Planting seedlings

Yesterday, I began sorting the garden in order to plant out the spring seedlings.

Seedlings for Bed 1

Pea seedlings for Bed 2

Corn seedlings, zucchini and oil seed pumpkin seedlings

First I did a quick weed  which was followed by removal of the old crops – parsnip, swede, brussel sprouts, rocket and spinach. I also removed the old leaves from the silverbeet and lettuce.

I planted out yams along the sides of the strip of black plastic.  On the south side are 12 of my yams from last year, on the north are 12 organic yams that I bought at the supermarket.

Next to be planted were potatoes – I put the 5 x Crop 33 that I found int he compost pile (now called Purple Heart)  closest to the tunnel house, and 2 rows of 8 Desiree at the east end of the potato patch.  The frost has knocked back the re-sprouting potatoes that weren’t dug over winter, but they are making a new start.  I’ve covered all potatoes with a thin layer of straw.

My yams and Crop 33 ready for planting

The last thing to happen yesterday was the construction of 2 pea tents and the planting of the pea seedlings. The peas I planted were as follows:
On the east tent, eastern edge = 6 x Wando select, next to the west = 5 x Unwin’s king size, 1 x Henry’s salad.
On the west tent, eastern edge = 2 x Henry’s sugar snap, 3 x Southland snow, western edge = 2 x Henry’s sugar snap, 3 x goliath snow pea.

Peas and support tents

Today I planted 4 zucchini in 2 clumps of 2 seedlings and 6 oil seed pumpkins.  These have all been covered to protect them from frost.

Zucchini (far end) and oil seed pumpkins covered for protection from frost

In Bed 1 (closest to the glasshouse), north side going from east to west I planted:
4 x pak choi (in clumps)
4 x cabbage (in clumps)
6 x cauliflower (in pairs)
4 x broccoli (de cicco)
3 x silverbeet (in pairs)
On the south side of the bed I planted:
6 x lettuce (in clumps)
3 x rocket (in clumps)

On a sheet of plastic in bed 1 I have placed the onions, cucumber, and chieftain and golden bantam corn seedlings.

Bed 1 seedlings all planted.  Corn, onion and cucumber seedlings can be seen at the top right of the bed

Bed 1 after covering

In the tunnel house on a sheet of plastic I have placed the tomato, basil, butternut and sweet early gem corn seedlings.

Seedlings in the tunnel house

Seedlings were placed on sheets of plastic so that their roots will not grow into the soil.  I had to figure out what to do with the seedlings while we are away over the next three weeks.  This way, they will all get watered (2 minutes ever day at 5pm) and all are protected from the frost.

The garden is looking great!  It”l be interesting to see how it all does over the next 3 weeks while we are away!!