Stage 1 and new aquisitions...

Okay, here are the stage one photos of the hanging gardens, lol. I think I have said before that these will host mini cucumber varieties, grape tomato varieties and mini rockmelons.

Its coming along nicely, but the major plant out of this area and the bed underneath it will be in spring. The space is only just starting to get sun again, and is nice and sunny here in spring/summer. So, so far, I am happy with how it is looking. Mind you, I am looking at it with eyes that see the final product : ) This space here is getting there. Same scenario as the other space, it doesnt get much autumn, winter sun (if any) but is good in spring and summer. These baskets I am saving for my new purchases (see below) with the Cossack Pineapple, and the Strawberry Spinach. This is the before shot post of this space. As you can see, I am one basket liner down as yet.

My Lime and Lemon are going great (new shoots and flower buds), and the lettuce and brussels sprout are coming along nicely. Also in shot is the corn salad, red mizuna, endive and chicory ... Go the dense gardening!

Okay, for the new purchases .... hehehe.

I have a Jostaberry on the way from Diggers. This was the blurb that came with it

"If you like Blackcurrants and Gooseberries, but the small thorny shrubs aren't to your liking, then the Jostaberry is for you. This thornless hybrid has a complicated lineage including both gooseberries and currants, resulting in a handsome shrub that produces marble-sized fruits in mid summer to enjoy with blueberries, raspberries and blackberries."

And this one sounded great, as I LOVE pineapple, but begrudge paying up to $7 per pine. Seeds on their way from Cornucopia.

"Cossack Pineapple are a very easily grown, sprawling, very productive plant. It bears delicious berries that are encased in a papery husk and have a flavour reminiscent of pineapplePlants grow to 50cm but with bushy spreading lateral branches which choke out weeds. Fruit is ripe when it falls to the ground. Fruits are delicious fresh, as well as making terrific pies and jams and will ripen from mid summer until frost."

Looks like a gooseberry doen't it?!

BTW, a big thankyou to Molly for the Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe ... went down a real treat!

Vertical challenge

Okay, having looked at the garden and the SEVERE lack of space, I have decided to start the vertical challenge. I will have a load more wall pots to get and some trellises, but will have it all sorted by spring. So far I have managed to do a 3 tier strawberry stand - top basket is Redlands Joy Strawberry, middle one is the lovely pink flowering Fragoo Strawberry and the bottom one is Sweethearts Strawberry. The idea is to have them all cascading down and making it harder for the snails/slugs to get to and also to keep dirt off them so they are easier to wash. In theory this will end up looking fantastic! Will show pictures in spring that will hopefully back this up.

STRAWBERRY WALL

seedlings underneath are a mix of spinach, chard, chilli etc.

FRAGOO STRAWBERRY

WATCH THIS SPACE

this wall is one of the ones targetted for the challenge : )

There will eventually be a heap more of these HALF BASKETS above the new vegie bed, the idea here will be to do vine stocks like cucumber, tomatoes etc. I wont be planting anything here until spring. Anything with heavy fruit will have a lovely sling out of pantyhose made, lol.

This should be arriving this week! It is my new SEEDLING GREENHOUSE. We've bought 6 seedling trays (100 cell) to go with it, and I also have some jiffy pellets and egg cartons to go in here. I am hoping to hell that an egg carton is just as biodegradeable as a peat pot is?Diggers order should arrive next week also, so I can get my seedlings started for spring.