I guess starting as summer dies down may seem optimistic, definitely a challenge. Often, gardens are left to hibernate during winter, but I hope to change this habit.
In the spirit of new beginnings, I planted my first winter vege bed. I have planted tomato, broad beans, snow peas and sweet peas to climb up the deciduous grapevine, garlic, beetroot, chinese cabbage, broccoli, dill, corriander and nasturtium.
So far the tomato, cabbages, broccoli, dill and nasturtium are up but I germinated the seeds in recycle paper pots and jiffy peat pots which I put whole in the ground to prevent transplant shock. The others were planted directly.
I have had to place tripods and stakes all over the garden bed because I have heavy footed cats and hungry blackbirds! I suppose blackbirds are an indicator of healthy soil, but these ones are real bullies and can undermine seedlings if they are not protected. I made all the tripods from prunings from my grapevine and my nectarine.
I can't wait for the seedlings to emerge, and I find myself checking daily! But it's just new weeds coming up. The veggies have only been in a week! I will keep you posted.