Spring has sprung in my backyard.

[Addy]

It's been a while since I blogged... but my backyard has been a hit-and-miss affair this year, and has looked so disorganised and untidy... witness my tomato jungle:

A few things I planted in winter have kept us going - snowpeas, lazy housewife beans, broccoli, lettuce, Chinese greens, mustard greens...

The second planting of broccoli was a bit late, hopefully not too late, with the onset of spring (more like summer) weather...

Also late in planting silverbeet. I waited too long to get kale seedlings, so had to make do with silverbeet this year.

About a month ago, I got motivated and started putting seeds in punnets and for the first time, planted sweetcorn seeds in the patch (I've always bought seedlings). I make my own seedraising mix - coconut coir and perlite. The seeds have all come up, and I've planted some in their beds...

Below - sweetcorn coming up

Lablab beans

Rosella and white eggplant seedlings

Winged beans

Angled loofah and okra seedlings have also been put into their spots. 2 golden zucchinis are doing well.

So here's hoping for good eating this summer!

[Addy]

Lablab beans are flat and have a slight "fuzz" on the pod, delicious in stirfires (sliced). They survive hot and dry weather. It's my first time growing them - thanks to the Jane St garden!

[Donna]

Looks great Addy, you still have a lot of variety! What do you use lab lab beans for?

[Florence]

Great to see what you're up to Addy ~
To keep a productive garden tidy is a LOT of hard work ^^" Same with raising seeds ~ but there's a lot more choice than buying seedlings ~ I am slowly learning how best to raise seedlings :)

[Addy]

Vanessa, just soak a block of coir till it breaks up, and add perlite or vermiculite. It's very easy, Bunnings stocks all the "ingredients". I store it in a lidded bucket, and just add water if it dries up.... try it!

[Scarlett]

looks fabulous :)

[Elaine de Saxe]

Good to hear from you Addy ... I had been wondering what had happened to you - you must have heard me ;-)