I’ve been totally swamped with writing funding applications the last couple of weeks and in the same avoidance mode of cleaning the house to avoid writing an essay I’ve been out in the garden seeing what needs to b
e done. A lot as it turned out. The rain has given a boost to the couch which has got into every corner. So I spent a lot of time pulling it out as well as slashing buffel. Very therapeutic and a hell of a lot more relaxing than trying to work out what our vehicle fuel costs are likely to be in 2010/2011.
Once the grass was cleared a few beds turned up looking a bit naked. So I used my normal approach of scattering the chosen seeds into the freshly dug beds. Lettuce (a couple of heat tolerant types), mizuna, parlsey, cherry tomatoes, marigolds, and beans. Three days later the mizuna and lettuce have started coming up and I know I am going to face the dilemma again of pinching out to avoid overcrowding or just leave it alone and let it all grow happily.
This is a source of difference with Trevor’s and my approach to gardening. Trevor uses seed trays, pinches out over growth and transplants when the plants are ready.
I prefer to sow the seed where it is to grow on the basis of the heat here and transplant shock being quite severe.
I think I get better results although it is all pretty chaotic and the plants tend to be a bit smaller. Trevor’s more considered approach yields larger plants but there is a high loss with transplant shock.
On the other hand we do have plants that we just don’t seem to be able to grow from seed – scatter gun or seed trays. Could be the extreme conditions maybe. Eggplant and capsicum have been impossible to grow from seed, but advanced seedlings have done well 
and our eggplants are into their second season and still setting fruit.
Coriander – forget it – seed or seedling no matter – it just turns up its toes and dies before your eyes.
I’ve finished the application writing (although reporting on funding we already have is going to take up most of my time next week), but I’ve promised myself time in the garden this weekend. I want to get some silverbeet in as well as see if Mexican coriander is going to survive.
