As summer comes to a close here in Melbourne, I’m taking a moment to reflect on the past few months in our garden. The summer heat has made it challenging to keep up with the extra watering our garden demands, yet our space is vibrant with flowers and vegetables. Thanks to homemade soil boosters and natural fertilizers, the plants have stayed thriving.
This is my first gardening post, so bear with me as I figure out the best structure to share what works for our cottage garden. My goal is to pass along easy tips and tricks I’ve picked up, as well as showcase the beauty of my plants!
Gardening has completely transformed my life- there’s something magical about caring for a plant from seed through to an arrangement in a vase. Or seeing a zucchini seedling, grown from kitchen scraps, bloom for the first time.
What I Grew This Summer
Veggies and fruits:
- Tomatoes
- Zucchini and yellow summer squash
- Capsicum and Chilis
- Cabbage
- Climbing beans
- Rhubarb
- Passionfruit
- Potatoes
Flowers & Herbs:
- Sunflowers
- Hollyhocks
- Snapdragons
- Borage
- Strawflowers
- Cornflowers
- Perennial herbs
- Dahlias
Growing Through the heat with help from home made fertilizers
This summer has been particularly warm, meaning regular watering was essential to keep everything growing. I’ve been using ash from our meat smoker and firepit directly in the soil, which has added valuable nutrients.
Another method I relied on was homemade grass clipping fertilizer, a simple mixture of grass clippings submerged in a bucket of water for a couple of weeks. The resulting nitrogen-rich liquid was then diluted and used to water my plants.
Additionally, I dug small holes throughout the garden to bury food scraps, covering them with soil and sometimes mulch to enrich the earth over time.
Homemade fertilizer details
Ash fertilizer enriches tomato plants with potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and trace minerals, promoting strong roots, healthy growth, and improved fruit quality.
To boost soil health, I start by digging a hole where I plan to plant, then add a scoop of ash from the fireplace, smoker, or BBQ. I then cover it with a layer of soil to prevent direct root contact, then either mulch or plant my seedling, this ensures a slow release of nutrients as the plant establishes itself.
Homemade grass clipping fertilizer is an easy and natural way to provide plants with a nitrogen boost. To make it, I filled a bucket about two-thirds full with fresh grass clippings and weeds, then topped it up with water, allowing the mixture to steep for about two weeks. (Make sure to cover the bucket with a loose-fitting lid or a piece of mosquito netting to keep pests out while still allowing airflow.)
During this time, the grass broke down, releasing nutrients into the water and creating a nitrogen-rich liquid. If the fertilizer develops an overly strong or unpleasant smell, it’s likely due to a lack of oxygen, so simply leaving the lid off for a few days will help aerate the mixture and reduce the odor.
I diluted the liquid at a ratio of about 1:10 (one part fertilizer to ten parts water) to avoid overwhelming the plants. This nutrient-rich tea was then poured around the base of my plants, helping to promote growth and overall plant health.
Trench composting or lazy composting, is perfect for chaotic, low-effort gardeners who want nutrient-rich soil without the hassle of maintaining a compost bin. Instead of dealing with piles, turning, or waiting months for compost to break down, I simply dug small holes or trenches wherever there was space, tossed in our kitchen scraps; fruit peels, veggie trimmings, coffee grounds, eggshells, if its edible its going in the ground! Then I covered them with soil and mulch if. Over time, worms and microbes break everything down right where your plants need it, improving soil structure, boosting microbial life, and adding slow release nutrients without any extra effort. No smell, no turning, no waiting- just dig, dump, cover, and let nature do the work!
Details of some of the plants that have thrived in our garden this season:
Veggies:
- Tomatoes – A summer staple. We have plenty of varieties dotted around the sunniest spots of our garden. It was as simple as scattering seeds during spring, and keeping an eye on staking plants that need(ed) extra support. The application of ash fertilizer contributed significantly to the healthy development and growth of our tomato plants, by enriching the soil with essential nutrients.
- Yellow summer squash – Prolific and easy to grow, perfect for summer meals. It’s so easy to grow an abundance. We have found that one plant is more than enough for our family of three. Next year I would like to grow different summer squash/zucchini varieties for more diversity on our roast veggie trays and summer salads.
