The Garden of Woz...

[Whwoz]

Farm World, the local agriculture show is on today, tomorrow and Sunday here. Went with wife to sort some things without the kids being present. An interesting chicken run setup observed, one of which will probably migrate to here.

Also spoke with the owner of Grow Heirloom Heritage Seed who have a good selection of vegetable seeds, although a bit limited in tomato terms. This will change. They're more than happy to receive some different tomatoes so will take some down on Sunday when we head back with the kids.

[Whwoz]

Forgot to add, 4 Chilean Guavas, a favourite of the rest of the family, I have not bothered to eat many due to limited volume of fruit, plus two Strawberry Guavas, one red, one yellow migrated to the Garden of Woz from the GHHS seeds. Plenty of blueberry varieties there, but no room for more here at the moment.

[Whwoz]

The tomatoes were delivered today,
Fruit of

Japanese Onion, USDA 97L97, Zenas Gift, Russo Sicilian Togeta, Costuloto Genovese 'Brokenbar', Midnight Sun,Shere Khan, EM Champion and Blueberries

Were delivered to Grow Heirloom Heritage Seed, whom were very impressed and interested. Obviously had not seen any like some of them.

Received back in appreciation a Golden Cherry given to them by Melissa

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And a pkt of Minnio's Golden Roma bean

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18 seeds in the pkt, so could probably spare a few of @Tormato would like them.

Will check out their local agent for some more of these bean seeds

[Whwoz]

Okay, now that the power is back on, seems to be dropping out for reasons unexplained a lot lately, I can add that the good folks at GHHS were very insistent on a swap and as well as the two packages of seed they passed on a thornless Loganberry and a thornless Raspberry, which is an old cultivar that someone has decided to bring back. They could not remember the name at the time, but considering that we picked up a pot of Serpells Williamette, a thornless Raspberry advertised as new at a different vendor, I suspect that I may have two pots of this variety. We also grabbed a yellow raspberry, called Yarra Valley Gold from this second vendor, plus a different native daisy and the daughter took a fancy to a Cuphea.

If anyone has further information on the Serpells Williamette Raspberry, it would be appreciated.

[Whwoz]

Tomato and Pepper clean up day today, 120mm/the 4.8 inches of rain we have had this month has loosened the ground up beautifully for the grip and rip session. No need to dig a plant or chop them off, they cam out roots and all very easily. Made me realize just how far the cooch and Kikuyu had travelled under the tomatoes and peppers, a bit of fork work will see this removed and thrown onto the drive to die, the rest of the weeds will hit the compost bins, then rotary hoe, add mature compost, re-rotary hoe and plant garlic, which will be a bit late but could not do anything about it with the dry Feb/March we have had.

[Whwoz]

Just been out and pulled 6 rhubarb stems off one of the Champagne Giant plants. Longest 450 mm/18 inches roughly, heaviest 184 g/6.5 Oz trimmed. The MIL will enjoy this lot.

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[Whwoz]

MIL has enjoyed that Rhubarb, so much so that I have cooked up another lot. I freeze it in small 3 to 4 Oz containers for her and they suit her needs nicely.

Garlic is in, not as many varieties as in previous years but with higher numbers of most varieties than previous.

Planting some Onions also, a punnets worth of white and red, with two punnets of brown still to go.

Parsnips germinated poorly this season, with only the "Proto Fatso" germinating. Other gardeners have had no germination.

Proto Fatso is a work in progress from Templeton, for those who knew him from TV about 8 - 10 years ago. Most have been small, around the 4-5 Oz size until I found one tonight.

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Small parsnip, typical of most this season so far

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A better class of parsnip, touch over 2 lb. From what I understand, this is what Gregg was aiming for. At about 6 inches long and 5 wide, it would supply good parsnip in shallow soil. May yet return it to the soil for seed.

[Whwoz]

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Wandin Giant Rhubarb Stems

Wife got off the phone to her mother tonight, said I had better cook up some more Rhubarb as she is eating a container a day (have frozen the previous lots in 80g/3oz lots for her). So I shot out and grabbed another 7 stems for about 830g/29.3 Oz. Lovely fresh stems yet to be affected by the colder nights. Best stem 450 mm/18 inches long, 178 g/6.3 Oz. Nice stems but small by variety standards, have picked them up to 540g/19 Oz before.

[MissS]

Good man. Gotta take care of the mom's.

[GoDawgs]

That's one of the few things I miss about the North... no rhubarb down here! Too hot, way too few chill hours. Not even in the grocery stores. And on the teeniest chance one might have a little bit, it costs an arm and a leg. Most people have no idea what it even is. I miss my grandmother's home canned rhubarb sauce on toast...

[Whwoz]

Something else to use a bit more Rhubarb and a few raspberries is a small batch of Rhubarb and Raspberry jam

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The makings are few and cooking takes about 3/4 hour.

The final result, seven bottles and bit extra of super yumminess

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Apologies to @GoDawgs

[GoDawgs]

Have you ever done a rhubarb-strawberry mix? That's a good one too.

[Whwoz]

Have you ever done a rhubarb-strawberry mix? That's a good one too.

Yes, and was considering do that mix now, but Strawberries currently available leave a bit to be desired by my humble reckoning.

[GoDawgs]

Mmmmmm! Fond memories of my grandmother's rhubarb-strawberry pies. She made the best pie crust too.

[Whwoz]

Cut that proto Fatso parsnip tonight, cut off the top 5 cm/2 inches and sliced the rest into 3/8 inch/10 mm thick slices. Had enough for dinner for 4 tonight and enough left over for another meal, only the top will be planted for seed. Very large core, but not at all woody, very soft, ate well overall.

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Been busy weeding Rhubarb, lots of cooch and Kikuyu through the patch, slow job but needs doing. Pulled off the rougher outer leaves but still good, yummy.

Pulled out the Cosmos, plants dying off , have plenty of seed for the spring, but obviously self seeded with some small seedlings coming up that the cold will probably kill. Bed will be used for growing parsnip and beetroot for seed now.

[Whwoz]

Been busy cleaning up some of the Kikuyu in the veggie garden today, putting in some brown onions ( about 100 out of one punnet, another punnets worth still to plant).

Also scanned the beetroot and selected two more Cylindera, a couple of Golden and a couple of Egyptian to put aside with the other big Cylindera for seed.

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Two Cylindera beetroot for seed, long rat eaten one is 14 inches long.

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2 Golden Beetroot

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2 Egyptian Beetroot

Also put the top of that Proto Fatso parsnip in the same area for seed.

[Whwoz]

Found about a dozen Cosmos seedlings coming up,so they are all in the same area as the beetroot for seed, be interested to see how many more pop up over time as this is where the plants were. Had to move several from the driveway into the garden bed

[Wildcat82]

Something else to use a bit more Rhubarb and a few raspberries is a small batch of Rhubarb and Raspberry jam

IMG_20240524_190149_029.jpg

The makings are few and cooking takes about 3/4 hour.

The final result, seven bottles and bit extra of super yumminess

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Apologies to @GoDawgs

Wish I could make my own. By some sort of miracle I find manage to find some rhubarb preserves in an old country store here. I hope it's as good as your's.

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