Plans, Plants, and Green Frocks in The Fronx

We’re trying to fill the courtyard with lovely plants and vegies and herbs and things. Kind of create a little oasis in the midst of our city life. I know we can do it! We’ve spent the last busy year with a bare garden bed, dotted with fallen leaves and featuring a mouse grave, pieces of a broken plate and the odd dog bone. I figure anything is an improvement upon that.

I must admit that my enthusiasm for gardening is not matched by my ability, but that’s why I have Cam. He was born not only with impressive hair and the right small talk, but with a green thumb and a canny knack of keeping anything planty alive. I’m more likely to have a green dress, then a green thumb, but I will try. Oh yes I will.

I like to read about this garden in New York – because it also features foodie news. And this ace gal’s garden in Melbourne – because she also talks about leather an awful lot, which I like. Taking a leaf out of their books, (with a nod to Loobylu‘s pumpkin patch too), I’ve decided that I really want to have a productive and pretty garden right here in the Fronx.

I’ve been digging (hah!) around on le internets and found a good guide to what to do in the garden on a month by month basis here. I figure that it’s been pretty cool in Melbourne… and it’s only the 3rd of January, after all, so I’m pulling from the December and January planting recommendations with my seedlings. You know I’m cheeky like that. But that’s just me. You can use the rules if you like.

Currently we have lots of herbs (basil, rosemary, thyme, mint, oregano, parsley continental and not) and a few geraniums, a hydrangea, a cumquat tree, some strawberries, some cosmos and tomatoes and carrots and rocket. But the plans are to have a lot more in containers and beds and hanging baskets too! Well, those are the plans at least. We shall see…!

Here are the lists of what flowers and vegies you are advised to plant in December and January in Australia. If your area has been particularly hot, ignore the December list and refer to the January list only. Even if you have a little window ledge or balcony you could plant something, couldn’t you? You don’t need a huge plot. Just do it your way, I say. Have a go! Start small and think big!

If you have a good link to the list of things to plant for the Northern Hemisphere, be sure to let me know in the comments!

I’ll keep you posted on our progress.

xx Pip
—————————————————-

DECEMBER

FLOWERS: Plant
ageratum, alyssum,
aster, brachyscome,
californian poppy,
chrysanthemum,
cleome, coreopsis,
cosmos, dahlia, gerbera,
gypsophila, iceland
poppy, petunia, phlox,
primula, sunflower,
verbena and viola.

VEGETABLES: Plant
beetroot, broccoli,
brussels sprout,
cabbage, carrot,
cauliflower, celery,
cucumber, eggplant,
onion, parsnip, pea,
pumpkin, radish,
spinach and turnip.

JANUARY

FLOWERS: Plant
ageratum, alyssum,
cineraria, cleome,
cyclamen, forgetme-
not, gypsophila,
hollyhock, iceland
poppy, lupin, pansy,
primula, stock, sweet
pea, verbena, viola and
wallflower.

VEGETABLES: Plant
beetroot, broccoli,
brussels sprout,
cabbage, carrot,
cauliflower, chinese
cabbage, kohlrabi, leek,
lettuce, mustard and
spring onion.