Wow! Spring has definitely started to show itself around these parts. Aside from the sensational weather my vegetable patch has finally begun to reap reward.
While nosing around my little bache (farm) today with The Turk I found my broccoli sprouting along with cauliflower and lettuce. I was so excited as honestly I have never grown anything before so I was pretty keen today to start bringing in my haul but The Turk wisely pointed out they are mere babies and with patience they will be much bigger in a week or so. Patience (which I have little of) is the key when you want to harvest your crop (imagine me using the word ‘harvest’). I think the best part of this story is that everything grown is organic. No pesticides. No chemicals. Does that make it organic? I am not sure but I will say that they have got to be better for you than what I would normally buy from the supermarket in Sydney.
My nectarine tree has flowered and hopefully will start to bare fruit. I am currently looking into a pesticide for my fruit trees because they definitely had some nasty looking insects buzzing around them the other day and I do not want to be stung by one of those buggers. My neighbour suggested a spray of hot pepper and detergent (well that was as close as I could translate anyway) as a deterrent to the stingers. I going to need to investigate this a little more before I start mushing up chilli.
Oh and finally our chilli plants are already flowering. The Turk has been “sexing them up” so they start baring chilli. So excited.
janeyinmersin 
Exciting! I always wanted to start growing my own vegetables but I have no idea where to start.
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I am still amazed at the fact that they grew at all! I am very proud of myself right now!
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So so different on this side… no winter crops have grown. Too hot for to long, no cold weather, and persistent rain. Lettuce are good though 🙂
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Thanks Spikey. Any advice on a pesticide for my fruit trees? Really don’t want to use chemical based if I can get out of it.
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What trees, and what pests?
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Nectarine and apricots. Big mother hornet looking buggers. Big stinger. I cant seem to get the right name from anyone. They all call them different things *sigh*
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Sounds like Eşek Arısı (donkey wasp), or European Hornet. http://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avrupa_eşek_arısı
We get these here over mid-late summer, but never a problem with our trees (predominantly narince/citrus). But I do recall they LOVE banana plants when they flowering though. They are persistent buggers, not scared of much for sure.
By the way, their sting is nasty. Keep some Elocon cream handy (over the counter at any Ezcane) – works a treat where no antihistamine touches it.
http://www.medicines.org.uk/guides/Elocon/inflammatory%20skin%20conditions
Do they attack the fruit? Surprises me with Kayısı (Apricot) as thought that fruit would have been too early in the season for these pests. Nectarines/peach would be sweet enough for them, but I have to pick ours quite early and ripen indoors before the chickens scoff the lot.
These 2 articles may be useful. I dunno what to use as I have never had an issue like that.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningadvice/8625498/What-to-do-about-wasps-around-fruit-trees.html
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/fegen/wasps-in-fruit-trees.htm
GOOD LUCK…
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Thanks Spikey! Will look into it.
PS I giggled at your persistent rain. We have had a total of 10 days rain since September. Crazy!
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I have used the pepper/detergent spray many times Jane – it worked in my gardens. 🙂
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Oh good to know Ellen. How are you progressing with your move?
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Couldn’t agree more with the taste! We’ve grown our own for the past 6 years, (potatoes, tomatoes, onions, green beans, peas, leeks, and have plum, apple and elderberry trees plus a rhubarb root!) and don’t use pesticides either.
It’s so exciting seeing the first shoots though isn’t it? Enjoy.
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These pictures are amazing. Good luck with your vegetable patch!
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