Hawthorn Garden Update - Week 7

Sunday was a very busy day at home as well.  Whilst I spent some time out at the plot, Dan was busily working away in the garage making the two 600x600mm containers for the citrus trees.  Don't they look fantastic!

The first citrus box!

I planted them up, adding a few handfuls of slow release organic fertiliser into the soil, watering in well with Seaweed Solution, and just with the hose, to reduce any transplant shock the plants might experience.  I am reluctant to prune the plants yet - they really do need it though.  I am mindful of the fact that we would like compact, well structured plants that we can harvest easily so will wait until they have settled into their new homes before pruning later in winter.

 The two fruit trees

Planted below the trees are companion plants that have shallow root systems that won't disturb the citrus' growth.  Allisum are great flowers to grow, requiring very little maintenance.  The flowers will attract good bugs that will help to manage any insect problems the citrus might experience.  The same applies for the garlic and rosemary planted below the lemon/lime tree.  The scent of the rosemary and garlic will help fend away any unwanted pests, whilst the flowers on the rosemary will attract beneficial bugs to the garden.

 Companion planting - Allisum in the mandarin, Prostrate Rosemary and Garlic in the Lemon/Lime container

 All four planters - one more to make!

The vegetable containers are doing really well - the Snow Peas are continuing to flower and will soon start producing their little pea pods.  There was a visitor to the plant on Saturday, a stick insect!  He enjoyed eating the few aphids that were on the plant and basking in the sun.  I was so proud!  A little ecosystem in the garden!  Very exciting :)

The two vegetable containers

The first of the blooms on the Snow Pea

Happy stick insect on the Snow Pea - a little ecosystem in our backyard!

I have also set up the mushroom kit in the back shed so will be giving an update in the next couple of weeks on how that goes.  I have also planted a heap of beetroot seeds to plant in the last of the large vegetable planters to be made in the next fortnight.  So this season we will have a Legume bed, Brassica bed and Root/Fruit bed producing at home.  There's certainly a lot happening!