Asparagus

This is the first time I have grown asparagus. I have only two plants in pots, mainly for decorative purposes. In autumn the “ferns” turn green to bright yellow. Given that they perform better in sandy soil, the mixture I have used consists of sand, coco peat and compost in equal parts.

Front - Fat Bastard (Asparagus officinalis 'Jersey Giant' F1) has shoot a leafing fern which will feed the crowns to give a crop next year.

Back - Mary Washington (Asparagus officinalis) has produced a spear. Since it is its first year, I will let it grow, as removing the spear will result in stress that will weaken the plant. After it is established it will require regular picking to encourage and increase more growth.

Below is an example of the asparagus ferns in advanced form.

Potatoes

This is the progress of the potatoes planted in a bag months ago. They have been a bit slow popping up. The reasons could be that I planted them too deep, the cold weather and not enough sun. I did a little experiment a few weeks ago to see if Tuscan Kale or Cavalo Nero (Brassica oleracea) can be grown from cuttings. I took a off-shoot from an old kale plant that I had cut down to a stump. I then plonked them in the potato bed/bag. They seem to be doing well.

Globe Artichokes

I grew these globe artichokes (Cynara scolymus) from seed about 6 months ago. I wanted them more for their spectacular gray-green foliage than the edible bud. Being a hardy plant, I have situated it in a very exposed and often dry area of the garden. I had previously tried growing beans, silverbeet and lettuce in the same spot, but they suffered stunted growth, went to seed very quickly or got sunburnt leaves. The artichokes on the other hand are very happy and thriving. I also intend to plant sunflowers in the same area this year.

Gladioli

I was fascinated with the abundance of gladioli displayed for sale during the lead up to the Chinese New Year back in February. I had previously associated gladioli with the character Dame Edna Everage dispensing them to the public. Apparently, the gladiolus or sword lily is considered auspicious in Chinese culture because its flowers bloom from bottom to top and is symbolic of good fortune. Gladiolus in Chinese funerals and other important ceremonies is also meant to help people who have passed away to find their destination in the heavens. I simply love them for their flamboyant appearance. Today I planted some gladioli bulbs in a pot. I couldn’t decide on pink or purple, so I planted both colours.

Strawberries

This strawberry plant has multiplied to around eight separate plants. They are the amateur gardener’s best achiever - easy to grow and propagate. Some of my strawberries have started fruiting and I have the nets already in place for the birds. I recently read that strawberries get bigger fruit if they get a good hard frost on their crowns. It has been rather cold this winter so I hope what I read is true.

Daphne flowering

Hooray! The daphne bush has finally flowered and the scent is exquisite. I want to cut some to put in a vase but I can’t bear to see the bush looking mutilated. It’s still so small that any branch removed would be too cruel.

Rocks and succulents

What does one do with a collection of boulders and rocks that have accumulated over the decades? Well, my friend has found a solution by making a rock wall and teaming them up with succulents. However, rather than directly planting into the crevices, the succulents are in their pots and rested on top of the rocks. Pictured are all things rock hard – concrete floor, rock wall, pavers, slates, a brick, terracotta pots and hardy plants.

Snowflakes

Snowflakes (Leucojum vernum) are in bloom reminding me that it’s winter. Melbourne’s weather may be very cool in winter but not cold enough to snow. Nevertheless, snowflakes are good enough for me. They are earliest flowering bulb and a reminder that spring is in the air. Snowflakes are often confused with snowdrops (Galanthus) as both bulbs have dainty white bell-shaped flowers. Snowflakes differ in that each petal on the bell has a green spot at the tip. Pictured are snowdrops growing in a cluster. They decorate the trunk of the grape vine – a bit like hazard lights - to watch your step.