Category: propegation

Tomatoes

Posted in fruit, Gardening, plants, propegation, Vegetables, veggie patchTagged , , , , Leave a comment

30 Dec 2024

A Bountiful Garden: Tomatoes, Watermelons, and the Joy of Growing

There’s something deeply satisfying about watching a garden thrive, and this season, it’s all about tomatoes and watermelons! Our backyard is bursting with life, and every visit to the veggie patch feels like a small celebration of growth and resilience.

Tomatoes Galore

The tomatoes are growing beautifully—vigorous, green, and full of promise! Clusters of little tomatoes are already forming, and the plants are adorned with plenty of yellow flowers, each one a sign of more delicious fruit to come. Among the varieties, my dad’s special pointed tomatoes are a standout. He fondly refers to them as “friendship Borghese.” This unique variety is shaping up well, with lots of tiny tomatoes already developing. Watching their progress has become a joyful daily ritual for both of us.

A Special Connection Through Pointed Tomatoes

My dad has a special bond with these pointed tomatoes, lovingly tending to them and tracking their progress. There’s a charm to these tomatoes—not only because of their shape but also due to the sense of tradition they carry. It’s like they’ve become a symbol of connection, care, and continuity in our family garden. We often joke about their determined, pointy shape, but they’ve earned a special place in our hearts.

Watermelons: A New Experiment

While the tomatoes steal the spotlight for now, our watermelons are slowly making their debut. I’ve planted two in pots and two directly in the veggie patch, eager to see how each group fares. Watermelons can be a bit of an experiment, needing just the right combination of sunshine, water, and patience. But their growth feels exciting and full of potential—like watching a story unfold and waiting for that first sweet reward.

The Joy of Growing

There’s magic in planting something and watching it grow. The garden teaches patience, resilience, and the importance of nurturing. Each bloom and each little fruit is a small reminder of nature’s ability to thrive with care and attention. Whether it’s the pointed tomatoes or the sprawling watermelon vines, this process is filled with hope and discovery.

As the days get warmer, I’m excited to see how things develop. Will the watermelon vines take over the veggie patch? Will we be snacking on “friendship Borghese” tomatoes fresh off the vine in a few weeks? No matter the outcome, the journey of growing these plants is already a gift in itself.

Carnations

Posted in flowers, pot plants, propegation, veggie patchLeave a comment

26 Oct 2024

Carnations: A Blooming Success in the Garden

There’s nothing quite like coming home to a garden in full bloom. Today, after a visit to my parents, I was greeted by the sight of my carnations flourishing beautifully. What started as just two plants has now grown into a full, thriving basket, with another nine plants taking root as well. It’s a small garden triumph that brings joy every time I see it.

Why I Love Carnations

Carnations have a special place in my heart—not just because they’re Sandra’s favorite flower, but because they’re truly remarkable blooms. Their vibrant colors, intricate petals, and sheer longevity make them a standout choice in any garden. Unlike many other flowers, when you cut carnations, they last for days—sometimes even over a week—brightening up any space with their cheerful presence.

A Growing Success

Watching these plants multiply has been incredibly rewarding. Carnations are relatively low-maintenance but highly rewarding, making them a perfect addition to any garden. From the two original plants, I now have a basket full of blossoms and nine more plants taking root, promising even more blooms in the future.

The Beauty of Carnations

Here’s what makes carnations such a brilliant flower:

1. Longevity: Whether in the garden or in a vase, carnations outlast most other flowers, maintaining their beauty for days.

2. Colorful Variety: From soft pastels to bold, striking hues, carnations add a splash of color wherever they grow.

3. Hardy and Resilient: These plants are tough yet elegant, thriving in different conditions and spreading with ease.

Tips for Thriving Carnations

If you’re looking to add carnations to your garden, here are a few tips:

• Plant in Full Sun: Carnations love plenty of light, which helps them grow strong and bloom brilliantly.

• Well-Drained Soil: Ensure your soil drains well to prevent root rot and keep your plants healthy.

• Regular Deadheading: Snipping off spent blooms encourages new flowers to grow, keeping your garden vibrant.

• Enjoy the Cut Flowers: Don’t hesitate to bring carnations indoors—cut them when the buds are just opening for long-lasting arrangements.

A Flower Worth Celebrating

Carnations bring so much joy—not just because they’re beautiful, but because they’re a flower that keeps on giving. From their ability to multiply and bloom generously to their unmatched vase life, carnations are truly a gardener’s delight.

For now, I’ll enjoy this colorful burst of life in my garden, knowing Sandra would love the sight of her favorite flowers thriving. Here’s to many more blooms and the simple pleasures they bring to everyday life.

Happy gardening!

Making more Carnations 🙂
The smell emanating from this flower box is just unreal!

Traditions, Anzac Day, Mushrooms and the Bonsai Pot

Posted in Gardening, grass, plants, pot plants, propegation, succulents, veggie patchLeave a comment

5 May 2024

Traditions

Traditions are a great source of how things used to be done and a wealth of knowledge. A great tradition handed down through generations is the storage of summer produce. These small tomatoes have a sharp point and taste delicious. Nonno picks them in bunches at the end of summer, ties them together, and hangs them under a cool shady spot. He calls these tomatoes Spuntinni. They last for four months; I would love to see the ones in the supermarket last four days. The ones that go rotten drop off and are discarded, but not before seeds are collected. The same process goes for the peppers, which are strung together and dried to make flakes or to fry and eat like chips. A wealth of knowledge is slowly disappearing, and people like me are trying to share and keep it alive.

Mushrooms

After some heavy rains and a bit of sunshine, the lawn is looking very vibrant, and on closer inspection, I have noticed lots of mushrooms. They’re very pretty but not so great if consumed by the family pet. Lily, our border collie, is very inquisitive and highly suspicious of anything new in the garden; she gave them a good barking (along with the wind, clouds, birds, and anything else that moves or breathes, lol). I put on some gloves and got rid of a heap of them under Lily’s supervision. I also made a dish soap solution and gave the affected areas a sprinkle. After a few days, it did the trick.

Bonsai Pot cleanup

It’s Anzac Day, time to relax, pay our respects, watch the football, and give the Bonsai pot a cleanup. I cleared all the dead leaves, propagated as many as I could, removed stones, and gave them a wash. I pruned the Jade bonsai slightly to retain its shape, then placed some red rocks around the base and also some for the elephant to balance on. I might blue tack her down and have decided to call her Caron, a beautiful reminder of a great friend who gifted her to me. I topped up everything with white crushed rocks that were only $6 at Bunnings. It was very relaxing and therapeutic. Turned out looking really nice in the end.

Succulent progress

On another sunny Melbourne day I’m happily veggie patching my way everywhere and enjoying the sunshine before the cold weather hits later on this afternoon . I had a peek at my succulent propagation cuttings . The leaves have some roots – some have just withered away and died, but the ones that have taken off still look healthy . I will leave them alone for a couple of weeks and some time in the future I’ll transplant them into pots. I’ve got some from even about a year ago – they’re coming along nicely. I spray them with some water maybe once a week depending on how hot it is. They do like things to be nice and dry though. I will be keeping them undercover as it has been very cold weather and lots of frost and the little greenhouses have worked a treat.

Zebra Plant

Posted in home made, propegation, succulents, veggie patchLeave a comment

19 Mar 2024

Zebra plant – also know as Haworthias.

My one has produced some little plants (called pups) which I have cut off and re-potted with a little bit of soil and put them in a partly shaded area.

We’ll see how these pups behave and if they take root.

I do enjoy propagating succulents and adding to my collection – it really is a great hobby.