Garden Diary: A Nice Surprise, Seedlings and Garden Projects

It was difficult to select six highlights for my garden diary ‘six on Saturday’ this week. There is so much going on in the garden, including projects, I am spoiled for choice. My Gnome has been busy working his fingers to the bone, cutting our huge Melaleuca privacy hedge, moving the contents from the old compost bin to the new three-bin compost, and generally pottering around the garden while I limp behind him giving orders.. er offering helpful comments.

My focus is repotting seedlings and still trying to figure out WHY my courgettes are withering and turning yellow.

1. White Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia Nicolai)

This is the original plant, now five years old outgrew the large container so we moved it to a sunny spot in the rear garden. It is obviously enjoying its freedom as it has finally flowered!

2. Orange Bird of Paradise – Mystery Pod

After the last flush of flowers and they died off one of the dead flower heads developed into this. It will be interesting to see how it evolves…

3. Growing Hokkaido Pumpkins in Containers

The Hokkaido pumpkin planted from seed (passed on from our local gardening group) on the 3oth April continues to do well. The leaves are rather yellow but I think that is due to overwatering, that or they need feeding. But considering they are growing in new compost there should be enough nutrients to support the young plants – at least for now. I’ve never grown or indeed eaten Hokkaido pumpkins before so it’s a first on both counts.

4. Growing Green Melons in Containers

The seeds planted on the 31st March were donated by a friend who saved them from last year’s fruit. The only thing I know about them is they are green melons. We will see. The pot is an upcycled plastic paint container.

5. Red Peppers – California Wonder

Planted from seed on the 18th April they’ve taken nearly two months to grow to this point. Maybe these are a fail and next year I will start the seeds off earlier.

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6. Getting Organised!

I washed all the old plant pots scattered around the garden by the wind and filed them in an old composter. Perfect!

Potting tray

I found this old tray at our local bins years ago and use it as a potting tray to collect the earth when potting on seedlings etc.

 

I’ve been looking for a piece of plastic to line the tray to prevent the earth from falling through all the holes. My wish was granted via the lid from my old plastic composter which we cut to size.

Three-bin composter

All the compost from the old bin finally rehomed we now just need to find enough green waste to feed it. I’ve tried to source some grass cuttings (weed killer free) but not many people have English grass here because it costs so much to water.

Related post: Garden diary – Three-bin composter

That’s it for this week. Why not pop over to Mr P’s blog and check out other gardening bloggers