I’ve just put seeds into trays for shiso (aka Green Perilla, aka Wild Sesame, aka Beefsteak Plant) which – I’m told – should grow like a weed. If it’s as successful as my other ventures into the mint family have been, I’ll be inundated soon enough.
I’ve also put in a pile of seeds for caper bushes, which are supposed to grow very well in the Australian climate (so similar to the Mediterranean). They grow well in the same conditions as olives, so here’s hoping that both flourish in the backyard. My efforts in pickling fresh olives worked quite well, so capers should present no problems (but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it). The only problem is that they have a very low germination rate – about 15-20% – so my tray of 12 might not be enough. I’ll give it a week and try with the last 12 seeds should nothing happen.
And, as slugs got my last lot of seedlings of Thai Basil, I’ve set out another tray (in it’s own little plastic-bag greenhouse this time).
The broccoli seeds were up after only four days, which has to be some sort of a record. The two melons (Charentais and Moon-And-Stars) are just starting to come through now. Fingers crossed for these – I am hoping that I’ll get at least a few good fruit from each one as reward for fretting over them now (and talking to them)(yes, I am daft).
Now, as soon as the sun goes down a bit, I’ll pot up my little tarragon plant into it’s own big self-watering pot. Fingers crossed that I get a big healthy bush in short order – I have a yen for tarragon chicken and the fresh stuff is hard to come by around here.
Ah well, I’m off to dismember the whole beef rump I bought the other day.
Also, shopping with the Bro-In-Law tomorrow in Chinatown!!! Yay!!!
