So with the first shoots appearing from my winter spinach this week, I was thrilled to get the go-ahead from the land lord to dig up part of the backyard to start preparing summer beds. Sun will a real problem, but its a sheltered position and the best available. I'm also allowed to go bananas in the front (south facing) yard, which has plenty of sun.
This week's task will include continuing to gather autumn leaves in abundance. As the Lisbon Treaty compost heaps continue to roar, I'm gathering and storing extra leaves in bin liners so I can keep the heaps fed long after the autumn leaves disappear. I will also try to source some winter garlic and perhaps a brassica crop or two. I also need potting mix to have a go at raising broad been seedlings indoors to see if this improves their establishment in the garden. So its a trip to the local hardware store first.
Another project I am hoping to kick off is growing our own fresh air inside the apartment. I've been inspired by lecture given at the recent
TED talks. I don't think Dublin's air is too bad, but it seems worthwhile getting familiar with these species for future use - particularly for Melbourne. I already have a cutting of "Money plant" (
Epipremnum) which I took from UCD's registration building (I got permission) and I've seen potential cuttings from the
Sansevieria growing in our staff tea room (for which I won't seek permission). Unfortunately,
Sansevieria is an environmental weed in Australia, so use it wisely. I think the Acrea palms are available at Ikea, but I will try for cuttings first.
So with the first shoots appearing from my winter spinach this week, I was thrilled to get the go-ahead from the land lord to dig up part of the backyard to start preparing summer beds. Sun will a real problem, but its a sheltered position and the best available. I'm also allowed to go bananas in the front (south facing) yard, which has plenty of sun.
This week's task will include continuing to gather autumn leaves in abundance. As the Lisbon Treaty compost heaps continue to roar, I'm gathering and storing extra leaves in bin liners so I can keep the heaps fed long after the autumn leaves disappear. I will also try to source some winter garlic and perhaps a brassica crop or two. I also need potting mix to have a go at raising broad been seedlings indoors to see if this improves their establishment in the garden. So its a trip to the local hardware store first.
Another project I am hoping to kick off is growing our own fresh air inside the apartment. I've been inspired by lecture given at the recent TED talks. I don't think Dublin's air is too bad, but it seems worthwhile getting familiar with these species for future use - particularly for Melbourne. I already have a cutting of "Money plant" (Epipremnum) which I took from UCD's registration building (I got permission) and I've seen potential cuttings from the Sansevieria growing in our staff tea room (for which I won't seek permission). Unfortunately, Sansevieria is an environmental weed in Australia, so use it wisely. I think the Acrea palms are available at Ikea, but I will try for cuttings first.
Have just successfully propagated my Money Plant. Very exciting as my first attempt failed. This time I potted the cutting in a glass of water for a few days until roots appeared. It's joined its parent plant in a new pot and is growing happily down the side of the bookcase.
ReplyDeleteYay for spinach! It was the best thing we grew over Winter. Cut and come again right up until a few weeks ago when the warmer weather shot it to seed. Loving broad beans right now too. Let us know which sowing method works best.
I started my beans and corn in toilet rolls which meant they had really good long roots when I put them in the garden and they look much happier in the hot Adelaide weather than my pumkins which were planted in shallower containers. It worked so well I now collect toilet rolls wherever I go!
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