Autumn in Queenstown

My Garden

We have had a few frost's so far. My garden outside will soon come to an end, until spring.The courgette's have slowed down, the leaves look pretty sad. But I am still picking a few each day.

The beans have stopped growing.

The potatoes are still tucked away, under ground. I will have to dig them out, before they freeze to death. 

I grew these carrots last year. They were feeling the cold. (the glitter nail polish is not me)

I pulled out my last carrot today. I really did not grow enough this year. I will do better next summer. My mother in law, who is 81 yrs, is staying, from Auckland. She has just found the carrot top, with the leaves on it,in my sink. I am now not allow to throw it away, and have to find a use for it. I wont saute it, like some web sites,say to do. Maybe it can go into the next vegetable stock.

What I love at the moment is the spinach, chard and bok choy, they are so happy. Their leaves are bright and healthy.They are thriving in this cold, for now !!

In the green house, my tomatoes are still producing, the funny thing is, I want to pull them all out, so I can grow my seeding's, but how can you pull out plants that are still giving you food.

My kale is happy, although I have read, a good frost, kick starts your kale, they are then sweeter to eat. Well that wont be happening with my kale, they are tucked in a warm green house.

I have an ever lasting supply of beetroot seedlings to plant. I love beetroot and I do not want to run out.

Glenn came in with all these apples the other day. They are so beautiful to look at, and taste. I am not sure what they are called, but they could be Braeburn apples.

We have two pear trees. For pollinating there needs to be two. I recently realised, this was the reason why my almond tree never produced, I needed to buy another one, for it to pollinate.

When I was in Arrowtown the other day, I saw so many walnut trees. Some of them were growing so close to peoples homes, on tiny sections.These tree's grow huge. We have one, I look at it from my kitchen. I am still going out every day to collect walnuts, at night the possums have a feed on them, so I have to be fast.

I am looking forward to our ''black boy peach '' to produce. It is only in its 2nd year. A friend from Arrowtown gave me a bag of these peaches the other day, they are so different to your usual peach. They have a thick furry skin. They taste amazing. Thanks Sue and Mark. Here is a photo of them.

Very soon all the leaves will be on the ground. My daughters are not around, for me to pay them to rake them up. So I guess it will be me. Glenn is still building a fence around our garden.There is lots to do before we all hibernate for winter.

I have been saving seeds from my heirloom vegetable plants I bought from ''Koanga''. They are now in paper bags, ready for next seasons plant. 

Enjoy Autumn where ever you live. I am off for an ''apple cider vinger and honey drink''xx