Feb Planting

[Jane]

The rain has long gone, even had to put the sprinklers on the veg patch last night. But the soil is nice & soft  so I've cleared some beds, added well rotted horse manure & started planting seeds. More long beans, turnip & a lettuce patch- many diffrent sorts all together as they dont heart at this time of year & I will pick as for mesclun. In pots I have started more corn, 4 types of tomatoes, Thai Pink, Tigerella, large cherry & an unknown Giant Tree Tomato, the origianl from a Burkes Backyard mag, supposed to do well in the winter but mine fruited in October in CQ!

Really lucky that 900mm of rain did not rot all that was growing, I have Thai Pink ripening, capsicum & eggplant soon, how can I tell when the eggplant are ready to pick?? Most of the carrots have rotted but found some for lunch

Gardening is always a battle, but its great to be able to produce at least some of one's food without all the chemicals - so much better for us.

[Andrew Cumberland]

It all sounds great to me.  I have that Burke's Backyard as well.  

[Lissa]

Thanks Jane - will do. It's also on the back of the envelope I sent you today with Cardoon Seed. Let me know if they don't turn up.

Tell me a little about Joe's Beans please. When do you usually grow these? Went through my seed box this arvo and I seem to have a fair few of these. I tried growing a few recently but they didn't like the heat at all! so thinking they should do better in the coming cooler weather.

[Jane]

Thanks Elaine have picked one for tea tonight.

Lissa message me your address for some Thai Pink seed. Yes know I am a bit early withplantings but one can always try.

[Lissa]

I'm not quite as game as you yet Jane. I'm concerned about losing the seed in the heat which is still to come before the end of summer.

If you have any Thai Pink seed to share they would be appreciated.

[Elaine de Saxe]

Sounds good Jane :-) Eggplant don't ripen as such, just pick them at a size to suit you. The only ripening is when you need to keep seeds and then you leave the fruit on the plant until the fruit splits then it's supposed to be ripe enough for the seed to be viable.