Funny looking things

Don't laugh now.  Or blush either.

When do I pick these?

 

Very rude looking trombocino zucchini...my mum giggles every time she sees them...

anyone ever grown them and know when to pick them...?

A fox trapper from foxabbit visited last week and put out traps for a fox.  No fox yet though.  The trapper was somewhat as I'd imagined he would be, but lovelier - a gentle man with a lot of respect for nature and yes, even for foxes.

  

No foxes yet...boo...

How does my garden grow?

My tomatoes are producing lots of fruit but the leaves are all wilting and the plants look like they are dying...boo...why??

 

Self-sowing purple podded pea surprises...

and lazy house wives 

Phoebe's gem squash!

 

Summer fruiting blueberries

  

My apples are very sad looking ...

but the raspberries are yummy!

And what's happening with Tim Tam?

Spot the actual creature

 

Tim Tam loves play time with Master Bok (3) 

 

 

Someone sent me this link on why seeds might not germinate, it reminded me not to plant too many seeds in one spot for germination.

Images and Questions (help!) from The Garden

Hi everyone, it's been a bit quiet over here...it has suddenly gotten really overwhelmingly busy.  A few things that have been happening - I had my birthday!  21 of course...  NOT!  HA!!  Master Bok's birthday is coming up, a zillion other birthdays and farewells have been going on around us and I won a DVD (Poh's Kitchen - I LOVE Poh!) from Lorraine of Not Quite Nigella. 

Most time consuming have been work at my day job (argh!!) and more excitingly, I've started a new UN volunteer project in Uganda which has been consuming most of my nights.  It's in Kampala, Uganda, not Eastern Uganda or Libya this time.  When I skype and converse with my team mates on the other side of the world, I'm always humbled by their intelligence, enthusiasm, positivity and sheer amazingness given their start in life.  It's inspiring.  I'm gearing up for a visit too.

Anyway I've got a lot of images below to show you what the garden's been up to.

I've got quite a few questions too so I hope that you can help!

  

Question:  When those Garlic snapes open up, flower, then die - does that mean the garlic is ready...?

 

Question:  Why do sprouts grow so readily (a jar, a bit of muslin and water) but still taste so ... not good?  Why are pregnant women told not to eat them?  I'm guessing it's because of what they may commercially be grown in (poo)

Question:  How is it possible for tomatoes to grow this much in a space of a few days??  A few volunteer purple podded peas in there too.  And other things.

 

Question:  Any idea what these climbing things are?  The seeds and leaves all look the same.  I suspect they are trombocino.  Or maybe spaghetti melon.  Uh oh...

 

SO GLAD the darn artichokes finally flowered so I could admire then pull them out. They take up so much precious growing space...and I still don't know why people love them.  

Question: How do you cook yours?

 

Question:  What does one do with elderflowers?  This elderflower bush is getting out of hand - too big with masses of white flowers.

Question:  How does one know when almonds are ready to be plucked?

  

Question: When is my kiwi fruit vine ever going to flower...or even fruit??  Is it because the strawberries beneath are sucking their nutrition? (I have strawberry patches everywhere all over the garden in the hope that one day I'll be able to eat some - the ones not stolen by the chickens or the children that is)

 

At least my blueberries are thriving.

but...

Question:  Can someone please tell me why only one of my apple trees has any fruit this year??

 

Look what popped up in the cape gooseberry  :)

Hydrangeas!  I love their fluffy blooms.

 

Question: Are only the flower bits of the chamomile used for tea...?

Question:  How do new little things keep popping up on my desk...?  Oh, I know!