this pepper for the foliage 🙂[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Green pepper almost ready[/one_half_last]

What are you harvesting this month? Please share with us and join in at Garden Bloggers Harvest day.

About Garden Bloggers Harvest Day

Please join us on the 5th of every month and show us what you’ve harvested. Whether you have a massive vegetable garden or grow a few herbs in pots or just pick a few peaches from a tree … we’d love to see! Its all about sharing our experiences, photographs, successes and failures as we “learn to grow”.

So prepare a post on your blog about what you harvested this past month, link up to us at The Gardening Blog and then, add your link to the Mr. Linky on the April Harvest Day post so we can all visit your blog and “share in your harvest”. And leave us a comment! We LOVE hearing from you!

Happy Harvesting
xxx

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Bloggers Harvest Day Christine's garden Gardening Home page features

Belated Harvest for Harvest Day

Post author By Christine
Post date March 8, 2012
8 Comments on Belated Harvest for Harvest Day

At last some red! It was worth being a few days late for the monthly Garden Bloggers Harvest Day so that I could add a pop of colour to my Harvest Day post! I get really envious when I see all the harvests that are full of colour and all I seem to produce is green … not that I don’t like green. In fact we do – a lot! But every month I show Basil and Mint, Basil and Mint. Basil and Mint! And occasionally some Lettuce, Coriander, mint and Basil!

Look how great it is I have actual red tomatoes at last! Edible, lovely tomatoes and we have also picked our first limes off the lime tree. I have wonderful garlic chives, coriander and plenty of huge Habanero and Jalapeño chilis.

[one_half]Limes, tomatoes and chives[/one_half]

[one_half_last]More tomatoes to come[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Lots of chillis that are very big[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Lots of new seedlings growing[/one_half_last]

[one_half]The famous Mint, lots and lots of it[/one_half]

[one_half_last]One of the veggie planters[/one_half_last]

[one_half]The wonderful limes![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Basil, basil and more basil[/one_half_last]

[one_half]And the Spearmint has pretty flowers[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The Lemon Grass is coming on[/one_half_last]

It’s amazing to me the difference a few days can make in the veggie planters. From a meagre harvest on Sunday to a good harvest on Thursday. But I have so much Basil that I’m about to go and make Basil Pesto!

Happy Gardening
xxx

About Garden Bloggers Harvest Day

Please join us on the 5th of every month and show us what you’ve harvested. Whether you have a massive vegetable garden or grow a few herbs in pots or just pick a few peaches from a tree … we’d love to see! Its all about sharing our experiences, photographs, successes and failures as we “learn to grow”. See March Garden Bloggers Harvest Day.

Tags garden bloggers harvest day