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This would have to be by far the best crop of garlic we’ve had since we started growing it. Every bulb a big fatty, and more than 100% strike (some cloves must have been sneaky double ones when I planted them). I suspect the very wet November and December helped, along with the automated watering for the dry times.

It was due to rain the other day when we pulled them up so they were all stacked up inside the garage on a table. And did the garage smell of garlic the next day? It certainly did! even the inside of the closed cars had a bit of a whiff on. Hopefully a bit of time outside will help them lose a bit of that stink.

We’re down to the last dozen or so bulbs from last year’s crop, so it’s pretty good timing really. Although we did give a fair few bulbs away last year. And this year we’ve got at least 20 or 30 extra bulbs compared to last year.

Just about have this year’s major additions finished now. The three new vege beds have been installed and even plumbed up with the major irrigation hoses. Just need the dirt/compost now to arrive to fill them all.

They’re the three at the back of this shot in case you can’t work it out!

And the pergola extension is looking really good. Just the two side panels to fit once they’ve been made to fit. Nots sure just yet what we’ll do for shade for the next year or two. Pondering a shade sail to go over the top for a bit. We’ll definitely need something though!

It’s been a while since we built the two big vege patches, but so far this season they’ve remained in the same state as when they were built. But today with a bit of a prod and the assistance of a very welcome babysitter we converted one of them into a temporary nursery for all the trees that have been collecting around the place.

So hopefully we can keep them all a bit more regularly watered (or will be able to once I manage to get a few sprinklers set up) and a bit more protected from the wind. And hopefully the addition of some weedmat will keep the sheep’s sorrel and yarrow at bay for a while.

Although they really can’t get too comfortable there as we’ve found we really do want a bit more space for veges. I’ve even currently run out of room to plant any radishes!

It would appear that someone placed the new garage in the wrong place, so to make things like up a bit more we’re having to add a little more onto the pergola. But to be honest we also need it to get the table fully under some cover, as it’s still really, really hot out there when the sun’s blazing down. So another few rows of pavers have been laid, and then there’ll be a bit of woodworking required, but the result should be a real improvement.