My progress in turning an unworked patch of the garden it into an organic mini-farm. Encounters with bugs, typhoons etc.
Being somewhat constrained in the middle of a city, the garden offers a decent start on the road to being self-sufficient. Whilst I’m no expert on gardening, I’m keen as mustard. Over the past two years, a variety of vegetables has grown without the use of chemical feeds, sprays, and potions.
Bum shaped tomato
On Friday we had a heavy downpour which is worth noting for my own benefit. With the ground being damp the crows returned to dig up more peanuts. Not much going on elsewhere in the garden. The unruly sweet potato vines should be clipped; there’s a chance they will turn out all vine and no tuber. I did spot a tomato (maybe it’s two) that looks arse shaped. Holding it in my hand it really looks like two tomatoes stuck together.
Some sort of netting has got to be a sound investment. The crows, having finished off the corn have recently returned from a spell further afield. They have begun digging up the groundnuts. Although harvest time a lot further off than a week, the nuts must still be appealing. As before, the evidence is strewn across the ground. I have to be a little intrigued seeing the thick but pliable shells split open.
Since late summer last year I’ve been nurturing two dozen rhubarb seeds. The first twelve were sown directly with about a third germinating. They didn’t flourish. The remainder was put into a module tray in the spring. Again only about a third made it to the surface, of which two developed into something worth transplanting. Both were promptly devoured. One was strong enough to spawn another set of leaves. However, I think the strong sunlight coupled with a bottle cloche were too much. It doesn’t look like it’s going to make a recovery this time. I am quite upset. 
It really looks dry out there. I’ve barely been out with either the hose or watering can. The sweet potatoes are thriving nonetheless. Expect the cucumber to have finished. Perhaps earlier with a bit more watering and mulch they may have lasted a bit longer. 
Kabocha a few days old
These are a variety of mini kabocha; both the fruit and leaves are smaller than the usual. From the two plants only three squashes are good. The majority of the vines are now yellowing. This is in part to my idea of growing some of them up poles to make better use of space. Besides what I think was a pollination problem, many of those that did start to bear fruit soon died. I shall certainly aim to try again; in the meantime there is some new foliage to gaze at.
Kabocha harvested
It is so humid at the moment. As a result, a paltry target of harvesting one row of potatoes was set. Day four and mission accomplished, just has the rain arrives. I’m happy with the yield. Despite giving several bags away prior, the spuds created a nice mound in the wheelbarrow. Two of the rows had the haulms cut to two or three in an attempt to see if the average size of the tubers would increase. While there isn’t an astonishing difference overall I think it worked. Jacket potatoes once the skins harden.
I thought back in the spring there were quite a few more birds to be spotted in the garden. In addition to an increase in numbers, the range in sizes is up. There have been many pigeons hopping about and more recently crows. It hasn’t taken very long for a few of these diligent darker feathered pests to dismember all of the sweet corn. I was somewhat astonished to find stems and remnants of husked cobs scattered over the ground. Quite astute undertaking as I was just about to harvest them.
Denise: Adrian, when I saw "Labour Thanksgiving Day", I thought your wife had given birth. :o)
I love the last line ...
Rick Rosenshein: Great blog, beautiful photos and articles. Very informative. Thank you for sharing and keep up the great work. Rick 
Robin Wedewer: How nice to find you and to hear your nice words about Bumblebeeblog.com!
As for the weeding, you know it can ...
Lucy Corrander: Dropping by through Blotanical. Thought I would say hello.
Lucy Corrander
LOOSE AND LEAFY 
Jon in France: 90° or 270°...surely it should be possible to tell depending upon which foot arrives first?
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