After a few weeks of mostly wet weather, our vegetable garden is pretty well non-existent. While the weather was fine on the weekend, I took the opportunity to examine what is left. The cucumbers, zucchini and tomatoes all need to be pulled out. There are a few corn growing and I don’t know whether the cobs will mature but I will leave them for the time being. The same goes for the button squash which have weathered the wet conditions much better than the zucchini. There is Greek basil still going under all the weeds so that will stay. The cherry tomatoes are wild and threatening to take over the garden.
I also was able to pick some figs. There are a lot more on the tree so I am hoping to get enough to make some fig jam (my favourite) and perhaps to try drying some as well.
Next weekend I hope that the weather is fine and we will remove all of the old plants and start preparing the beds for our winter crops. It is time to get some more mushroom compost again and hopefully some mushrooms as a bonus.
Although it is still most definitely summer it is time to get prepared as we have a relatively short and mild winter. I will be planting onion and leek seeds this week as it takes about 10 – 12 weeks before they are ready to plant out and that takes us through till the beginning of May. Although I have grown onions successfully in previous years, our winter is not long enough for the tops to die down and dry off. I have to pick the onions with the tops still green so they do not store well. I have diced and frozen the onions previously but this year I hope to dehydrate at least some of them.
I checked the seeds that I have to see what else I need to buy. I keep my seeds in a container in the refrigerator.
I buy my seeds from Green Harvest so am going to spend some time checking out the catalogue. Fortunately for me, Green Harvest are located in Maleny, near my home so I can pick up my order in person. I need more broccoli seeds and am going to try to grow cauliflower and cabbage from seed as well. I may have another go a growing carrots which are my nemesis.
My ideal is to plant my first crop of broccoli seedlings around St Patrick’s Day (March 17th) so I want to get the seeds planted as soon as possible.
organised castle 
My gardening effort has not been successful – all the rain and heat, the tomato plants have rotted I am not happy. I did wonder if you would be prepared to grow gherkins, since you have such success with cucumbers. Too late this year, but next year – I will buy the gherkins off you if you have a good crop. I will also share my pickled gherkin recipe with you. I have grown them here once, but only got enough for 4 small preserving jars. I keep forgetting to plant the seeds!!
Linda, I am prepared to try anything so will definitely look at giving the gherkins a try. I guess they will be a summer crop like the cucumbers. I will look for some seeds when I am checking the catalogues.
Fairy glad you included a picture of figs as we have a tree at our new house and I wasn’t sure what they would look like when ready to pick. Have never dealt with a fig before!!
Barb, did you know that the figs we eat are actually flowers? Now I know why I would never see a fig tree flower!! 🙂
No I didn’t know that…hope that comes up at a trivia night!