Groundwork

Whilst I wait for the opportunity to get started on my grand food production plans at home, I thought I'd cultivate my father-out-law's raised bed. It produced a good crop of beetroot, rainbow chard and brocolli last season, no thanks to me, so I'm keen to see what it can do this year.

I started off by clearing the weeds and disposing of them carefully...



...I then turned the soil and was pleased to see it was still dark and moist underneath. There were a good number of fat and juicy worms too - here's one with a millipede for scale...



There were some healthy-looking herbs still growing in the patch and I added some more herbs from pots too - chives, basil and basil mint. I transplanted the strawberries that had been in a container too but may live to regret that if they take over the patch.





Finally, I purchased and sowed some seeds and then let the rain water them in...



Not much thought went into the varieties of seeds - I just grabbed a selection from the display in the garden centre before our little one woke up. I've picked out seeds that I think I can manage to cultivate and vegetables and herbs that we use regularly. Plenty of time for experimenting and specialising later.

Although I had a small garden in London where I succeeded in growing some vegetables, most notably tomatoes, spinach and rocket, I feel very much like a beginner again. It's more than three years since I cultivated my small patch of earth and now I have a quite different climate to contend with. And much more ambitious plans.

So watch this space to see what I learn - and what successes I enjoy and failures I endure. In the meantime, to see what some more competent and productive gardeners have been up to, visit Allotment #65, Real Men Sow, Margaret's Patch and, last but not least, Plot 37.

And if you know of any gardener-bloggers in NZ whose posts will coincide with my growing season, do leave a comment.