Vegetable Garden Jungle

Spring has woken the spirits of the garden fairies and the summer warmth has brought astounding growth to the multitude of vegetables I have planted in our patches. A month has gone by since I left, and the tomatoes alone have grown at a rate of 15cm per week here in Dubbo.

The Silverbeet (!) is higher than my head. Same with the Fennel (unfortunately...I wasnt here to pick it while it was low and plump) and the broccoli which have gone to seed in a very big way. See pics below.

First bed - winter vegies going to seed - from front: purple Kale, Onions, Fennel, Silverbeet, Baby Spinach, Parsnips.

Yellow zucchini with flower still attached from second bed.

Second bed has on the left from front: Yellow and Green Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Rocket, Cos Lettuce, Mesculun Lettuce, Frisee Lettuce, Red Beetroot, Golden Beetroot. On right from front: Butternut pumpkin, Japanese Pumpkin, Corn and String beans as runners, Broccoli, Red Cabbage and Alfalfa Sprouts as well as Garlic.

Third Bed - Tomatoes, Carrots and Green Manure.

Ten types of Tomatoes - these were a mere 5-10cm tall a month ago. Varieties include Beams Yellow Pear, Red Currant (smallest in world), Red grape, Red Roma, Red Cherry, Spanish Cherry, Green Tiger, Tigerella, Yellow Drop, and Black Russian. Basil and Nasturtium seeds have sprouted amongst the tomatoes to deter fruit fly and aphids.  

I picked these for dinner as well as 6 leeks, 1 spring onion and some varieties of lettuce. Zucchini, Purple and Orange Carrots. I made fettucini with zucchini, lemon, chicken and caramelised leeks. We had a salad of roasted carrots and spring onion mixed with fresh lettuce. I ate another slug.