- Cabbage ~ A bit of a challenge in the heat, but still managed a decent yield. I discovered that slicing the cabbage heads while leaving the stem with outer leaves intact, encouraged the growth of smaller secondary cabbages. These smaller cabbages were perfect for making sauerkraut, and while their yield was smaller, they were still incredibly useful. Especially considering they would have otherwise ended up in the compost. Unfortunately, white cabbage moths and other pests took over the plants, so we used the plants as sacrificial crops to draw the pests away from healthier plants before removing them. Moving forward, we’ll start fresh crops from seed during the cooler months to avoid these issues.
- Climbing beans ~ We grew a purple bean teepee using four 180cm bamboo sticks, held together with string. I lightly netted the teepee with string, allowing the seedlings to find their own way up the frame. The purple variety grew quickly, and the bright purple beans were easy to spot against the bushy greenery, making harvesting easier. It was a simple yet effective setup that added a beautiful and productive touch to the garden.
- Rhubarb ~ A hardy perennial that keeps thriving year after year. We’ve had this crop for years, and we love making rhubarb pie whenever the mood strikes. It freezes well and requires little maintenance, making it a long-lasting favorite in our garden.
- Pumpkins ~ We have so many pumpkin plants growing! We decided to transform a few of our empty garden beds, which were overrun with weeds, into pumpkin patches this summer and autumn. The vines are growing and flowering rapidly, and plenty of small fruits are starting to form for the next season.
I’m really looking forward to continuing the tradition of carving the growing pumpkins with initials and Easter greetings in the early autumn. This small act adds a personal touch to the season. I love the idea of the pumpkins maturing with our intentions. Making harvest time more magical, and tying our family to the rhythms of the Australian season.
Flowers:
- Sunflowers ~ Our sunflowers bloomed in mid-January, right in the heart of summer. We started them from seed in late spring and early summer, direct sowing many in clumps. The plants that received the most sun grew twice the height of the others. It seems they didn’t do well at all in even the slightest shade. Now that the flowers are starting to fade, I’ll be collecting the remaining seeds over the next couple of weeks and storing them to replant in spring. Next time, I’ll plant even more, you can never have too many. The roasted seeds were also a tasty snack!
- Hollyhocks ~ Grown from seed, this is its first year of blooming! I started them from seed two years ago. Last year the plant focused mostly on green growth, this year, it shot up over spring and surprised me with a stunning display of scattered pink flowers. I make sure to trim any struggling stems to give the plant room and energy to grow.
- Dahlias ~ So much greenery, I am eagerly awaiting their floral display. I have a few different varieties, including some I scored for three dollars from a clearance rack at a local garden center. After a few months, they are already showing signs of budding. I also have some dahlias that have resurfaced from last year. The plants from last season are now about 6 feet tall, with visible flower heads that are almost ready to bloom. I can’t wait to enjoy the sight of dahlias towering over me all autumn long!
- Snapdragons ~So many beautiful colours! These plants provide me with a new bouquet almost every day! The mix of colours is beautiful, and planting them in clumps created a stunning flower carpet.
- Borage ~ The bees love it! It spreads quickly and prolifically. Fortunately, I picked a spot with plenty of room for it to drop its seeds and spread. It’s also great for making homemade borage tea.
- Strawflowers ~ They maintain their shape beautifully, even in the heat. They also dry effortlessly, looking nearly identical to when they were freshly picked. They’re perfect for spots where you don’t want to constantly deadhead, as the blooms keep their shape and colour well.
- Cornflowers ~ Pink and blue! The bees absolutely adore them! They’re super quick and easy to grow, with delicate coloured flowers that dry very well. I’ve used many of them for scrapbooking and fairy potions! Purple cornflowers are next on my list to grow.
Looking Ahead
With summer winding down, I’m starting to plan for the cooler months ahead. Autumn planting will soon begin, bringing a shift in focus to crops that thrive in milder temperatures. I’ll also continue experimenting with soil enrichment techniques to maintain healthy crops for our kitchen.
Stay tuned for more updates as the seasons change! I’d love to hear about your summer garden experiences – what worked well for you, and what are you planning for autumn?