| May | 2013 | 2012 |
| Max Avg | 18.9 | 15.6 |
| Min Avg | 4.6 | 6.9 |
| Highest Max | 27.8 | 23.5 |
| Lowest Min | -1.3 | 2.5 |
| Rain | 46mm | 103.2mm |
| Avg Wind | 2.3 km/h | 3.1 km/hr |
| Autumn | 2013 | 2012 |
| Max Avg | 20.7 | 19.2 |
| Min Avg | 7.4 | 8.1 |
| Highest Max | 38.8 | 31.8 |
| Lowest Min | -1.3 | 1.2 |
| Rain | 186mm | 186.9mm |
| Avg Wind | 3.5 km/h | 3.4 km/hr |
Sunday 30 June 2013
May 2013 Weather Averages
I am a little late putting this up but below are the weather Averages for May and Autumn 2013. May was much warmer than the previous year, but the minimum were lower also. There were certainly many more sunny days (and less rain).
The Broccoli is huge
Over the past few weeks the late Summer Broccoli plantings have really begun to head up big. I am hoping they can be picked weekly rather than all at once tho a couple will need picking soon. Today was also the last of the summer carrots picked. There are still a few rows of January plantings with most of the winter carrots about a month away from needed use. Summer Beetroot is also now fully picked, with those planted in February just as big and looking delicious.
Today was the first pickings of the Brussel Sprouts. I am the only one who will eat these so I do not go overboard with numbers in the patch (I planted three).
Today was the first pickings of the Brussel Sprouts. I am the only one who will eat these so I do not go overboard with numbers in the patch (I planted three).
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| Note the carrot with many legs!!! |
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| Kohl Rabi and 2 types of Broccoli (Marathon and Arcadia) |
Sunday 23 June 2013
Winter has arrived (albeit later than usual)
The past two months has seen many sunny days and warmer than usual evenings for this time of year. Until the past week, we had only seen 1 decent frost and another very light one. However last week saw the rains return with over 70mm of rain and the past two days have dropped below zero Celsius and the return of heavy frosts or fog. In my patch the frost was not quite as severe as the fog settled in but the kids down the road played there 9am soccer games on a bed of crusty ice.
I have been a bit of a lazy gardener over the past month hence no posts. The soccer season kicks in at this time of year and I am usually busy getting the weekly newsletter for the Cygnet Sea Dragons out, coaching the U8 and U14 Youth team, maintaining the facebook page and generally helping out. https://www.facebook.com/CygnetSeaDragons.
What I have done lately in the patch is lay weed matting down over the paths and cover with sawdust. This will greatly assist my weeding chores come spring, tho there seems plenty of weeding to do at the moment.
So what has been or is being harvested at the moment as the winter solstice has arrived. Here is a summary:
- The Oca was recently harvested (Oxalis tuberosa) - If you do not know what this is (also called New Zealand Yam - but it is not native to NZ) it is a little tuber that mirrors I suppose sweet potato but I think much better in flavour. We roast it and love it
- Broccoli heads are being picked, Kale is plentful
- Winter carrots are growing well and we are getting down to the last of the summer planted carrots. same for beetroot.
- Brussel Sprouts are almost ready
- Cauliflower heads are forming
- Mizuna/Mibuna/lettuce/English Spinach
- Leeks
- Garlic is shooting up
- Potato Onions were plated last weekend. These are a little different to onion in that they are onions (Allium tribe) however you plant the onion and it forms about 8 to 14 onions at harvest. These type of onions also do not bolt to seed and are not as fussy as normal onions. Many in colder districts often find just as their onions are bulbing, they suddently go to flower which is a sign that something checked their growth along the way and set them into seed formation (common problem with celery also). Potato Onions do not have this problem and are fine planted in the cold moist winter soils. (I do still grow normal onions and have seeded them in the hothouse for planting out in August)
- Green manures are growing rapidly now
- Purple Sprouting Broccoli is large in preparation for covering our Broccoli needs in late Aug, Sept and Oct.
Recently I bought some Pink Eyes in preparation for planting out in August.
For the time being, I will continue to potter about and when the sun shines do a bit of weeding as well as harvesting, but this is the time of year I like to take as much of a break from veggie gardening as I can.
Till next time
I have been a bit of a lazy gardener over the past month hence no posts. The soccer season kicks in at this time of year and I am usually busy getting the weekly newsletter for the Cygnet Sea Dragons out, coaching the U8 and U14 Youth team, maintaining the facebook page and generally helping out. https://www.facebook.com/CygnetSeaDragons.
What I have done lately in the patch is lay weed matting down over the paths and cover with sawdust. This will greatly assist my weeding chores come spring, tho there seems plenty of weeding to do at the moment.
So what has been or is being harvested at the moment as the winter solstice has arrived. Here is a summary:
- The Oca was recently harvested (Oxalis tuberosa) - If you do not know what this is (also called New Zealand Yam - but it is not native to NZ) it is a little tuber that mirrors I suppose sweet potato but I think much better in flavour. We roast it and love it
- Broccoli heads are being picked, Kale is plentful
- Winter carrots are growing well and we are getting down to the last of the summer planted carrots. same for beetroot.
- Brussel Sprouts are almost ready
- Cauliflower heads are forming
- Mizuna/Mibuna/lettuce/English Spinach
- Leeks
- Garlic is shooting up
- Potato Onions were plated last weekend. These are a little different to onion in that they are onions (Allium tribe) however you plant the onion and it forms about 8 to 14 onions at harvest. These type of onions also do not bolt to seed and are not as fussy as normal onions. Many in colder districts often find just as their onions are bulbing, they suddently go to flower which is a sign that something checked their growth along the way and set them into seed formation (common problem with celery also). Potato Onions do not have this problem and are fine planted in the cold moist winter soils. (I do still grow normal onions and have seeded them in the hothouse for planting out in August)
- Green manures are growing rapidly now
- Purple Sprouting Broccoli is large in preparation for covering our Broccoli needs in late Aug, Sept and Oct.
Recently I bought some Pink Eyes in preparation for planting out in August.
For the time being, I will continue to potter about and when the sun shines do a bit of weeding as well as harvesting, but this is the time of year I like to take as much of a break from veggie gardening as I can.
Till next time
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| Broccoli "Arcadia" |
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| Jerusalem Artichoke - left in ground to pick as we eat |
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| Kale "Borecole" |
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| Mizuna and Mibuna |
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| Turnip "Hakueri" |
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| Parsley |
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| Garlic |
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| Leeks |
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| Tic Beans as Green Manure |
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| Brussel Sprouts |
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| Kohl Rabi |
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| Carrots "Merida" |
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