Feeding the Family

Gardener:Northland Backyard Gardener

Date:25 Mar 2023

Blog Type:Vegetables, Flowers

Like many northlanders, I have been making the most of the sunshine and the somewhat more settled weather. It certainly has the cooler autumn edge to it, but at least we are not looking for new water features around our properties, or crossing our fingers hoping nothing else comes down.

This morning was spent doing a quick tidy up; deheading the dahlias that despite some mildew are giving us their best showing for the year. The whole  front garden is finally full of colour.  The back gardens only needed a quick tidy. The lettuces that I let go to seed have come  out; some of the older marigolds got pulled, and the potatoes were topped up with straw. Sadly, I also had to chop my Mountain Pawpaw down. With all the rain, it did not enjoy wet feet. 

Tomorrow I will start filling the gaps with the start of our winter crops. 

The rest of the day was spent on and off preserving and using up varying produce (feijoa cake and a bag of feijoas peeled for the freezer; a mixed tomato and veggie pasta sauce; pesto for the freezer; and a zucchini and capsicum relish which I  will finish off later tonight). With the unusual season, and the increase of vegetable prices, we are continuing to preserve new things this year. 

Feeding the Family