So I told you all yesterday that the bananas banana-ing had given me a marvelous idea.
But it's not only that the bananas are banana-ing. Or even that the fig is figging.
It's also because the chillis are chilli-ing and the capsicums are capsicuming and that next door, the pumpkins just will not quit pumpkining.
I have already mentioned that here in Brisbane, winter is not really the right word for what we experience this season. Sure, it's a whole lot colder than usual, but colder than usual when it's usually sweltering hot doesn't really mean a whole lot. When it's winter and you can quite comfortably be outside during the day in shorts and a t-shirt, well, let me just say that it's not freezing. It does get cold, and I would be the first to complain about that, but it doesn't frost over, and the sun shines bright and warm all day long.
And I guess the plants feel that too.
Which is why the banana produces bananas, and the chillis and the capsicum and the pumpkins are all doing so well. Along with strawberries and tomatoes and eggplants, and all the other things that like warm weather.
Which is why I would like to try to grow warm weather vegetables this winter. In fact my fantabulous idea was that I would like to try to grow them all year round. I am already dreaming of, "My Year with Sweet Corn".
I'll pick sheltered, sunny spots, and in will go corn and pumpkins and watermelon, along with cucumber and rockmelons and eggplants. Actually, in will go everything that I can think of, because after a big vegetable planting break - I am ready to get growing!
And if things don't work, well, at least I'll know that for myself, and not just be going on what sowing calendars tell me.
14 comments:
Oh wow - unconventional; rebellious even! With Winters like yours how can your plan fail? sounds as if your enthusiasm for growing edible stuff is fully- re-invigorated.
Sounds like a good plan. Are you going to plant some winter vegetables too? Feel free to send some bananas this way - we're still paying $14 a kilo down here. They say prices will come down in July - fingers crossed.
ooowww, although I am excited to have just finished putting in all our first Winter veggies here in Adelaide... I may just be a smidge jealous that you can grow Summer vege almost WHENEVER you like :(
Thanks for inspiring me to grow veggies!
Tracey @ http://thriftnestsew.blogspot.com/
Wow! You are such a trailblazer...toss out the planting guides, I say, and go for it! It is going to be fun hearing and seeing what happens.
Lol, are you teasing me Hazel!? When I was posting I was thinking to myself about how there are probably a bazillion people here in Brisbane growing away all the things that I am going to experiment with!
Tracey just think of all those brussels sprouts that you can grow and I can't... and I really really want to grow them :(
Judith I don't think I could bring myself to pay that for a banana. We can still get ours at reasonable prices at markets here, but the other day at the fruit store they were selling ones that were picked super unripe and then gassed I'd say. They weren't at all filled out and were concave where they should be convex. Terrible looking things at $8.99/kg they were.
Mark, I go forth where I have not been before. Unchartered vegetable growing territory... wish me luck...
Which goes to prove coolowl's gardening maxim: micro-climate is all ;-)
Huh! How can you compare Brussel sprouts to luscious figs...bananas...eggplant! Sigh. Shivering here in front of the fire!
Sometimes you need to throw away the book and make discoveries for yourself, especially when the book may not have even been written in Qld. Good on you Ali. Can't wait to find out how they go.
I've grown things out of season "accidentally" when I didn't realise you weren't supposed to plant them in Winter. They grew but maybe not as well as they would have in warmer weather - but then also I'm out near Ipswich so it gets a bit colder overnight.
Good on you Ali! Your veggies are looking so good, and I have also being trying to grow food year round. We get a lot more heat and humidity in the wet season than you do I think though. I do grow wet and dry season vegetables, not the same all year round. You also cant tell before a season begins whether it is going to be colder or wetter than before. I say go for it, and I will be cheering you on.
Stick that corn in - mine is doing well but i am suffering Ali- itus at the moment - I want to pick it just to see how its going - only thing stopping me is that if its not ripe (which it won't be) I will probably cry :)
I so love reading your blog! I find that it's a bit like a salty plum - addictively delicious, but bitterweet because I'm such a slacker and my garden will never be like yours! Keep up with wonderful sharing!
I do believe that your winter is nicer than my summer!
They are telling us that we will hit 80* this weekend. (Google tells me that's 26.6 degrees to you folks.) However, our weatherman lies to us. Often.
I don't know if you can get it there, but Ambrosia corn is the best sweet corn on the planet. So, so sweet and delicious.
Garden on, my friend!
Love your Blog!! Am missing that Brissy sunshine while over here in Seattle, I'm from The Gap but now living OS. Anyway, your garden is just gorgeous, sounds like you have a bunch of yummo stuff growing. I am excited to follow your blog...cheers Julia
Oh Julie, how blooming exciting! I am in Mitchelton - so just around the corner from your old home! I can't wait to come look at your blog :)
Teresa, I will have a look around for that corn, I've not heard of it and now I am excited. YUUUUUM. My fingers are crossed for your 26.6 degrees, may it shine down upon you bright and strong.
Thank you anonymous, but please don't let me deter you from soiling your fingers! I have many disasters, and only take photos of the good stuff :)
Elsie May, step away from the corn. You are going to ruin it.
and cry
AA I think you would get a whole lot more humidity where you are, a proper tropical jungle. Oh it's my dream to live in one... I want to swelter all year round.
Missy it gets bizzarely way colder in Ispwich and surrounds than in Brisbane, doesn't it?
Mrs Bok, I adore a good brussels sprout... and if I can't grow it, I want it even more.
Yes Elaine!
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