Last summer I frequently reported on my attempts to grow various plants and vegetables from my city garden in Lyon, I named the posts “Jardinage Jeudi” which was quite appropriate as I managed to get in the garden once a week, usually on a Thursday!
I’ve been a bit slow in discovering my new garden in rural France. To be honest the weather has been absolutely dreadful, either raining and cold or far too hot. Either way, I’ve preferred to hang out indoors with Baby Piglet in order to stay dry or too stay cool.
There’s plenty to do in the garden as it looks a bit like a glorified field with a few trees right now. Not quite an idyllic country garden although we do have some pretty awesome fruit trees including two apple trees and a peach tree:
Our red apple tree
Peach tree
Vines
Grapes
Not really knowing where to start and with no real budget so to speak, I’ve decided to start off with the vegetable patches. At least I should be able to grow some produce then I can save myself money on food and hopefully buy a few plants to start my hedge.
We have three raised patches which I have to weed first. The weeds here are tough and grow back just as soon as I have finished. I guess the rain isn’t helping as everything is growing really quick.
Some marigolds I found amongst the weeds
Now only if it would stop raining long enough for me to finish...
I plan to plant celery, radishes, parsnips, rutabaga and onions to start off with. They were the only things that I could find to plant at this time of year – thankfully they are all things I enjoy and I would be pretty chuffed if the parsnips worked out as I have such a tough time buying them here.
Before planting though I need to finish weeding and then turn the soil, mixing some fertilizer at the same time.
I don’t suppose anyone has any tips on growing any of these vegetables by any chance please? What else are you planting at this time of year in your vegetable patch?
I have no tips at all about growing, but you might like to start a compost heap to save on buying fertilizer.
The soil in your raised veggie beds was like concrete! You need to add some mulch to break it up a bit and help retain water etc.
Create a compost heap in a corner of your garden to make your own compost and save money!
Check out some organic gardening blogs.
You can use a mixture of grass cuttings (providing the grass has not run to seed) horse/cow manure (yes I can see you collecting that LOL) Vegetable peelings(not carrots) etc, and NOT Weeds.
Perhaps the local farmer will let you have some manure which you can rot down…
I’ll call my mom today to ask her more,cause we have a a large garden but she’s the one taking care of it mostly.:) don’t worry,it’s not that difficult.:) kisses
I grew radishes and parsnips a few years back. The radishes were great but the parsnips took so long to grow i lost interest. When i finally dug them up they werent worth the effort, but thats just me.
Good luck and i look forward to seeing the results
Pole beans might work. At least you have these raised beds. That is a good start.
The best advice is starting your own compost .. it is amazing.
I found herbs, basil and rosemary etc grew well in hot/dry/sunny spots, when other things failed, the herbs were happy.
Beans .. zucchini/squash seem to be happy when left alone mostly.
I am a lazy gardener, I am all excited in the beginning but as the heat and summer continue, I like looking at the garden more from an air conditioned room than actually working in it
Plant marigolds around your garden, they help keep bugs away ..
My grandfather was a chef and always had a garden and that is one of his tips to me a long time ago
Happy Gardening !
yes, marigolds are great, even for sneils and limaxes ! And keep experimenting, you have lots of open place.
Plant some garlic in a couple of months time, I am thinking about growing some!