Of experiments and mistakes

Yesterday was a spectacular day weatherwise. It was Wednesday 17th May. I gardened from 12 to 1, then 3.30 to 5.30 and could hardly bear to drag myself inside, so beautiful was the day and peaceful the setting. Malcolm was out there too on his favourite activity, chopping wood, and all was well with the world. The tuis were making a huge noise in the gum trees and the fantails were fluttering joyfully after the long spell of rain.

So what did I do? I went a bit silly and put compost under the grape vines, only to realise later that grapes aren't big feeders. Then, being near the day of the moon one is supposed to plant broad beans, and having once met an organic orchardist from Wairarapa who plants broad beans everywhere, I planted some under the grapes. I also put some in the flower garden at the front of the house.

There is something growing under an apple tree which looks as though I have planted it, but I don't know what it is. I recall throwing some buckwheat there once and have no idea what buckwheat looks like, but this looks like salsify or something. I am such a novice. Nasturtiums are growing readily among the apples now, along with comfrey, but the rabbits seem to have chewed up all the coriander and lavendar plants, darn it.

I know there is spraying of copper now but I am procrastinating. Have pruned a lot of shrubs now, with plenty more to go. A big load of organic chook manure is to arrive soon and if Kay Baxter's advice is right (we have read a lot of libary "Growing Today" magazines where she writes a regular column), then we should manure under the berries now and spread neem pellets again under anything prone to pear slug. The cherry has pear slug again.

Malcolm has decided he won't put the catcher on between the rows of figs and grapes now. Seems illogical to constantly take away the nutrients in the form of grass clippings.

There are virtually no olives this year and I wonder if it is because the trees are too large. Perhaps they didn't prune them last year, I must ask. The persimmons looks wonderful but aren't ready yet.

The Damatian peas in the glasshouse are growing up the wall now but look a little fragile and brittle.

A man down the road has European pigs and loves them as they are better meat that kunekune. We now spend $40 on filling up the petrol for mowing and it lasts two mowings only so we must find other ways of keeping the grass down. He has Pacific Rose apples dropping everywhere and his pigs love them.