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.
I would like to think I am going to use this in the future. In addition to many medicinal properties it makes a good tea. Planted end of March 07.
Late February I distributed seeds around the freshly dug beds, about 5g per square metre.
I grew 24 over the summer, most of which were left until they began to litter the ground with seeds. The stems seemed too fibrous and woody to go into the compost bin. I did manage to render the pulp from the insides.
Along with the second potatoes, these were sown at the end of September which should be too late.
This time around, trying a double row, the row being 30 cm across. Appear to be doing well, although the root is tiny in comparsion to my neighbours.
The first batch came out fairly poor, the ground having been dug a spade deep.
Started to thin these out. It would appear to be a bad idea to move them. I think I need a third attempt.
One day I got a bit carried away weeding. I didn’t realise until a few days later. I had hoped to use Chervil in a few French dishes.
In place of it, I’ve been using young carrot tops in Miso soup. Still, it is missed and hopefully I will be less clumsy next time.
I’m am still trying to learn the dark art of compost. I think I need some nitrogen. Trying to improve my chances I made a compost bin c. 80cm3.
One of the most popular of gourmet mushrooms. The first Shiitake were said to have been cultivated over a thousand years ago.
Normally the fungus will fruit in the spring and in the autumn. It can be forced by submersion in cold water for 24-48 hours.
All being well, the log should fruit about a week after the soak. Forcing it too often will stress the mycelium.
It can be done every two months, the spawn should recover after the flush.
My adventure started with the purchase of an inoculated log for about
Mid September, I transfered six plants that were given as a gift. Early October, one was lost one to a typhoon, left devoid of everything except a leaf.
Soon afterwards, I discovered one of the remainders was a cabbage. Being on it’s own, I replaced the topless plant with another cabbage.
There has been the odd lacewing cocooned on the sides and a few caterpillars crawling about. A couple of weeks into January the harvesting began.
Never a fan of Broccoli, having grown it I can say I am quite fond of it.
The first head went into a pasta dish, now there are only two plants left, it would be worthwhile exploring some different ways it prepare it.
One of the plants went straight into flower.
jake: Night soil :)... the traditional fertilizer. 
Alan: Nice looking taters. Good color to them.
I fertilized mine this year with the used bedding from my chick brooder ...Alan: Isn't every year a mixed year in the garden? Gardeners are the best at taking the good with the ...
Ben: Didn't work. I have the Chinese version, maybe it's different? Who knows... (and yes, I've followed the steps ...
Esterkitchen » Archive du blog » L’ail noir d’Aomori: [...] aulx japonais : un peu leur ail rose de Lautrec, j’ai l’impression. Leurs gousses sont particulièrement impressionnantes, dans le ...